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Celtic's Albian Ajeti escapes two-match ban after disciplinary hearing

The Switzerland international was accused of diving to win a penalty against Kilmarnock.

Celtic striker Albian Ajeti has escaped a two-match ban after a charge of simulation was not proven.

The Switzerland international was accused of causing referee Kevin Clancy to wrongly award the Hoops a penalty during their 4-0 Scottish Premiership win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park last Tuesday.

However, the charge was found "not proved" during a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.

With Celtic leading 1-0 through a Scott Brown goal, Ajeti tumbled to the ground inside the penalty area early in the second half as Killie goalkeeper Colin Doyle came out to challenge.

Odsonne Edouard converted the penalty and the French striker grabbed his second 10 minutes later, with Ajeti adding a fourth with three minutes remaining.

Earlier in the day, before the outcome was revealed, Hoops boss Neil Lennon reiterated his belief that Ajeti was innocent but admitted he had prepared for the match against St Mirren in Paisley on Wednesday night with the player both in and out of the team.

He said: "We will wait then decide what the team will be. We have prepared both (in and out).

"I have made my thoughts on it pretty clear, what the outcome should be, but you just don't know.

"I have seen it, there is definite contact.

"You can't really call it simulation. Simulation is when there is no contact and we have seen plenty of that over the years and we don't encourage that at all.

"But as a striker who is running very quickly and the goalkeeper is coming across his line as well, there is contact.

"You can't gauge the force that hits you at, at that speed, I'm not a physicist, or scientist, but I don't know how they can come to the conclusion that Albian conned the referee in that instance."

Meanwhile, Rangers striker Kemar Roofe's SFA fast-track hearing has been put back 24 hours at the request of the Ibrox club.

Roofe was due to learn his fate following his lunge on St Johnstone midfielder Murray Davidson but the hearing has been rescheduled for Wednesday.

The forward was booked for the challenge but subsequently accused of serious foul play, with a two-match ban awaiting him if Rangers fail to successfully challenge the charge.

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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
CCeltic440092286490
2RangersRangers430184295584
3Hearts412151391267
4Kilmarnock41124543255
5St Mirren41124449-547
6Dundee40044867-1941
Relegation Group
1Aberdeen44004650-447
2Hibernian42025158-745
3Motherwell42025557-243
4Ross County41123665-2934
5St Johnstone40132753-2632
RLivingston42022869-4124
 
First Phase
CCeltic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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