Irish Independent

Scottish FA hit Lennon with three-game ban

- Jamie Holland

HIBERNIAN head coach Neil Lennon has been handed an immediate three-match touchline ban following his dismissal at Kilmarnock last month.

Lennon has also been hit with a further two-match suspended ban after being found guilty of “misconduct” by a disciplina­ry panel convened by the Scottish FA, but the Easter Road boss escaped with a censure following his postmatch criticism of referee Kevin Clancy.

The suspended two-match ban will be invoked only if Lennon is found to have committed misconduct again this year.

On a busy day for SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan, Dundee manager Neil McCann and St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark were both issued with notices of complaint following their postmatch tussle last Saturday.

Lennon was sent to the stand after disputing the award of a penalty for handball during the 2-2 Premiershi­p draw at Rugby Park on February 24.

The former Northern Ireland internatio­nal responded by sarcastica­lly applauding in Clancy’s face while remonstrat­ing with the referee.

After the match, Lennon described the standard of Scottish refereeing as “amateur” and “Mickey Mouse” while referencin­g Clancy’s failure to give his team a penalty for handball against Rangers.

Lennon later admitted he regretted his reaction to the dismissal but argued it was unjust in the first place.

 ??  ?? Neil Lennon: punished for ref rage
Neil Lennon: punished for ref rage

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