Football News: Tonev loses appeal against racism charge

Image from: www.talkceltic.net

Celtic winger Aleksandar Tonev has lost his appeal against his seven-match ban for using racist language.

A Scottish Football Association appeal tribunal threw out the appeal after the on-loan Aston Villa winger was earlier banned over an incident involving the Aberdeen full-back Shay Logan.

The SFA has published the report of both panels who examined the case and the panel stated they were unable to accept the Bulgarian as "either credible or reliable" on the central issue of the case.

After the appeal tribunal finding were published the club made the following statement via the the official website:

"CELTIC Football Club is extremely disappointed by the outcome of the Scottish FA's Appeal Tribunal.

We do not consider that any player should be found guilty of such a grave offence on the basis of the evidence presented in this case. Celtic Football Club will be approaching the Scottish FA to seek to address this issue.

We would like to make it clear that at no stage was it ever suggested that Shay Logan had made any false allegations. However, Aleksandar Tonev's position consistently has been that he did not say the words that were alleged to have been said and that he is not a racist.

Celtic Football Club has enjoyed an excellent relationship with Aberdeen Football Club and this, of course, will continue.

As we have said many times before, racism has no place in football and as a Club which has been open to all ever since its formation in 1888, Celtic abhors racism of any kind.

Clearly, Aleksandar continues to have our full support."

Whether Celtic continue the appeal process is not clear, Celtic's manager Ronny Deila had earlier indicated the club would challenge the decision further if it was upheld, but in my opinion the club would be better letting the matter drop and sending the player back to Aston Villa at the earliest opportunity.

Written by Mark B Jamieson December 16 2014 15:09:39