Image of our game at risk, warns Lennon

NEIL LENNON believes the image of Scottish football is at risk unless there is a new approach to the SFA’s controversial disciplinary process. The Hibernian manager has also expressed sympathy for his Kilmarnock counterpart Steve Clarke over his recent charge from the game’s governing body. The Rugby Park boss has been reprimanded for his remarks about referee Willie Collum following the failed bid to overturn Gary Dicker’s red card. ‘The Gary Dicker one stands out for me,’ said Lennon, whose side take on Killie today. ‘We are taking the art of tackling out of the game. It is a strong tackle but it wasn’t dangerous and it wasn’t high and, for me, he got plenty of the ball. ‘I think what astounds me is that first there is the red card and then they lose that appeal. ‘I can understand Steve’s frustration. If it was me, I would be exactly the same. ‘It’s ridiculous. Some managers are mild mannered... some aren’t. Some are outspoken. ‘I certainly wouldn’t put Steve in that latter category. ‘He is very articulate, he’s very calm, so there’s a frustration from Steve there. ‘And I didn’t think there was a lot wrong with his statement, either, so why he is getting hauled over the coals I do not know. ‘I’m sure he will go there and defend himself and not retract anything. ‘You all think I am a bit of a nutter — but sometimes I do have a means for arguing my case. ‘Maybe I might do it a bit more vociferously than others but the premise is the same. ‘It is a pressure job and we’re looking for consistency and we’re not always going to get that. I get that. ‘But, certainly in this case, I think they’ve been wronged. ‘There is a greater profile for the league these days and we don’t want it ruined.’ Clarke and his club will take legal representation with

them to Hampden on October 25 and are likely to cite the fact no action was taken against Rangers manager Steven Gerrard at Pittodrie on the opening weekend of the season in their defence. After the 1-1 draw in which Alfredo Morelos was sent off for an off-the-ball kick, Gerrard said: ‘It seems like the world is against us today. We’ll make sure we play better and try to put results to bed, because it looks like some more decisions will go against us as the season goes on. ‘It’s not just today, it’s been happening for a while. I believe it’s been happening for seasons.’ That Gerrard escaped any sanctions while Clarke was charged leaves the Hibernian manager perplexed. ‘I don’t understand that,’ Lennon added. ‘They do that there and they’re doing something else here. Then all of a sudden you think: “Is there an agenda here?” ‘I get that because it is really difficult to differentiate the two.’ Lennon will gladly second Aberdeen’s call for VAR to be rolled out here but fears the expense that comes with it will see it remain a pipe dream for the time being. ‘I thought it was a success at the World Cup and the majority of the decisions were right,’ he said. ‘Ultimately, it is still the referee’s decision but the implementation of VAR means they are able to go and have a look at it if they are unsure, and the decisions that were made during the World Cup — the majority of them were right. ‘I’m sure it would be a help to referees if we could get it here. We have seen some decisions already this season, decisions that we feel as managers are just wrong. ‘I don’t know where the money comes from, but if you look at the goal we didn’t get at Hearts last year, there were four monitors behind me and those guys could see that right away. ‘I don’t see why the referees can’t use those monitors to go and have a look at it from different angles, in slow motion. ‘I think that would be affordable because it was there for me to have a look at straight away.’