Source: Team_Talk
More ref justice for Lennon
eil Lennon is on course for another collision with the SFA after being sent off by referee Craig Thomson in Celtic's 2-0 defeat at Hearts.[LNB] The Celtic boss was already enraged at the red card handed to midfielder Joe Ledley for a challenge on Ian Black, who had opened the scoring with a deflected drive in the first half, when David Templeton made it 2-0.[LNB]However, he boiled over again when Thomson ignored a penalty claim when Jambos substitute Ryan Stevenson looked like he might have used an arm in the box.[LNB]Lennon was then dismissed from the dugout by Thomson after complaining to fourth official Steven McLean and linesman Graham Chambers.[LNB]The incident is sure to spark more controversy following the Irishman's recent spat with the SFA and referee Dougie McDonald after the official rescinded a penalty award at Dundee United and then admitted lying to Lennon about how he had come to the decision.[LNB]The Celtic manager said: "I don't know why I was sent off. Alan Thompson and Johan Mjallby had a pop as well.[LNB]"By the time the fourth official called the referee over I had long finished.[LNB]"There was no talk between me and the referee so obviously it's the fourth official's decision to send me to the stand and I'm not happy about it at all.[LNB]"It was a clear penalty. I can see that 45 yards away. It was a clear penalty and if Craig doesn't see it, why doesn't his assistant see it?[LNB]"So again we are talking about referees after the game. I will think about appealing. I want a clarification on mine...and we will have a look at it."[LNB]Asked if he would be writing again to the SFA, as he did after the McDonald penalty incident at Tannadice and after Willie Collum gave Rangers a penalty in their recent win at Parkhead, he replied: "I don't know. Probably."[LNB]Lennon was equally scathing of Thomson's decision to send off Ledley.[LNB]He said: "It was a ridiculous decision. I was two or three yards away from it, it was a good tackle.[LNB]"The referee is going to say he went in with two feet but if that is the case Black was also going in with two feet. Joe came out with the ball. It is a ridiculous decision.[LNB]"It changed the game. It was a struggle with 10 men."[LNB]Celtic skipper Shaun Maloney hopes that referees are not the focus of attention for the rest of the season.[LNB]He said: "At the time I thought it was a penalty but I haven't seen any replays. If the referee makes a wrong decision the players and manager will be asked about it and all we can do is give an honest answer.[LNB]"But I can't imagine the referee debate will stop all of a sudden. We have been on the wrong end of a couple of decisions, high-profile ones.[LNB]"Hopefully, over the course of the season, we are not talking about referees' decisions after each match."[LNB]Hearts manager Jim Jefferies insisted his side deserved to take all three points regardless of the controversial incidents.[LNB]"I don't think there is any doubt that it was a deserved win," he said. "We had a couple of chances to score before we got the goal.[LNB]"We played better than Celtic in the first half and at 2-0 I'm glad that we didn't do anything stupid to let them back into it.[LNB]"For the sending off, the referee indicated that it was two-footed tackle and if that's the case then it is an automatic red card.[LNB]"Ryan said he chested the ball down and Celtic fans claimed for a penalty and you can't blame them for that. But that might have been the only way they were going to score.""
