JOZO SIMUNOVIC will miss the first TWO games of Celtic’s nine-in-a-row Premiership campaign after being handed a ban.
The Croatian centre-half was red-carded in the Hoops’ goalless draw in the friendly against St Gallen in Switzerland, as CQN reported earlier this month.
Simunovic was dismissed for a reckless high boot and referee Fedayi San, acting on information received from VAR, included the incident in his match report to the Swiss FA who have filed a misconduct report to their Scottish counterparts.
Neil Lennon reckoned the sending-off “seemed a bit harsh” and the Hoops boss was left wondering if the 24-year-old defender would receive further punishment for what could hardly be deemed a brutal challenge.
Now the Hoops boss has learned Simunovic will miss Flag Day against St Johnstone on Saturday, August 3 and Motherwell at Fir Park a week later.
His fate was sealed after the Swiss FA delivered their verdict.
It read: “In accordance with JPP (Judicial Panel Protocol) Annex C, section 4, Part D paragraph 3, the misconduct reported shall be recorded and the resultant suspension applied.
“The outstanding suspension applied for this offence is two first team matches immediate (domestic football).”
Simunovic’s impending suspension doesn’t affect his availability for Champions League qualifiers and he will be available for the game against Estonia’s Nomme Kalju in Glasgow on Wednesday.
