Neil Lennon gets five-match ban for 'acts of violence against referee'

Neil Lennon has been issued with a five-match European touchline ban by UEFA after he was sent to the stand in Hibernian's recent loss to Brondby.

The Easter Road side's head coach was dismissed during the 1-0 defeat in Edinburgh when he remonstrated with referee Juan Martinez Munuera after he disallowed Jason Cummings' goal.

TV replays showed the strike had been legal but Lennon's protests were ruled by UEFA to have been 'acts of violence against the referee' and he has been punished accordingly.

Hibs are disputing the ruling and a statement said: "Hibernian are aware of the sanction imposed by UEFA on head coach Neil Lennon and are in the process of appealing the suspension.

"The club will be making no further comment at this stage." 

The incident came in Lennon's first competitive match in charge of the Scottish Championship side and they had fallen behind after just 20 seconds.

Although Hibs then won the return leg in Denmark, they were later eliminated on penalties by the Copenhagen side.

Lennon maintained he had been sent off for no reason following the first leg and called the decision 'nonsensical' before serving an initial one-match ban.

After watching the second meeting with Brondby from the stand, however, he now has a further four games to serve during continental competition.

Hibs start their league campaign away to fellow title challengers Falkirk on Saturday after they missed out on promotion via the play-offs to Peter Houston's team last term.