Celtic lodge second appeal

Strachan: Second appeal

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Celtic have confirmed that the club will lodge a second appeal against the Scottish FA's decision to only halve Gordon Strachan's four-match touchline ban.

Strachan's four-match ban had been reduced to two matches after he succeeded in his appeal to the SFA.

The Celtic manager was sent to the stands by referee Stuart Dougal for 'dissent by word and action' during the league match against Hearts in April last season.

He served a two-match ban last campaign, and under SFA rules a second offence in a rolling three-year period automatically results in a four-match ban.

However, Strachan appealed against the sanction and the ban was reduced to two games.

Surprised and disappointed

But the Scottish champions were hoping that Strachan's suspension would be overturned rather than reduced.

A Celtic spokesperson confirmed that the club will lodge a further appeal: "Clearly the club is surprised and disappointed with the decision and we will be lodging an appeal."

The ban is set to start with Celtic's CIS Insurance Cup tie against Dundee on Wednesday.

SFA spokesman Andy Mitchell confirmed that Strachan has the right to a second appeal.

"There is an automatic four-match suspension on an official who has been found guilty for the second time of misconduct in the technical area," he explained.

Conclusion

"Gordon Strachan chose to appeal against that four-match ban and presented his case to the disciplinary committee and the outcome was a two-match suspension.

"This been applied with immediate effect which takes in the CIS Cup match tomorrow and the next league match.

"The committee has the discretion to impose whatever sanction it sees fit. But he has a right to appeal should he so choose and if he chooses to take it further it will go to an independent appeals tribunal.

"It is in everyone's interests to resolve this case to a final conclusion before addressing the next one."