Motherwell boss Graham Alexander hit with touchline ban

Motherwell manager Graham Alexander has been banned from the touchline for his side’s next two matches and will miss a further game if found guilty of misconduct again this season.

Alexander was sent to the stand during his side’s draw with Hibs in January, He was unhappy with referee Andrew Dallas’ decision to show Liam Donnelly a red card and made his feelings known to officials.

That brought a notice of complaint from the Scottish FA and he was asked to explain himself to a disciplinary panel.

The manager was found to have broken the rules on touchline behaviour and will now be in the stand as the Steelmen face Aberdeen and Rangers.

After the match, Alexander had admitted to swearing but said he didn’t “cross a line”.

“I was shouting and I did swear,” he said. “I pretty much shout and swear every game, and every training session possibly.

“I see every other manager shouting and swearing, not just in Scotland but all over the place. I’m 50 years old, I have sworn a lot in my life, for a lot of years.

“But I believe that I try to stay within the boundaries, I don’t ever accuse anybody of anything malicious. I doubt if the ref could hear me from where I was, to be honest.

“But I always try to look at myself as well and how I can do things better. That’s important. There are responsibilities as a manager, a professional, a player, so I do look at that as well.

“But I don’t believe I crossed the line to warrant a red card.”

A Motherwell statement read: “Graham Alexander has been given a two-game touchline ban.

“Our manager has been issued with a suspension by the Scottish FA after being sent off in our recent match with Hibernian.

“An additional one-match ban has been suspended until the end of the current season.

“Alexander will be absent from the touchline now for our next two cinch Premiership matches with Aberdeen and Rangers.”