Hibs’ Head Coach Neil Lennon will have to watch the second leg against Asteras Tripolis from the stand after receiving another one-match ban for gesturing to the dugout during the club’s 6-1 victory over NSI Runavik at Easter Road.
Lennon watched that game from the directors box but was spotted signalling for a substitution by a UEFA delegate who then reported him to the authorities.
He denied trying to affect the game and pointed out that he was only making gestures to someone sitting next to him but that cut no ice.
Speaking after last night’s dramatic victory, Lennon said:“It’s ridiculous, absolutely scandalous given the circumstances.
“They said I made a substitute signal but we were only five goals up at the time, it had no bearing on the tie whatsoever and I was actually signalling to the guy sitting next to me in the stand.
“I can’t get my head around it at all. I think it’s very, very harsh to say the least. I’ve also been fined €5,000, it’s unbelievable but I’ll just accept it and get on with it.
“I’m now in the stand for a very important game and it’s impossible to coach from the directors box. It’s over officious.
“The Uefa delegate reported me. He came over and said ‘You can’t make signals, coach’. I told him him I was making it to the guy next to me. “I didn’t think I’d get a ban but I have. It’s incredibly harsh. It’s the longest ban ever – the Brondby game was two years ago”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
