Former Hibs boss hit with SFA ban as referee blast lands lengthy punishment
The ex Hibs and Celtic boss was given a ban for comments made in October about a referee.
As the Scottish Cup draw conjures up an exciting tie between Dunfermline and Hibs, Pars boss Neil Lennon has received a touchline ban.
Lennon, who spent three years as a manager at Easter Road, has been banned for six games with two of those suspended over when he described referee Duncan Nicholson as ‘out of his depth’ and ‘incompetent’ after a 3-2 defeat to Ross County in October. He has now been handed a further two-game suspension. The 54-year old also said that Nicholson’s performance was an ‘abomination’ and said, “I don’t want him refereeing any of our games again.”
The six game ban means that Lennon will be in the stands until the Pars face Morton on January 10th, meaning he’ll be back in the dugout just in time for the Hibees cup tie a week later. While Dunfermline accept the decision made by the SFA, they have also expressed that they are ‘extremely disappointed’ with the outcome.
‘Mitigating factors not taken into account’
A club statement read: "The club is extremely disappointed with the severity of the sanction. We acknowledge our manager's choice of words post-match constitutes a breach of the disciplinary rules, and the club accepts the decision of the Scottish FA Judicial Panel.
“We were disappointed that the mitigating factors around the match were not taken into account, namely the video evidence highlighting several contentious decisions in the game and disparaging remarks made by an assistant referee to members of our coaching staff post-match. In the lead-up to our fixture with Ross County, the club had been in regular and ongoing dialogue with the refereeing department in regard to several contentious decisions in important fixtures that had gone against us.
“In communications with the refereeing department, we ultimately felt vindicated with regard to these complaints. These incidents also played into the frustration shown by the manager at full time. As a club we believe it is important to stand up for what we believe is right, for our club, our manager and our supporters. The club will make no further comment at this time.”
The original rant
Following Dunfermline’s loss to Ross County in Dingwall, Lennon told BBC Scotland: “I haven’t been this angry with the officials for a long, long time. And even at the end I’ve had to go into his office and speak about the way the assistant linesman made disparaging comments to one of my coaching staff.
“If this is the level we are getting to we are in trouble. This guy cost me a goal against Partick Thistle when Chris Kane is a yard out and the guy pulled his shirt. I don’t know how he keeps missing opportunities. We are getting done by referees and particularly that one.
“I’ve already asked the head of referees – I don’t want him refereeing any of our games again. He’s either incompetent or I don’t know what the word I’m looking for is… I’ll leave to the club to report back to Willie. I’ve been in the game a long time and that attitude from a certain individual is unacceptable.”