Strathclyde Police Reported Lennon to match officials at Ibrox last month

[Frankie 8,145]

http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/latest-rst-news/375-rst-backs-bain-and-calls-for-sfa-investigation-into-lennons-conduct?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

The Board of the Rangers Supporters� Trust offers unequivocal backing for Martin Bain, the Rangers Chief Executive, in his attempt to bring some sanity and balance to hysterical nonsense around the Scottish Cup tie on 2 March at Celtic Park.

 

We also have serious concerns about Neil Lennon�s actions in the first half of this game* and cannot understand why no action was taken against Lennon either by match officials or the SFA for i) leaving his own technical area; ii) for intruding on the Rangers technical area, or; iii) for deliberate provocation. If the alleged contact between Diouf and the Celtic physiotherapist was such an issue for Mr Lennon, why did he not raise this with the 4th official standing about four feet away from him?

 

We consider that the management team at Celtic FC are out of control and in our view this is evidenced by Mr Lennon�s previous behaviour at Tannadice and at Tynecastle, for which he received a four match ban. What we consider to be premeditated provocation and incitement of Rangers players and staff was continued last Wednesday evening in the tunnel in Celtic Park after the half time whistle in scenes captured on Sky television.

 

We are also in possession of documentary evidence from Strathclyde Police Chief Superintendent Andrew Bates, referring to Neil Lennon�s provocative gestures towards the West Enclosure and Main Stand during the game at Ibrox on 6 February, stating that:

 

ââ?¬Å?The alleged conduct of the Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, was noted by my ground commander and highlighted to the match referee at half time and at the conclusion of the match. In my view as match commander it was entirely appropriate for the match referee to include the circumstances of the alleged incident to the Scottish Football Association for their consideration as part of this match report.ââ?¬Â

 

If the referee and the SFA had acted on this, perhaps the Celtic management team would have behaved more responsibly?

 

This incident was immediately followed by an alleged incident between the Celtic manager and El Hadji Diouf, Steven Naismith and Vladimir Weiss in the tunnel after half time, an incident which had a direct bearing on what happened on 2 March. We are now asking Rangers to reveal precisely what took place and why this had such a major effect on subsequent events.

 

All the incidents cited above are at the very least cause for concern and we therefore call on the SFA to conduct a meaningful and thorough investigation into these issues as soon as practicable.

 

Stephen Smith

Chairman, Rangers Supporters' Trust

 

(* Immediately after Stephen Whittaker received a red card, Ally McCoist called El Hadji Diouf, the player nearest to him, over to pass on tactical advice. Diouf came to the touchline to meet with McCoist at the corner of the Rangers technical area, the furthest point from the Celtic dug-out. Neil Lennon then intruded on the Rangers technical area to say something which provoked both McCoist and Diouf, which resulted in Diouf being booked and Ally McCoist having to be physically restrained by Walter Smith.)

 

So, question must be asked - did Calum Murray include these incidents in his report and, if so, why did Stewart Regan not act upon them last month?

 

Increasingly likely that SFA is being compromised by incompetence at all levels here.

 

[Frankie 8,145]

Also: why did police not take action themselves given their anger at anti-social behaviour related to game?