Former Celtic player has been handed three-year ban

We've seen a lot of strange decisions from football authorities over the years. The Scottish FA aren’t strangers to those by any means. But they haven't got anywhere close to the ban that's just been handed to a former Celtic player, which puts his future in management under a lot of doubt and has raised plenty of eyebrows.

This time it’s the Colombian FA handing out a lengthy and extraordinarily harsh ban to a former Celtic player. Efrain Juarez has just been banmed from entering any sports stadium in Colombia for three years.

The reason for the ban is equally strange, it is for excessive celebrating. Yes, do not scratch your eyes. You read that right.

Juarez is the manager at Colombia’s biggest club, Atletico Nacional. As a player, he had joined Celtic back in 2010. It was for a hefty transfer fee at the time, some fourteen years ago now. He got off to a decent start under the management of Neil Lennon. A couple of goals in his first two games looked promising. 

Former Celtic player has been handed three-year ban

Juarez though didn't live up to that start and faded from view soon. In the end, he only made 18 appearances for the Hoops and eventually returned to Mexico. He was helped into coaching by another ex-Celt, Ronny Deila.

Juarez worked with Deila on his coaching team at several clubs. But he is now the top man at Atletico Nacional. 

In a recent Copa Colombia semi-final, Juarez guided Nacional to a narrow 1-0 win against his team's close rivals Independiente Medellin. And that led to the celebrations which eventually resulted in the ban.

It’s going to be difficult for Juarez to continue his role at Atletico Nacional if he can't enter a sports stadium for the next three years. In another odd link-up with his Glasgow past, one of his current players is Alfredo Morelos. The former Rangers striker has backed his manager.