Celtic manager Neil Lennon could become the first person to receive a suspension from the Scottish Football Association (SFA) over comments on Twitter since rules were tightened.
Sunday’s Scottish Cup semifinal was won in the dying seconds by Heart of Midlothian when the team scored from a penalty after the ball struck the arm of Celtic’s player Joe Ledley and brushed the hand of his teammate Victor Wanyama.
The decision by referee Euan Norris riled Lennon, who took to Twitter to suggest the official had shown bias. “Referee told players he thought Wanyama handled. Feel so sorry for players and fans. I think it’s personal myself,” he wrote.
The manager also retweeted a message from one of his followers that claimed SFA officials were “crooked.”
One of the SFA’s rules states, “No recognised football team official shall, in an interview, a blog, on a social networking or micro-blogging site, publicity criticise the performance of any or all match officials in such a way as to indicate bias or incompetence.”
Lennon, who led his team to the Scottish championship this year, may rue his decision. He may be suspended for up to 20 games under SFA rules, according to The Scotsman. He’s facing three other disciplinary cases and may find out this week whether he will face a charge for his tweets.
Celtic players could be in hot water for their Twitter comments as well.
“Can’t believe the decisions made on the pitch today. Was never a [penalty],” wrote Ledley. The midfielder added, “This sums it up, [Norris] thought it hit Victors’ arm.”
Striker Anthony Stokes was also aggrieved, tweeting, “Some ridiculous decisions today, it’s getting beyond a joke at this stage. And that’s not making excuses just saying it as it is”
Lennon isn’t content to hold back when he doesn’t agree with something. Earlier this month, after Lennon’s former Celtic teammate Stiliyan Petrov was diagnosed with leukaemia, a Twitter account was set up in Petrov’s name so fans could send their support. That outraged Lennon though, who tweeted, “Get off this page…you are pretending to be Stan and that’s sick at this minute.”
The Celtic manager is no stranger to unsavory Twitter criticism himself. Last year, a young player at lower league team Berwick Rangers tweeted that he wished a parcel bomb sent to Lennon had killed the 40-year-old. Kieran Bowell was fired for his remark.
Though Lennon faces constant criticism on the social networking site, it would have behooved him to hold his tongue (or thumbs) on this occasion. This time, he’s getting the red card.
Photo via Twitter