Rangers defender Bilel Mohsni handed initial four-game ban
Wednesday 3 June 2015 23:35, UK
Rangers defender Bilel Mohsni faces a lengthy ban following his sending off against Motherwell last weekend.
Mohsni has been issued by a notice of complaint from the Scottish Football Association after he sparked a mass brawl at the end of Motherwell's 3-1 play-off victory at Fir Park.
The Tunisian receives an immediate four-game ban after punching and kicking home striker Lee Erwin, who had pushed him in the back when he appeared to refuse to shake his hand as the players left the field.
However, he faces being punished further by Hampden disciplinary bosses after they charged him with three counts of "excessive misconduct by committing sending-off offences of violent conduct".
Meanwhile, Motherwell duo Lionel Ainsworth and Craig Moore have accepted two-match bans for their part in the fracas.
It was also reported on Sunday that Erwin and team-mate Fraser Kerr, who also grappled with Mohsni before the Ibrox defender was ushered down the tunnel by Rangers security staff, we also sent off following the brawl.
But it has now emerged that Erwin, a reported £500,000 target for Leeds United, was only shown a yellow card by referee Craig Thomson for "adopting an aggressive attitude" and will face no further punishment.
Mohsni, who is one of 12 players now out of contract at the Scottish Championship club, has already returned to his parents house in Paris, according to reports.
Police Scotland are still investigating the incident but his agent claims his "career in British football" is over.
The notice of complaint levied against the 27-year-old states he breached disciplinary rule 202 with his assault on Erwin and that "these sending-off offences of Violent Conduct were aggravated by the number of acts of Violent Conduct committed by you, by the prolonged nature of the incident involving these acts, and by the high degree of physical violence used".
'Violent conduct'
It adds: "That your acts of Violent Conduct involved: i) Kicking Lee Erwin of Motherwell FC; ii) Punching Lee Erwin of Motherwell FC upon the face so that his face was cut and he was injured; and iii) Struggling violently with Fraser Kerr of Motherwell FC."
A principal hearing has been set for June 18, and Mohsni has until 3pm on June 9 to respond to the complaint.
The SFA statement adds: "For the avoidance of doubt, Mr Mohsni was sent off after the above match for Violent Conduct, incurring an automatic four-match suspension (two matches plus two additional matches for previous sending-off offences this season). The above notice of complaint is in addition to this sending-off offence."
Rangers released a statement on Monday, saying: "Bilel Mohsni's behaviour was completely unacceptable and had his contract not now expired, the club would have started disciplinary proceedings."
After reviewing video footage of the incident, SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan also charged Motherwell duo Ainsworth and Kerr.
Ainsworth has now been banned for two games after he admitted "striking Bilel Mohsni of Rangers FC on the back of the neck or head", while Kerr was given the same punishment for "striking or attempting to strike Bilel Mohsni of Rangers FC with your hand".
Motherwell won the match 3-0, for an aggregate 6-1 victory which consigned Rangers to another season in the Scottish Championship and preserved Ian Baraclough's side's place in the Premiership.
