Bilel Mohsni has come out swinging in defence of his Fir Park meltdown as he branded Lee Erwin a ‘coward’.

The SFA are preparing to hit Mohsni with an excessive misconduct charge for kicking and punching the Motherwell forward at the end of Rangers’ Premiership Play-Off Final defeat on Sunday.

That could result in a significant ban that follows Mohsni to any new club overseas, after his agent yesterday admitted his ‘career in Britain was over’.

Rangers defender Bilel Mohsni threw a punch in the direction of Motherwell striker Lee Erwin on Sunday

The former Southend player also threw a punch at Erwin after the striker had pushed him in his back

However, there was little sign of contrition from the Tunisian international as he gave his side of the story having returned to France to ponder his next move.

Mohsni reacted violently to a shove in the back from Erwin, who claims his offer of a handshake was refused by the defender.

‘I’m very disappointed the way this has been portrayed,’ said Mohnsi. ‘What happened was I was leaving the pitch to the dressing room and I was extremely upset because Rangers had lost.

‘All I wanted to do was get back inside and didn’t want to talk to anyone, then this guy pushed me - he attacked me from behind.

‘What do you call someone who attacks you from behind? A coward.

‘I was worried about my security so I did the only thing I could...I defended myself. It was self-defence. I thought I was getting attacked.

Mohsni has defend his actions at Fir Park and has labelled the striker (left) 'a coward'

Mohsni (second left) had to be held back in the ensuing clash between Motherwell and Rangers players

‘Of course, it has been written like the Scottish man was right and the foreigner was wrong, but I think justice should be the same for everybody.

‘It’s easy for people who watched it from the stands or on TV to say things, but when you are actually on the pitch it is different.

‘Let me ask people in Scotland this: if you are out with your family and a coward attacks you from behind, what would you do? Of course you defend yourself.

‘I didn’t know what was going to happen next, so I simply defended myself from a cowardly assault.

‘I apologise to the Rangers fans if the pictures shocked them. But I always say to my young nephew for example that if someone attacks you when you grow up, you defend yourself.

The clash with Mohsni (centre) and the Motherwell players sparked ugly scenes at the end of the game

‘I am fully aware I am an example to Rangers fans and I have spent a lot of time visiting hospitals and schools when I was in Glasgow and loved it.

‘But again, I would point out I did the only thing I could do in the circumstances and defended myself.’

Rangers would have taken stringent disciplinary action had his contract not expired, but exiting Scotland will not free Mohsni from the consequences of his actions.

An SFA Notice of Complaint is expected to be issued against the 27-year-old within the next 48 hours, leading to the possibility of a ban from a Judicial Panel.

Any foreign club would have to get Mohnsi’s registration transferred from the SFA to make him eligible to play. A number of national associations would automatically transfer a sanction imposed in Scotland as part of that process, but there could also be scope for FIFA involvement were the centre-back to turn up in a country which didn’t.

Both Motherwell and Rangers players were involved in a tussle after Mohsni hit Irwin

Police Scotland met with the SFA and SPFL yesterday to discuss Mohsni’s actions and the other chaotic scenes witnessed at Fir Park. They offered no further comment last night and it remains to be seen if they are now be content to let the football authorities deal with what unfolded.

Further SFA action against Erwin or team-mate Fraser Kerr is not expected as their offences are deemed to have been sufficiently covered by the post-match red cards shown by Craig Thomson.

However, Motherwell could face sanctions for the pitch invasion which saw their fans goad the visiting support and prompted police horses to move in.

Crowd trouble falls under the remit of the SPFL, who could also look at Rangers captain Lee McCulloch being hit in the face with a flag-pole by a home faj and a flare being thrown on the pitch after Motherwell’s second goal.

Mohsni is led away from the Fir Park pitch after losing his temper after Rangers lost 3-0 to Motherwell

Rangers are thought to have been particularly concerned by the pitch invasion, insisting they would ‘co-operate fully with investigations following the disgraceful scenes at the Motherwell game yesterday.’

The Ibrox statement added: ‘Bilel Mohsni’s behaviour was completely unacceptable and had his contract not now expired, the Club would have started disciplinary proceedings

‘The Club will also assist with any investigation into the behaviour of Motherwell supporters and we would like to thank the Rangers fans who were excellent in showing admirable restraint despite severe provocation.’