Neil Lennon has given a real insight into the Cypriot Cup Final drama that ended with him seeing red as he branded the referee in charge a 'clown'.
The Celtic hero made the move abroad for his first taste of management outside the UK with Omonia Nicosia and after just a few months at the helm he landed domestic cup success to add to his already successful CV. But it was a drama filled clash that went all the way before his side defeated Ethnikos Achnas on spot-kicks.
His side were reduced to ten men after just TWO minutes and following 90 minutes of action and an additional 30 in extra-time, the referee from Italy put up FIVE added minutes on top and that was the moment Lennon seen red. An altercation ended with the Celtic legend picking up a yellow card before he sarcastically clapped at the referee and was issued his marching orders. Lennon was held back by his backroom team as tensions boiled over.
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Speaking on Sky Sports' Essential Football podcast, Lennon has given an in-depth description of the scenes that went on. He is now out of work and awaiting his next job in the dugout after being axed by the Cypriot side following inconsistent domestic results. That was despite leading his side into the Europa League group stages alongside Manchester United.
He said: "I did yeah because I had just had enough of the referee at that point. Out here they bring in mutual referees and we had this clown from Italy.
"Seemingly he had only managed 17 Serie A games. As if this was a really experienced referee. 17. In the semi-final we had a man sent-off after eight minutes and in the final we had a man sent off after two minutes. It was incredible. He was so bad.
"We had to play 90 minutes and extra-time with ten men. Then at the end of the extra-time he put up five minutes added-time. I just snapped at the end. Their bench was coming out complaining and I walked up and said 'What are you complaining about? You've got everything going for you'. So the referee came up and booked me and I have done the sarcastic clap and get a second yellow. I just lost it. Half the bench are up and trying to pull me away from this guy.
"So I watched the penalties from the analyst room which I did for my last cup final with Celtic. The scenes after it were nothing I had seen before. I know Glasgow is crazy but going down the motorway on the bus with the cup afterwards and there are fans on the balance of the cars waving the flags. Fireworks going off everywhere. It was a real eye opener.
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