Lennon ban shows lack of understanding for pressure of management, says Butcher

For the former Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager, the decision to punish Neil Lennon for swearing on the touchline reeked of something drawn from Orwell's celebrated book about a state controlled by a totalitarian party who are not big on free speech or thinking for yourself. Goodness only knows what 1984's Big Brother would have made of the sweary words Lennon shouted at St Mirren's Jim Goodwin.

Butcher's opinion was far simpler to guess. The Inverness manager bridled at the three-match suspended ban which was triggered by the Scottish Football Association, a punishment which has, potentially, ruled the Celtic manager out of a title party. The Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders need only a point against the Highland side to win the championship and, while Butcher has little intention of helping to facilitate the celebrations, he is aghast that Lennon will not be permitted to join his players should they get over the line tomorrow. Indeed, the Englishman believes the SFA's decision highlights a lack of understanding of the intense pressures managers operate under.

"We all swear on the sidelines," said Butcher. "It is an emotional game. I have sworn all my career, on and off the pitch. When you are involved in football, it is a very passionate game. It is bizarre that you can be cautioned for swearing.

"I had to check the year because I thought it was 1984. I thought George Orwell was the referee. It is a Big Brother state, is it? It is 2013, isn't it? If that was to happen to me, I would be very disappointed.

"It is something that happens on a regular basis; managers swear, players swear and sometimes referees swear. Are there going to be complaints from players about referees? I've said a few words back to my own crowd sometimes and written a few letters of apology. It happens and I'm just absolutely bewildered by it all."

Butcher believes concessions should be made to managers for outbursts since their weekly stresses are concentrated into just 90 minutes. "I don't think, unless you are actually at the coalface actually doing the job and part of that dug-out scenario, you really appreciate just how managers feel," he said. "You feel helpless because you can't actually influence an awful lot on the pitch.

"If you are going to shout and swear in a calculated fashion then you have a problem, but when it is a reaction in the heat of the moment then there should be some understanding.

"The referees and fourth officials have, generally, been very good and reasonable. Being a fourth official must be the worst job in the world at times, stuck there particularly between two dug-outs that are a really close. At Celtic Park, the dug-outs are quite close but Maurice Malpas [the Inverness assistant manager] and I generally sit quite far away from fourth officials to try and give us a bit of distance. I've learned my lesson the harsh way, but it is hard."

For all his sympathy for Lennon, Butcher is naturally intent on adding to the Celtic manager's unhappiness this weekend. Inverness have an agenda all of their own as they try to consolidate an historic Europa League finish, having reached the top six for the first time.

The Highland side have already defeated Celtic in Glasgow this season and Butcher would be delighted were his players to make off with another three points tomorrow, even if it would mean he is left with a headache over pre-season schedules as a result of clinching a Europa League qualifying spot.

"We want to finish second and that's what we are striving for. There is no lack of incentive for our players at all," he said. "Whether or not Celtic are celebrating a title success or trying to clinch the title, we'll approach the game the way we feel is right for us anyway. It couldn't be a bigger [test], but the way our players look at it is we just really want to make a mark in the top six and build on what we have achieved so far."