Ban plea will clear Strachan

Celtic will appeal a four-match touchline ban imposed on Gordon Strachan in a quest to ensure the Parkhead manager can lead his side out for the Scottish Cup Final.

Strachan was sent to the stand for the second time this season by referee Stuart Dougal during Sunday's controversial 3-1 defeat to Hearts.

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The suspension imposed would have meant the Celtic manager sitting in the Hampden stand for the showpiece Final against Dunfermline Athletic on Saturday, May 26.

Sportsmail understands, however, that the SPL champions will delay any punishment until next season by appealing against Strachan's dismissal - despite a club statement claiming they have no idea why the manager was sent off in the first place.

"The club has received calls all day asking if we would be making an appeal," said a spokesman. "It is important to say that at this stage we have no idea what we would be appealing against.

"Neither Gordon nor anyone else has any idea why he was sent to the stand."

Sportsmail can reveal that the championship-winning manager first incurred Dougal's wrath for sarcastically applauding the contentious penalty decision which allowed Michal Pospisil to put Hearts 3-1 ahead.

As the visitors made preparations to bring on substitute Neil McCann and return injured Laryea Kingston to the field of play, Dougal conferred with fourth official Alan Freeland and overheard a caustic remark from the Celtic manager.

Having already been dismissed by the same referee at Tynecastle in August after a bust-up with former Hearts coach John McGlynn, the cumulative effect led to the four-game ban.

An SFA spokesman said: "We will receive the referee's report, probably in the middle of the week, and we will write to Gordon Strachan. He will then have seven days to respond from when he receives the letter.

"There are scales of suspension that apply. Gordon was banned for two games earlier in the season and, for a second offence, will now be subject to a four-game ban.

"If he does not contest it, then the ban comes into effect from Sunday, May 13, which will see him miss the last SPL match of the season (away to Hibernian), the Scottish Cup Final and the first two league games of next season.

"The rules state that a ban kicks in an hour before kick- off, so he would not be allowed to take his team out at Hampden in the Final.

"If there is an appeal, it would probably be midto-late July before the disciplinary committee would hear it."