CELTIC have maintained full support in Aleksandar Tonev despite the winger being described as neither credible nor reliable by the panel that handed him a seven-match ban for using racist language.

Tonev will resume his suspension after an appeal tribunal upheld the earlier judicial panel decision, sparked by an SFA investigation into a complaint by Aberdeen full-back Shay Logan.

In an unusual step, the appeal panel called for both its report and that of the original panel to be made public.

The documents revealed that Logan had accused Tonev of saying: "Don't touch me you black c***" when the Aberdeen defender put his arm across the Celtic player moments after fouling him during a Premiership game on September 13.

Tonev denied saying the offensive words and no-one else heard them, but the panel was informed that Logan quickly told his captain, Mark Reynolds, referee Bobby Madden, and manager Derek McInnes.

The judicial panel's report described Logan as an "impressive witness" and television footage backed up his account of his response as well as showing him in an agitated state.

The findings added: "He gave his evidence in a careful and measured manner. He gave clear and unequivocal evidence that Mr Tonev had used the language complained of and that it had been targeted at him."

However, the panel stated they were unable to accept Bulgarian Tonev's explanation of what occurred.

The report continued: "His evidence on his understanding of the language said to have been used, was particularly unsatisfactory.

"In chief examination his evidence was to the effect that he did not know what the word 'c***' meant.

"On cross examination he explained that he had heard the term in his time at Aston Villa but did not know what it meant. He then accepted that he was aware that it was a term of abuse.

"The impression was of a witness giving a less than a full account of his actual understanding; and seemed to the tribunal to be an inherently improbable account.

"On the central issue in the case we were unable to accept him as either credible or reliable."

Logan replied "one million per cent no" when asked if he could have been mistaken in his hearing.

The report added: "He said that he would never try and tarnish anyone's career and that he knew 'what the word black sounds like'.

"He further stated that during his playing career he had previously been a victim of a racial abuse on the football park when playing for Manchester City reserves against Bolton. He did not require to report this, as the referee was standing right next to him.

"Mr Logan indicated that the comment itself had no great effect on him: it was something that he was used to when growing up. However, such behaviour was not acceptable in professional football especially from another professional player. For this reason he had reported it."

The appeal panel, led by judge Lord Bonomy, backed the judicial panel's conclusion that 24-year-old Tonev was guilty on the balance of probability. The SFA's disciplinary rules, like civil court cases, do not require that guilt needs to be established beyond reasonable doubt, unlike criminal cases. The requirement was summed up in the report as "it is more likely than not that the subject of the complaint committed the act of misconduct alleged".

Celtic were "extremely disappointed" by the outcome and could take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, after manager Ronny Deila earlier stated they would take the issue further if they lost.

A club statement read: "We do not consider that any player should be found guilty of such a grave offence on the basis of the evidence presented in this case.

"Celtic Football Club will be approaching the Scottish FA to seek to address this issue.

"We would like to make it clear that at no stage was it ever suggested that Shay Logan had made any false allegations. However, Aleksandar Tonev's position consistently has been that he did not say the words that were alleged to have been said and that he is not a racist.

"Celtic Football Club has enjoyed an excellent relationship with Aberdeen Football Club and this, of course, will continue.

"As we have said many times before, racism has no place in football and as a club which has been open to all ever since its formation in 1888, Celtic abhors racism of any kind. Clearly, Aleksandar continues to have our full support."