SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Hamilton v Celtic: Venue: New Douglas Park, Kick-off: 7.45pm, On TV: Sky Sports 4:CELTIC'S LONG-running battle with the Scottish FA looks set to continue, with the Parkhead club livid over a six-game touchline ban given to their manager, Neil Lennon.

Lennon’s appeal against an automatic two-match ban for being sent to the stands during a loss to Hearts in November failed when heard by the SFA’s disciplinary committee yesterday. The committee instead imposed a four-game sanction having found Lennon guilty of excessive misconduct for comments made towards match officials at the time of his dismissal.

Lennon has seven days to appeal against the latter part of the ban and will do so with the full backing of his club. Celtic officials regard the penalty as severe, particularly given it is the first time Lennon has been called before the SFA during his time in office.

A Celtic statement said: “The matter is in the hands of the club’s lawyers. We are very surprised and extremely disappointed at today’s decision – we believe the punishment imposed was excessive in the circumstances and to our knowledge unprecedented for a first offence. 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.”

As things stand, though, Lennon will be in the stand for six games from next Tuesday, when the ban begins. That spell would include the Scottish Cup fifth round tie against Rangers at Ibrox on February 5th or 6th, as was drawn earlier yesterday.

Celtic have made their grievances with officialdom perfectly clear in recent times. Yet the SFA has promised referees it will be stronger towards those who criticise them; a strike by match officials earlier this season was motivated in part by what they believed was unnecessary and unchallenged abuse from players and managers. Lennon’s case is the first of its kind since the governing body offered referees that backing.

Meanwhile, Georgios Samaras has been ruled out of Celtic’s Premier League game away to Hamilton tonight. The striker was forced out of the Scottish Cup win against Berwick Rangers with a hamstring strain and will be out of action for at least 10 days.

Guardian Service