Aleksandar Tonev made his return to competitive action tonight as Celtic’s development side drew 0-0 with Dundee at Gayfield.
The Bulgarian failed to overturn a seven match ban for racist abuse of Aberdeen’s Shay Logan and completed that suspension by sitting out Saturday’s 1-0 win over Ross County.
Tonev did play for Celtic against PSV Eindhoven and Sparta Prague during Celtic’s recent break in Gran Canaria and is now available to Ronny Deila. Tonev played for 79 minutes tonight before being substituted by Regan Hendry.
After his appeal was turned down a Celtic statement read: “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.”
Celtic v Dundee:Fasan; Fisher, O’Connell, Kelleher, Waters; Lindsay, Twardzik; Thomson, McGregor, Tonev, Miller
Subs: Breslin, McCabe, McCart, McIlduff, Hendry, Hill