Neil Lennon faces third probe after comments on referees

Lennon said he is praying for a good refereeing performance against St Johnstone

Scottish Football Association compliance officer Vincent Lunny has written to Neil Lennon for the third time in just over a week following comments made about referees.

The Celtic manager was quoted in the Evening Time saying he hoped for "a decent refereeing performance" ahead of Sunday's visit by St Johnstone.

Lennon is alleged to have breached the SFA's rule 69.

That prevents managers commenting on officials before games.

The Northern Irishman has until Friday to respond to the alleged breach of the rule brought in at the start of the season.

Lennon was quoted in Tuesday's Evening Times talking about Sunday's game, which will be refereed by George Salmond.

"It will be nice just to be able to go out and think only about winning a game of football - and maybe have a decent refereeing performance into the bargain," he is quoted as saying.

Lennon had been served with a notice of complaint by Lunny on Monday after being banned from the dugout by referee Calum Murray at half-time in the 3-2 defeat by Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

The Celtic manager described the decision in a game Celtic needed to win to clinch the Scottish title on their rival's ground as "a joke".

Lunny had already written to the Northern Irishman asking him to explain his comments following last week's 1-0 Scottish Communities League Cup final defeat by Kilmarnock at Hampden.

He referred to referee Willie Collum's decision not to award Celtic a late penalty as "shocking" and "criminal".