Celtic push for SFA reform

Celtic have revived attempts to force reform of the Scottish Football Association after manager Neil Lennon was hit with a six-match touchline ban.

Celtic immediately announced they would appeal against an additional four-match ban given to Lennon for “excessive misconduct” after his automatic two-game suspension for his dismissal against Hearts in November was upheld yesterday.

The club declared themselves “very surprised and extremely disappointed” by the sanctions imposed by the SFA’s disciplinary committee.

The shock punishment, for disputing a rejected penalty claim in a 2-0 defeat and Lennon’s subsequent reaction to his dismissal by Craig Thomson, came after Celtic had drawn back from their dispute with the SFA towards the end of last year.

Celtic chairman John Reid backed SFA chief executive Stewart Regan’s plan to reform the organisation’s decision-making procedures in November, pulling back from the conflict which had escalated when Dougie McDonald lied to Lennon about the circumstances behind a rescinded penalty.

McDonald’s latter resignation as a referee further eased tensions between the club and the governing body.

But the severe punishment for Lennon, more than two months after his crime, drew a strong and instant reaction from within Celtic Park.

A statement from Celtic read: “We are very surprised and extremely disappointed at the decision – we believe the punishment imposed was excessive in the circumstances and to our knowledge unprecedented for a first offence.

“We have maintained for some time that a range of SFA processes and structures needed to be reviewed and updated.

“This view was supported recently by Henry McLeish in his review of the SFA.

“The events only underline and reinforce our opinion. Without question Celtic will be supporting its manager Neil Lennon in his appeal.

“As well as challenging the severity of the punishment imposed, our appeal will also focus on issues of procedural fairness and the manner in which such hearings are conducted.”

Lennon, who appeared in front of the Hampden hearing, will see his automatic two-match ban come into effect next week, meaning he will sit in the stand for Clydesdale Bank Premier League games against Hearts and Aberdeen.

But Celtic hope to overturn the subsequent four-match ban, which was due to include the Scottish Cup fifth-round tie against Rangers at Ibrox next month.