Former Hibs manager Neil Lennon has been hit with a six-match ban by the Scottish Football Association Judicial Panel for comments made following a Championship fixture between current club Dunfermline and Ross County.
He had told BBC Scotland post-match that referee Duncan Nicolson had “cost us at least a point” and said it had been “an abomination of a performance” by the official and added: “I don’t want him refereeing any of our games again.”
Dunfermline FC issued the following statement: “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. T
“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.”
Four of games are immediate and two suspended.
Dunfermline host Hibs in the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup next month.
