Sport 22-08-2002 Death Threat Forces Lennon Out who: Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon what: Withdraws from Northern Ireland match after sectarian death threat where: Windsor Park, BELFAST when: Last night snippet: Football in Northern Ireland "plunged into a sectarian crisis last night" reckons The Guardian, after the team captain Neil Lennon was forced to pull out of the squad`s friendly match with Cyprus after receiving death threats. Celtic midfielder Lennon, 31, was told by police about the threats shortly after they were made yesterday afternoon, adds The Scotsman, but told the manager, Sammy McIlroy, of his decision to withdraw a couple of hours before the 8pm kick-off. In a statement, the "distraught" player said: "After close consultations with the football authorities and the police, I will not be participating in this evening`s international game. I am very disappointed that my desire to play for my country as captain for the first time in Northern Ireland has been taken away from me." Another Guardian article explains how Lennon "was the figure at the heart of sectarian abuse in February last year during a match against Norway following his move from Leicester to Celtic, a club with strong roman catholic associations. During that game a minority of the home fans booed his every touch." Abuse reached such an extent that a mural of a hanging man was scrawled on a wall alongside the words: "Neil Lennon RIP". Last night furious Irish FA president Jim Boyce said: "This is just unbelievable. It is a terrible blight once again on society in Northern Ireland, especially when you think of the efforts made by the Irish FA to stamp out this sort of thing. It is something the decent people of Northern Ireland utterly condemn." [... more]

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