DOLLY MENGA has copped a two-game ban after his aggressive actions against Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie in Celtic’s goalless draw against Livingston in West Lothian on Sunday.
The bustling hitman will now miss his club’s Premership games against Sevco Rangers and Motherwell after Livi accepted a retrospective suspension.
Referee Kevin Clancy and his assistants missed Menga crudely thrusting his head into the face of the Celt in the 24th minute as the Hoops defence prepared to deal with a long throw-in from Alan Lithgow.
Christie and the Belgium-born Angolan international striker jostled at the near post before he made his intimidating move.
The Highlander, who agreed a new three-year deal with the champions this week, refused to make the most of the incident and remained on his feet.
Menga’s unwarranted aggression was caught by TV cameras and, remarkably, he did something similar in the second-half when he bundled the Scotland international into the net. Again. the match officials ignored the movement.
Livi had until this afternoon to respond to an SFA charge of violent conduct, but chose not to contest the suspension.
Menga, who scored his only goal of the campaign as Gary Holt’s team beat Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox outfit in September, will now miss the the trip to Govan on November 24.
The attacker, who signed a two-year contract in August after leaving Blackpool, will also be ineligible for the visit of the Fir Park side the following week.
After the weekend clash, Brendan Rodgers was asked for his view on the flashpoint and he replied: “He should have been sent off.
“In real time, I thought he gestured with his head towards Ryan and when I saw it after the game it was actually more aggressive than I thought.”
Christie added: “It was all a bit strange. It came out of nothing.
“I didn’t know if the official had seen anything or not – and I suppose if they haven’t seen it then they can’t send him off.”
