Hibs striker charged over tweet about Neil Lennon

Hibernian forward Rowan Vine has been hit with a Scottish Football Association charge accusing him of threatening Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

Vine faces an SFA hearing later this month after compliance officer Vincent Lunny alleged he broke a disciplinary rule by “making offensive comments on Twitter suggesting the use of violence”.

Vine later apologised for his comments in the wake of his team’s 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw with Celtic on October 19.

Lennon had complained about Hibernian’s tackling in the match and Vine took exception to the Northern Irishman singling him out for a challenge on Hoops debutant Darnell Fisher.

Vine made reference in his Twitter postings to an incident in a Newcastle versus Leicester game in 1998 when Alan Shearer was accused of kicking Lennon in the head.

The Englishman wrote: “Read Sir Neil Lennon’s comments regarding tackles in y’days game and said my tackle was ’rugby-esque’. I mean I know he likes the snus.... but has he been smoking something else. I hardly touched the boy and there were no ’reckless’ tackles in the game.

“Might get me mate Alan Shearer to send him another size 9 Umbro Speciali in the dish if he don’t pipe down.”

Vine apologised for causing any offence with his “light-hearted” comments after Lennon queried his comments on Twitter.

The 31-year-old has until next Friday to respond, with a hearing pencilled in for November 28.