Lennon (right) has been warned about his future conduct by the SFA

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has been reprimanded for his post-match comments in the wake of defeat at home to Rangers on 24 October.

The Scottish Football Association says Lennon has been "given a severe censure and warned about his future conduct".

Lennon was critical of referee Willie Collum's handling of the match.

Celtic striker Gary Hooper has been handed a suspended £2,000 fine for suggesting referees wanted to give decisions against the club.

"We are one of the biggest teams in the world and everyone wants to beat us, all the teams," said Hooper on 3 November.

"The referee wants to give a decision against us so he can say something after the game. I think all the big teams get it."

Lennon was given a six-match touchline ban by the SFA last week after his dismissal and further exchange of heated words with the fourth official at Tynecastle in November.

But the Celtic boss has escaped further punishment for his comments on Collum.

Following the 3-1 loss at Celtic Park, he voiced his disappointment with the official over the penalty he awarded to Rangers and his failure to send off Lee McCulloch.

This was the first meeting of the SFA's general purposes committee since referee Dougie McDonald, in his resignation statement, accused members of the panel of failing match officials over the years by being too lenient on critical managers.

Meanwhile, Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan is determined to avoid a repeat of last week's public dispute with Celtic.

Celtic and SFA president George Peat traded critical statements after Lennon was given his touchline ban by the governing body.

But Regan wants to stop "airing dirty washing in public" and instigate a culture of improving performances within the SFA and Scottish football.

"The relationship with Celtic is one relationship out of a number of clubs," he said.

"It's particularly high profile because of a number of specific instances which are going through committees and being discussed as we speak.

"It's inappropriate for me to comment on individual cases because clearly we have cases still to be heard.

"But what I personally feel is that to have matters between clubs and the SFA played out in the press isn't particularly helpful.

"I do think that matters that need resolving should be perhaps discussed behind closed doors and a resolution found."

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