SFA reduce Strachan touchline ban

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan must serve a two-match touchline ban following a Scottish Football Association hearing into his dismissal against Hearts in April.

Strachan’s appeal over Stuart Dougal’s decision to banish him to the stands during the 3-1 defeat at Parkhead was heard by an SFA panel at Hampden.

He served a two-match touchline ban at the start of last season, and under SFA rules a second offence in a rolling three-year period automatically results in a four-match ban.

However Strachan appealed against the sanction and, although he was not cleared, the ban was altered to two games.

The April incident saw Strachan sent to the stands after Hearts scored their third goal in a 3-1 win at Celtic Park.

The Celtic boss was involved in what appeared to be an exchange of words as Hearts substitute Neil McCann prepared to come on.