Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist has lodged an appeal against his two-match touchline ban following the heated confrontation with Celtic manager Neil Lennon during the Old Firm derby on 2 March. The Scottish FA found both guilty of misconduct, handing McCoist a two-game suspension and Lennon a four-game ban, the latter being a second offence within two years.
McCoist maintains he did nothing to warrant the punishment, and Rangers submitted the appeal before Wednesday's 5pm deadline. This means McCoist is likely to be in the dugout for Sunday's League Cup final against Celtic at Hampden Park, while Lennon will already be absent due to a separate four-match touchline ban.
Celtic have raised concerns over the implementation of Lennon's ban, arguing that the suspensions should run concurrently rather than consecutively. The club stated that, according to SFA procedures, Lennon's ban from the Old Firm match should be served at the same time as his existing suspension. However, the SFA believes they should run consecutively, which could keep Lennon away from the touchline for most of the remainder of the season.
McCoist's immediate focus is on Thursday's Europa League match against PSV Eindhoven, following a 0-0 draw in the Netherlands. Rangers manager Walter Smith faces a dilemma over starting Steven Naismith, who has recovered from a hamstring injury but cannot play two full games in quick succession. Smith said: 'The balance is whether it's the right game to bring him back. I don't think it's a worry bringing him back, he is fit... The problem is having the Thursday night game and then the cup final on the Sunday.'
