Lennon hit with FA charge over biased ref claim

Neil Lennon has been charged by the FA after his comments about referee Darren Drysdale following Bolton’s 4-3 defeat at QPR on Saturday.

The FA alleges that the remarks “constitute improper conduct in that they allege and/or imply bias on the part of the match official, and/or bring the game into disrepute, in contravention of Rule E3(1)”.

There were a number of controversial decisions throughout the match before the home side scored the winning goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

“He was a disgrace, and absolute disgrace,” the former Celtic boss said after the match. “I have not seen a more biased performance from a referee in a long, long time. He gave QPR everything he possibly could. I was so frustrated with that.

“Any 50-50 challenges the free kick would look like it was going to us and he invented a free-kick for QPR.

“It was a really frustrating performance from him from my point of view anyway. You are asking me the question, so you can see it as well.”

Given the option to dilute his claim of bias Lennon added: “I don’t mind using those words after a performance like that because it was there for everyone to see.

“I thought he was really poor. I don’t know what he was seeing out there. He missed so much and he gave QPR so much and it’s bewildering.”