Diouf and Lennon had an angry exchange of words at Celtic Park

The Rangers Supporters Trust wants the Scottish Football Association to conduct an investigation into Celtic manager Neil Lennon's behaviour.

Trust chairman Stephen Smith describes the Celtic management team as "out of control" based on Lennon's behaviour in matches at Tannadice and Tynecastle.

The Trust also wants Rangers to make public details of an alleged incident in the Ibrox tunnel on 6 February.

Rangers, however, will not be commenting on the matter.

The statement from Rangers Supporters Trust comes a day after it was revealed that police are investigating allegations of racist remarks made by Lennon during Wednesday's controversial Old Firm game.

Rangers had three players - Steven Whittaker, Madjid Bougherra and El Hadji Diouf - shown red cards, while Lennon had a heated exchange with opposition assistant manager Ally McCoist on the touchline at the final whistle.

Frankly, what they should be considering are the problems they have in their own backyard Celtic manager Neil Lennon's lawyer, Paul McBride

McCoist and Lennon face touchline bans from the Scottish Football Association as a result, but the Celtic manager's lawyer, Paul McBride, has described the allegations of racism as defamatory and with no substance whatsoever.

The police investigation follows complaints from members of the public, although sources close to Diouf have been quoted in morning newspapers defending Lennon and insisting that the Celtic manager is not a racist.

But Trust chairman Smith has called for an investigation based on Lennon's behaviour, primarily in Celtic's 1-0 Scottish Cup replay win on Wednesday but also dating back to the previous tie between the sides.

"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," said Smith's statement, referring to matches against Dundee United and Hearts.

"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."

Smith hinted that, had the SFA acted on behaviour at the previous Cup tie at Ibrox on 6 February - when the teams drew 2-2 - events might have been calmer for the replay.

He claims that an incident in the tunnel at Ibrox "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," said Smith.

McBride thought that the Rangers' fans organisation "should be ashamed of themselves".

"If he puts out statements like that, there is likely to be an escalation," said Lennon's lawyer. "I have never heard anything so bizarre in my life.

"We have a position at the weekend where Rangers had three players sent off, four other players booked, one of the players manhandled the referee and another player allegedly assaulted a physiotherapist of Celtic.

"The Celtic assistant manager seems to have left his technical area about two or three times and they are demanding an investigating into Celtic.

"Frankly, what they should be considering are the problems they have in their own backyard.

"Why are we not having a proper investigation by the authorities into the fact that a Celtic manager is the subject of 24-hour security, there have been insults dobbed outside his house, he has had a nail-bomb sent to him in the post, he has been the subject of threats, a viscious internet campaign and bullets sent to him and two other players?"

Following last week's controversial game, Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, called the Old Firm clubs to a summit, to be held on Tuesday, to discuss Scottish football at the request of Strathclyde Police.

Rangers manager Walter Smith has already said he regretted the reaction of some of his players during the match, while Lennon has apologised to the Celtic board for his verbal spat with McCoist.

Meanwhile, Willie McKay, agent for Diouf, who also had a verbal confrontation with Lennon on the touchline at Celtic Park, told BBC Scotland that the Senegal forward did not wish to comment and wants to concentrate on his football.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version