Ally McCoist to decide on reaction to ban

Matt McGeehan,Pa
Friday 11 March 2011 11:36 GMT
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Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist was today set to decide on a course of action after being handed a two-match misconduct ban for his altercation with Celtic boss Neil Lennon in last week's ill-tempered Scottish Cup fifth-round replay at Parkhead.

Celtic manager Lennon and Rangers assistant boss McCoist were yesterday charged with misconduct by the Scottish Football Association and banned for four and two matches respectively as the fallout of the volatile match continued.

Lennon was already banished to the stands for the March 20 Co-operative Insurance Cup final with Rangers at Hampden Park, but now McCoist is set to join him in being banned from the touchline after their fracas at the end of last week's match, unless there is a successful appeal.

McCoist was digesting the news ahead of last night's Europa League clash with PSV Eindhoven in Holland.

Speaking prior to the match, the former Scotland and Rangers striker told BBC Radio Scotland: "That's news to me. I'll have a wee think about it after the game tonight."

There are poised to be further punishments handed out with two of the three Rangers players sent off in the 1-0 loss set to face further sanctions.

El-Hadji Diouf, who was shown a red card after the final whistle, and team-mate Madjid Bougherra have been reported to the SFA's disciplinary committee for "misconduct of a significantly serious nature".

A Scottish FA statement read: "The Scottish FA can confirm that Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager, and Ally McCoist, the Rangers assistant manager, have been charged with misconduct relating to the Scottish Cup fifth-round replay.

"Mr Lennon will incur an automatic four-match suspension from the technical area, owing to a previous charge of misconduct, while Mr McCoist will incur a two-match suspension. These will be effective from March 16, 2011.

"In addition, the Rangers players, El-Hadji Diouf and Madjid Bougherra, have been informed that they will be reported to the Disciplinary Committee for misconduct of a significantly serious nature. These will be considered at the committee's next meeting, on April 12."

Lennon and McCoist clashed and had to be separated at the same time Rangers forward Diouf, booked earlier in the match for a touchline confrontation with the Celtic boss, was being shown a second yellow card by referee Calum Murray for dissent.

Rangers had finished the game with nine men after the first-half dismissal of Steven Whittaker for picking up two yellow cards with defender Bougherra receiving his marching orders in stoppage time after a challenge on Kris Commons, having been booked earlier.

Bougherra reacted angrily and tried to prevent referee Murray from showing his cards.

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