CELTIC CONSIDER JOZO APPEAL

CELTIC will consider an appeal against UEFA’s decision to ban Jozo Simunovic for an extra game, as reported in CQN yesterday.

The Croatian centre-half was ordered off in the 3-0 second leg win over Alashkert in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers last week.

UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary body decided to double the defender’s spell on the sidelines from an automatic one-game suspension to rule him out of the Hoops’ return tie against Rosenborg on Wednesday in Trondheim where they will defend a 3-1 lead.

Simunovic saw red in the 3-0 victory over Alashkert for an alleged high boot on Brazilian forward Jefferson Reis after only 10 minutes.

The Hoops will request the reasons from UEFA as to why they have opted to increase the sanction. Once they are in receipt of the full explanation for the decision they will weigh up whether or not to submit an appeal.

It is unlikely that it will be registered with the governing body before Monday, which could potentially free up the player to play against Rosenborg depending on when they appeal would be heard.

In his enforced absence, Brendan Rodgers paired youngsters Jack Hendry and Kristoffer Ajer against the Norwegians.