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Rangers appeal against Ally McCoist's touchline ban

Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist (left) and Celtic manager Neil Lennon

Tempers fray in Old Firm Cup tie

Rangers are appealing against the two-match touchline suspension handed to assistant manager Ally McCoist.

McCoist was banned for his altercation with Celtic boss Neil Lennon during their Scottish Cup fifth-round replay.

Lennon is not contesting the four-match ban he was given by the Scottish Football Association.

McCoist will now be trackside for Sunday's Co-operative Insurance Cup final against Celtic, with the SFA due to hear his case on 12 April.

It is understood Rangers will base their appeal against the misconduct charge on two counts.

They will argue that McCoist has not been given a chance to state his case and will also say that their assistant did nothing wrong in the incident at Celtic Park.

Lennon was given a four-match ban - in addition to an already existing suspension of identical length.

Neil and myself would like to move on. If mistakes were made then hopefully we can learn from them

Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist

Celtic insist that the punishment will overlap the previous charge, meaning Lennon, who was not in the dugout for the club's last match, will sit in the stands for five games rather than eight in total.

However, a spokesman for the SFA told BBC Scotland that the bans were intended to run consecutively.

McCoist had earlier said that he makes "no apology" for defending his players from "verbal abuse" in recent derby clashes.

"I felt I and the club had drawn a line under this last week," McCoist told BBC Radio Scotland on Saturday.

"When I left the Celtic manager's room after a bottle of beer with Neil I felt that it was finished.

"But, to be honest, in the last 24-48 hours, I think there has been comment and commentary which I feel I have to put my side of events over.

"We as a coaching staff - and, indeed, some of the officials, not just on Wednesday but on previous occasions - had heard some of our players subjected to verbal abuse. We felt that it was wrong.

"And I make absolutely no apology at all to the fact - whether it's Kyle Lafferty, El Hadji Diouf or Stevie Naismith - I would defend those players in a case like that. I make no apology.

"As Neil and I were shaking hands at the end of the game, I mentioned this to him. We then discussed the matter after that like two adults. We shared a bottle of beer and a glass of wine."

McCoist was hoping to put a line under the incident at Celtic Park, where three Rangers players were shown red cards.

"As far as I was concerned, the issue was finished," he added. "That's what happened and that's all I have to say on the matter.

"That's definitely a line drawn under it for me. Neil and myself would like to move on.

"If mistakes were made then hopefully we can learn from them."



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see also
SFA pursue eight-game Lennon ban
17 Mar 11 |  Celtic
We'll cope with boss ban - Stokes
11 Mar 11 |  Celtic
Old Firm pair receive dugout bans
10 Mar 11 |  Scottish Premier
Summit to tackle Old Firm 'shame'
03 Mar 11 |  Glasgow & West Scotland
Celtic's Lawwell defends Lennon
08 Mar 11 |  Celtic
Lennon defuses spat with McCoist
03 Mar 11 |  Celtic
Abuse led to tension - Gers chief
03 Mar 11 |  Rangers
Game was good viewing - Jefferies
03 Mar 11 |  Hearts
SFA chief slams Old Firm clashes
03 Mar 11 |  Scottish Cups
Lennon-McCoist rift 'will heal'
03 Mar 11 |  Celtic
Rangers fume after fiery Cup tie
02 Mar 11 |  Rangers
Celtic 1-0 Rangers
02 Mar 11 |  Scottish Cups


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