Celtic captain Scott Brown has made it vehemently clear that the entire playing group are behind teammate Aleksandar Tonev.
The Bulgarian winger, who is on a season-long loan from Aston Villa, was handed a seven-match ban by the Scottish Football Association earlier this week after it was alleged that he had racially abused Aberdeen's Shay Logan.
The Scottish champions have released a statement saying they will appeal the ban and those words have been backed up by skipper Brown ahead of Thursday night's Europa League clash with Romanian side Astra Giurgiu.
"We all stick by him. We know he didn't say it, so I think that's the main thing and all the lads in the dressing room believe him," said Brown.
"I don't think he needs to explain himself. We all believe him, he says he didn't do it and we stand by him.
"We know Aleksandar doesn't come in and lie. He talks to everyone in that changing room so we have no problem."
