Rangers appeal against Ally McCoist's touchline ban

[Zappa 0]

Rangers appeal against Ally McCoist's touchline ban

 

By Chick Young

 

Rangers will appeal against the two-match touchline suspension handed to assistant manager Ally McCoist following their defeat by Celtic.

 

McCoist was banned afer his altercation with Celtic boss Neil Lennon at the end of the Scottish Cup fifth-round tie.

 

But Rangers will base their appeal on two counts.

 

They will argue that McCoist has not been given a chance to state his case and will also say that their assistant did nothing wrong in the incident.

 

Lennon was given a four-match ban - in addition to an already existing suspension of identical length - for the same incident as it was his second offence of the season.

 

Both men were due to sit out next weekend's Co-Operative Insurance Cup final between the two Glasgow sides.

 

But Rangers, who had seven days to make a decision about an appeal, have decided to contest the ban.

 

McCoist had earlier said that he makes "no apology" for defending his players from "verbal abuse" in recent derby clashes.

 

"I felt I and the club had drawn a line under this last week," said McCoist.

 

"When I left the Celtic manager's room after a bottle of beer with Neil I felt that it was finished.

 

"But, to be honest, in the last 24-48 hours, I think there has been comment and commentary which I feel I have to put my side of events over.

 

"We as a coaching staff - and, indeed, some of the officials, not just on Wednesday but on previous occasions - had heard some of our players subjected to verbal abuse. We felt that it was wrong.

 

"And I make absolutely no apology at all to the fact - whether it's Kyle Lafferty, El Hadji Diouf or Stevie Naismith - I would defend those players in a case like that. I make no apology.

 

"As Neil and I were shaking hands at the end of the game, I mentioned this to him. We then discussed the matter after that like two adults. We shared a bottle of beer and a glass of wine."

 

McCoist was hoping to put a line under the incident at Celtic Park, where three Rangers players were shown red cards.

 

"As far as I was concerned, the issue was finished," he added. "That's what happened and that's all I have to say on the matter.

 

"That's definitely a line drawn under it for me. Neil and myself would like to move on.

 

"If mistakes were made then hopefully we can learn from them."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/9421971.stm

Edited March 12, 2011 by Zappa

[Zappa 0]

Now it's official -

 

Weds 16 Mar 2011

McCoist Appeals Ban

 

ALLY McCoist has appealed against the two-match suspension imposed by the SFA after the Scottish Cup tie between the Old Firm on March 2.

 

Rangers have confirmed that the appeal has been submitted and this means that McCoist might be able to take his normal place in the Rangers technical area at Sunday's Co-operative Insurance Cup Final.

 

The SFA sanction is due to kick in from tomorrow and therefore the assistant manager would banned from the Final against Celtic and then the SPL match with Dundee United at Ibrox on April 2.

 

A statement reads: "Rangers Football Club can confirm that Assistant Manager Ally McCoist has lodged an appeal with the Scottish Football Association following their decision to impose a two-match suspension from the technical area after the recent Scottish Cup tie at Celtic Park."

 

http://www.rangers.co.uk/articles/20110316/mccoist-appeals-ban_2254024_2317439?

[Zappa 0]

Will be interesting to see if Stewart Regan scrambles together an emergency hearing so that McCoist can't be on the touchline on Sunday. Dr.Death & Lawwell will be working late tonight...