Bowman baffled by ban rulings
Former Scotland international Dave Bowman believes his mammoth 17-match ban looks “ridiculous” in comparison with Neil Lennon’s three-game suspension issued by the Scottish Football Association disciplinary committee.
The former Dundee United midfielder was suspended for 17 games in September 2001 while playing for Forfar.
He received five red cards for foul and abusive language in a Bell’s Second Division match at Stranraer after a similar bust-up with referee Alan Gemmill.
In stark contrast, Lennon will miss just three games for his clash with Stuart Dougal after Celtic had been beaten by Rangers at Ibrox on August 20.
Hearts midfielder Saulius Mikoliunas will feel harshly treated after a five-match ban on appeal for barging linesman Andy Davis during a late defeat at home to Rangers in March.
Bowman said: “Maybe they have got better people in there now making these big decisions.
“What do you do? Do you ban someone for eight, nine or 10 games.
“I got 17 games and that just looks ridiculous for that sort of stuff. It wasn’t as if it was violent conduct and (Lennon) went out breaking a young kid’s leg.
“I understand people getting frustrated with themselves and their own teams and, although it’s wrong to do what Neil did, you have maybe got to take it out on someone sometimes.
“Neil was probably fortunate to get only three games, but that’s the way the decision went and nobody likes to see players being banned for lengthy periods.”
Bowman believes Lennon has learned his lesson but that will not make Mikoliunas feel any better.
The former Coventry player claims the Hearts man’s punishment was more fitting for that type of crime and has called for more consistency from the authorities.
“What he did was wrong and I am sure Neil knows that,” said Bowman.
“As long as the player learns a lesson – and Neil knows what he did was wrong - then I am sure he won’t do it again.
“He has a good disciplinary record so that also went in his favour.
“The boy at Hearts got an eight-match ban originally and that was cut to five in the end, so he will maybe feel a little disappointed.
“For me, it is unfair to see players being suspended for lengthy periods. It could have been a lot worse than three matches but it does show times have changed.
“I got 17 games for something reasonably similar. I should have got a similar punishment.
“But all you ask is for consistency when people misbehave and that everyone gets the same kind of treatment.”
