LAFF BAN
Kyle Lafferty hit with huge ban over sectarian abuse video but will be back for Kilmarnock’s semi-final against Celtic
KYLE LAFFERTY has been slapped with a huge ten-match ban after being punished by the Scottish FA for using a sectarian slur in a video that circulated on social media.
The Killie striker will be out until after the New Year and could make his comeback in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Celtic.
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After the ban was confirmed, Lafferty released a statement on the Kilmarnock website in which he apologised and accepted his reaction was "completely out of order."
He said: “I want to deeply apologise to the club, supporters and my family for the distress caused over the past month. I totally acknowledge that my reaction to the incident was completely out of order. There is no excuse, it’s something that I immediately regretted and have been embarrassed about ever since. I absolutely accept that I should not have responded to provocation in that manner.
“I placed myself in a position that has been very difficult to deal with, so I’m now determined to work with Nil By Mouth to ensure that others, particularly the youngsters at the club, learn from my mistake and avoid putting themselves in any type of similar situation in the future.”
Lafferty was hit with a notice of complaint by the SFA's compliance officer after a video surfaced on social media that appeared to show him using the term "fenian b******" towards a Celtic fan in a nightclub.
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The supporter in question asked for a picture with Lafferty before saying "Up the Celtic", which led to the footballer's response.
He was on international duty with Northern Ireland at the time, who sent him home from the team's camp, and then his club Kilmarnock launched their own investigation into the matter.
Kilmarnock fined the striker and while the amount remains undisclosed the club say it was a "substantial" sum.
Lafferty previously admitted his regret over the incident.
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He was charged by the SFA with breaching Rule 77 and Rule 81 of the governing body's code of conduct.
Rule 77 is as follows: "A recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall, at all times, act in the best interests of Association Football. Furthermore such person or body shall not act in any manner which is improper or use any one, or a combination of, violent Conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour."
And rule 81 states: "No recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall (i) use offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or actions which include(s) a reference, whether express or implied, to any one or more of the following :- ethnic religion, colour, race, nationality, religion or belief, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation or disability or (ii) carry out any act of victimisation (as defined in Equality Act 2010) or any act of discrimination by reason of ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, religion or belief, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, disability, age, pregnancy, maternity, marital status or civil partnership, unless otherwise permitted by law and the rules and regulations of the Scottish FA."
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The ten-game suspension is one of the longest bans in Scottish football history.
Dave Bowman, then playing for Forfar, was slapped with a mega 17-game ban in 2001.
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