Neil Lennon was at the centre of more touchline controversy on Wednesday night after he was struck in the face by a coin thrown from the crowd during the Edinburgh derby.
The Hibernian manager was goading the home support at Tynecastle after a late goal was disallowed, but was on the floor clutching his face moments later after the coin-throwing incident.
It is not the first time the former Celtic boss has had a bust-up with the opposition support and here, Press Association Sport takes a look at three previous cases.
Hearts v Celtic, Tynecastle 2011
Title-chasing Celtic turned up to Tynecastle on the penultimate day of the Premiership season hoping to put the pressure on Rangers in the race for the title. Although it was a comfortable 3-0 win for the visitors, it was a moment after the second goal that dominated the headlines. After Gary Hooper’s strike, a Hearts fan emerged from the stands and aimed a punch at the Northern Irishman before he was hauled away by security. Although cleared of assault, the supporter was given an eight-month jail sentence for a breach of peace.
Aberdeen v St Johnstone, Tynecastle 2014
Again at Tynecastle, Lennon was the subject of more abuse but this time he was not stood on the touchline for the League Cup semi-final. The Celtic manager was in Edinburgh on a scouting mission and sat in the directors’ box with a mixture of his own and Aberdeen staff, but was subjected to verbal abuse and had objects, such as coins and cups of liquid, thrown at him throughout. The abuse was such that despite moving seats, he left after an hour and led to him describing the incident as “unsavoury and uncalled for”.
Hearts v Hibs, Tynecastle 2018
"Ultimately it comes down to the individual."
"It was a pound coin, so he must have a few quid on him!"
Hibs boss Neil Lennon shares his few after he was struck by a coin during his side's 0-0 draw vs Hearts. pic.twitter.com/G6SMqp1hCd
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 31, 2018
Lennon’s issues at the home of Hearts continued on Wednesday night in a highly-charged Edinburgh derby. Now the Hibs boss, Lennon had been frustrated all night after seeing one of his players sent off in an increasingly fraught encounter, and it came to a boil when the hosts thought they had scored in added time. Lennon responded by celebrating in front of the main stand at Tynecastle and appeared to tell the supporters to ‘sit down’ after the goal had been disallowed, before being struck on the jaw by a coin thrown from the crowd. The incident left Lennon on the floor, but he responded after the game by offering to meet the offending fan in person.
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