NEIL LENNON admitted it was a “massive suprise” to learn Albian Ajeti faced a two-game ban for simulation after the penalty-kick incident in the 4-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Tuesday night.
The Swiss international was sent tumbling after keeper Colin Doyle dived at his feet and referee Kevin Clancy awarded the spot-kick.
Odsonne Edouard fired in the Hoops’ second goal on their way to a landslide victory where Ajeti also got on the scoresheet with only his sixth goal for the club since arriving in a £5million dal from West Ham in the summer.
Lennon confirmed the striker will team up again with the Frenchman to face Motherwell at Parkhead tomorrow afternoon, despite the furore created by the SFA’s move.
The Hoops boss, speaking to Sky Sports News, said: “It IS a penalty. He has had contact to the back of the foot or ankle.
“The keeper has made contact, he has gone down, the referee has given a penalty. I don’t see any simulation.
“Simulation is where there is no contact. There is obvious contact, you can see that quite clearly.
“I don’t understand why these charges have been brought up against Albian, we don’t agree with it at all, so we will be appealing it, of course.
“It was a massive surprise when you consider some of the other things that have been going on this season.
“I don’t see how it can be deemed simulation when you are running at that pace and the goalkeeper is giving the referee a decision to make and the referee has made the right decision.
“He (Ajeti) said he got the contact and he went down and got a penalty. That’s where he is with it and that’s where we are with it as well, from what we have seen from the footage.”
Asked about his thoughts on the process, Lennon answered: “I don’t have many thoughts on it. I haven’t really been in and around it this year but on this charge, we feel aggrieved.
“He will play tomorrow and we will obviously defend it as vigorously as possible next week.”
Ryan Christie is a doubt for the champions after rolling an ankle and having to come off in the 70th minute against Killie with Mohamed Elyounoussi coming on in his place.
