Celtic Manager Target Of Violence Again

A man has been arrested in connection with an attack on Celtic Manager Neil Lennon.

The attack occurred on the Northern Ireland man came during the second half of his team's 3-0 win against Hearts at Tynecastle in Edinburgh.

The assailant came from the Hearts section of the main stand after Celtic's second goal and made for Lennon on the touchline.

He connected with Lennon before being wrested to the ground by police and stewards, handcuffed and bundled out of the stadium.

Trouble then broke out in the Celtic section of the ground between fans and police.

Lothian and Borders Police said a man had been reported to the procurator fiscal and would appear in court in connection with the incident.

A police spokesman said: "A number of incidents took place during this match including some violent disorder.

Hearts has vowed to give its full co-operation during the investigation.

A club statement said: "An investigation into events which took place in the second half of tonight's game against Celtic is now under way.

"Hearts is a club which prides itself on its 'football for all' policy and these sorts of actions have no place in the game of football."

Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan issued a statement, saying: "Clearly this kind of behaviour from supporters is wholly unacceptable.

"The safety of players, club officials and match officials is paramount on or around the field of play, and this clear breach of security is a matter I will be discussing with SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster tomorrow."

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This sort of behaviour is utterly unacceptable. The Joint Action Group formed after the recent football summit is developing the eight-point plan to present to ministers before the start of the new season to tackle all issues of violence and bigotry in relation to football, because we cannot have the safety of individuals endangered by such mindless incidents, and our national game tarnished."

In a separate development, police investigating parcel bombs sent to Lennon have detained two men.

Earlier this season police intercepted the devices, which were addressed to Lennon, his lawyer and a politician.

Strathclyde Police said their operation was centred on the town of Kilwinning, in Ayrshire, where one suspect package had been discovered in a postbox.

The men, aged 41 and 43, were held under the explosive substances act after raids on Thursday morning.

For a decade Neil Lennon has been in the headlines due to the levels of abuse, threats and violence directed at him.

A Roman Catholic from Lurgan, County Armagh, Lennon stopped playing international football for Northern Ireland in 2002 after a death threat, said to be from loyalist paramilitaries.

Two men were sent to prison after assaulting Lennon in the street in the West End of Glasgow in 2008.

And earlier this year bullets addressed to the Celtic manager were intercepted at a postal sorting office.

(JG/GK)