Hearts boss in SFA blast

HEARTS boss Craig Levein today accused the Scottish Football Association of "living in the dark ages" after the club’s appeal over the weekend dismissal of Alan Maybury was thrown out.

The Republic of Ireland defender was sent off by referee Dougie McDonald after a first-half challenge on Livingston’s David Fernandez.

Television later showed, however, that the former Leeds United star had connected with the ball and not his opponent.

The Gorgie outfit tried to have the decision overturned and lodged an appeal with the authorities yesterday.

However, after considering the video evidence, the protest was thrown out by the SFA during a scheduled meeting of its Disciplinary Committee at Hampden Park to leave Levein questioning the worth of such appeals.

"It is extremely disappointing," said the Hearts chief. "It seems to be the age-old problem with the SFA that referees have to be protected at all costs.

"The whole thing is so draconian. We are told the appeal is not successful but are not told the reasons why. It would be good to know who sits on the Disciplinary Committee and their reasons for making the decision they did. It is like living in the dark ages."

Confirming the decision to uphold McDonald’s red card for violent behaviour, SFA disciplinary convenor Drew Herbertson said: "Hearts’ case was heard at a meeting of the disciplinary committee and was dismissed.

"The club contended that the player was wrongfully dismissed, but the committee ruled that the referee had been right in his decision.

"The club’s reasons for the player’s claim were not supported by the committee. It was a case of violent conduct."

Hearts were also unsuccessful in appealing a red card last season when Robert Tomaschek was dismissed at Tannadice for stamping on Dundee United player Craig Easton. Despite the United man leaping to the Slovakian’s defence, the SFA once again dismissed the appeal after viewing the video evidence.

Yesterday’s ruling means that Maybury will be suspended for tomorrow’s league clash with Celtic at Parkhead as the Jambos try to bounce back from Saturday’s disappointing defeat to Livingston, and moves him to within one caution of another suspension.

"It obviously gives us a problem for tomorrow’s game as we had been hoping to have Alan available for the trip to Parkhead," added Levein, who revealed he will not be fining his player following the incident at Almondvale.

"There is no chance I will be punishing Alan Maybury. We backed him to the hilt in this case and he will not be getting fined by the club as in our view it was not a sending off offence."

With Maybury sidelined for the showdown in Glasgow, Levein looks set to return Thomas Flogel to a more defensive role against Martin O’Neill’s side.

His other option would be to recall youngster Robbie Neilson but it is likely he will opt for the experience of the Austrian internationalist.

Taken from the Scotsman