A picture of hate: Celtic manager attacked by fan in latest disgrace for Scottish football

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Flashpoint: Neil Lennon (centre) is approached as first-team coach Alan Thompson attempts to stop the assailant

Two arrests made in connection with parcel bombs sent to Neil Lennon earlier in the season

The ugly side of Scottish football reared its vile head once again last night.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon was the victim of a brainless pitchside assault as he watched his side in action against Hearts last night.

It was new low in a season marred by sectarian violence, in which Lennon has been sent two parcel bombs and received a death threat.

But last night was the closest he has come to a physical attack and it was only the quick actions of his assistant manager Alan Thompson that saved him from harm.

Attack: The assailant launches himself at Lennon

The man clambered from the Hearts section of the main stand at Tynecastle stadium and charged towards the Celtic boss who was on the touchline.

Fortunately Thompson stuck an arm out as the man launched himself at Lennon. The attacker almost grabbed Lennon, but was knocked to the ground.

And as he was pinned down by Thompson and stewards a furious Lennon tried to confront the man.

The incident happened after Celtic player Gary Hooper put the visitors two goals ahead.

Off balance: The assailant slips as Thompson pulls him away from Lennon

Celtic won the game 3-0 to keep themselves one point behind bitter rivals Rangers in the title race with one game to go.

And last night Lennon preferred to focus on the football, writing on his Twitter page: 'Don't let what happened to me tonight take the shine off a wonderful team performance... I don't walk alone.'

A reference to the song You'll Never Walk Alone, which Celtic fans have adopted as their terrace anthem.

The Hearts supporter was taken away by police after the fracas at the Edinburgh stadium.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond branded the thug's actions 'unacceptable'.
Afterwards trouble flared in the Celtic section of the stadium with fans appearing to fight with police and stewards.

Put your hands up: The supporter is arrested by police, left, and Neil Lennon thanks fans for their support after the game

Lothian and Borders Police said that the man has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal and would appear in court.

The incident is the latest to disgrace Scottish football. In March it emerged that Lennon and other high-profile Celtic supporters were sent parcel bombs.

Celtic confirmed he was under 24-hour security surveillance.

Meanwhile, a police operation was launched this morning in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, and two arrests were made in connection with an investigation into the parcel bombs.

The men, aged 41 and 43, were detained under the Explosives Substances Act 1883 after officers raided a number of properties in Kilwinning, Ayrshire.

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