Neil Lennon last night claimed Scott Brown's three-game suspension could prove to be the difference between Celtic qualifying and being eliminated from the Champions League.
Uefa rejected the captain's appeal against a three-game ban yesterday despite Brown appearing in person at a hearing at their Swiss headquarters. The midfielder was given an additional two games, on top of the mandatory one-game suspension, for kicking out at Neymar when Celtic played Barcelona at Parkhead. The failed attempt to have the additional couple of games removed means Brown will not be eligible to play again until the final Group H game against Barcelona at Camp Nou on December 11.
"Could Brown's absence make the difference between qualifying and not? Absolutely," said Lennon. "He is a huge player for us and we are going to miss him. It's another two games now and Ajax away is pivotal. I felt we had a good case but what can we do? I have not all the facts in front of me, so I don't know what they have said, but it has been upheld. God knows what Scott pleaded . . ."
Brown was sent off for aiming a kick at Neymar having already brought him down. Lennon was asked whether the punishment would mean the 28-year-old would learn a lesson. "He will have already. He has come out and expressed regret and he knows himself. It's a shame because he has been playing out of this world. For him to miss these games is a blow to him more than anybody, and a blow to us.
"I think if we can get something against Ajax [in Amsterdam on Wednesday] we give ourselves a great chance for the last two games. But if you get beaten by Ajax then qualifying might be beyond us, depending on other results. But if we come back with a point or even better three then it sets Milan up to be something quite special."
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