Hearts of Midlothian - Celtic Glasgow - 11/05/2011

Source : Channel4.com

The Celtic manager was attacked by a man emerging from the stands during his side's 3-0 win. Scottish football authorities have launched an investigation.

A 26-year-old John Wilson, from Edinburgh, has been charged with breach of the peace and assault aggravated by religious prejudice.

Officers arrested him on Wednesday after a fan clambered from the Hearts section of the main stand on to the pitch and lunged at the Celtic boss who was on the touchline at Tynecastle stadium in Edinburgh.

The man was quickly grappled to the ground by Lennon's assistant, former Hoops player Alan Thompson, and immediately arrested by Lothian and Borders Police.

After the game, trouble flared in the Celtic section of the stadium with fans appearing to fight with police and stewards.

Celtic assistant manager Johan Mjallby said: "What has happened to Neil is a dark day for Scottish football and I've never seen anything like it, he is shaken but OK.

"I saw someone coming and we didn't react at first, we were obviously shocked and the guy could have had anything in his hands.

"I haven't really had time to speak to Neil, he has a strong character but how much can a guy take?"

A police spokesman said: "A number of incidents took place during this match including some violent disorder.

"Lothian and Borders Police will fully investigate all of the incidents that occurred at the match this evening and will work closely with both football clubs and the SPL."

Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan, SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond all condemned the incident.

'Arrests made' over parcel bombs

Northern Irish Catholic Lennon has had death threats in the past and in recent weeks was sent two parcel bombs, as were other high-profile Celtic supporters.

In a separate police operation launched on Thursday morning in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, two arrests were reportedly made in connection with the investigation into the parcel bombs.

Officers are still looking for whoever was responsible for sending two parcel bombs to Lennon and one each to lawyer Paul McBride QC and former MSP Trish Godman.

Last month Strathclyde Police said the two packages sent to Lennon, and the two others were "designed to cause real harm to the person who opened them".

A fifth suspect package, addressed to the offices of Cairde Na H'Eireann (Friends of Ireland) in Glasgow, was also intercepted by officers last month.