Celtic right to query decisions says Johan Mjallby
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Mjallby 'gobsmacked' at Lennon ban
Celtic coach Johan Mjallby says the club will never stop fighting decisions they feel are wrong.
The club are appealing a six-match touchline ban given to manager Neil Lennon, who again bemoaned referee decisions after the draw with Hamilton.
"You can't give up, it's in our nature to fight for everything and that's what we are going to do, especially for Celtic Football Club," said the Swede.
"Our job is to do as well as we can to win games and improve the players."
Manager Lennon was given the six-game ban for being sent to the Tynecastle stand following an altercation with the fourth official during Celtic's defeat by Hearts in November.
Celtic say they plan to appeal the punishment, which they described as "excessive and unprecedented for a first offence".
Following the statement from Celtic, the Scottish Football Association president George Peat criticised Celtic for airing their grievances in public.
Mjallby, though, believes the relationship with the SFA can be repaired - after the club have fought their cause.
"Right now, we are disappointed about the fact that Neil got six matches because I don't think he has been fairly treated," the former Celtic defender said.
For me, it's more important to concentrate on the team and leave the refereeing to the referees
Celtic assistant manager Johan Mjallby
"I think that's a very, very hard punishment. I was a bit gobsmacked when I heard.
"But we are here to build a strong Celtic team and make sure we can win the league. That's the main thing. Hopefully in the future the relationship can be better."
Lennon could receive further sanctions when he faces a different SFA committee on Monday over comments he made about the officials after the same match against Hearts.
On Wednesday, Lennon described calls by the assistant referee in his team's 1-1 draw at Hamilton as "staggering".
The Celtic manager was angry that Hamilton's goal stood after Martin Canning tried to flick the ball on in an offside position before Simon Mensing headed home.
"The important thing is to remember that goals change games," said Mjallby.
"We have all seen that the goal shouldn't have stood, but what can you do about it? We all saw that some of the decisions went against us but we can't dwell on things like that.
"We just need to prepare ourselves and get together so that even if a decision goes against us we keep playing the game and get three points.
"I still feel we should have won the game despite the fact we lost the goal but we didn't create enough in the final third.
"For me, it's more important to concentrate on the team and leave the refereeing to the referees."
Celtic are also appealing a straight red card shown to James Forrest in that game, one in which Accies also had two men dismissed.
This will allow the winger to feature against Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday with the hearing set to be held early next week.
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