Lennon wants penalty apology

09 November 2010 18:30

Neil Lennon would like an apology from Dougie McDonald after the referee admitted lying to the Celtic boss following the now-infamous Tannadice penalty decision.

McDonald rescinded a spot-kick award in the Hoops' 2-1 win over Dundee United and an investigation by the Scottish Football Association in to the incident ended with McDonald being given a warning by the SFA's referees committee over his failure to properly explain assistant Steven Craven's role in his report and in discussions with the referee observer.

McDonald then admitted misleading Lennon after the game and when asked if, as part of the SFA's proposed changes, an apology should be forthcoming Lennon replied: "I would like to think so, yes, just out of professional respect more than anything else. I don't like being lied to."

He added: "I don't know what the resolution is yet. I assume there are going to be new measures but once that all comes out, I will comment on it then."

While many believe that McDonald's position remains untenable the under-fire referee will return to the top flight in Saturday's Hibernian versus Motherwell match.

Asked if he would be satisfied if McDonald kept his job, the former Celtic skipper replied: "It's not for me to answer that question, it's not for me to make that decision."

Lennon then expressed surprise at McDonald's swift return to SPL duty, saying: "I'm surprised at it being so quickly, yes."

But, asked about the prospect of him soon taking a Celtic game, he simply said: "We will cross that bridge when we come to it."

Source: PA