Hearts star accused of spitting

ROB ROBERTSON February 09 2006

Stuart Duff, the Dundee United midfielder, last night accused Rudi Skacel, Hearts' top scorer, of spitting in his face at Tynecastle on Tuesday.

Duff will meet Craig Brewster, his manager, to discuss whether to make an official complaint to Hearts about the behaviour of the Czech Republic internationalist.

Duff said he was upset at Skacel's antics in the melee that followed the sending-off of Barry Robson after a bad tackle on Steven Pressley with eight minutes left. Julien Brellier was also dismissed, for pushing David McCracken, and the Frenchman is facing a three-match ban for his offence.

Skacel was unavailable for comment last night on whether he felt he was being unfairly accused, but Duff was adamant that the Hearts midfielder had spat at him.

Duff said: " There was a skirmish and I thought it was our free-kick and I went to get the ball back, because I didn't know any wiser.

"When I tried to get the ball from Skacel, he turned round and spat in my face. Paul Hartley saw it and I mentioned it to the referee, but he was occupied with what was happening with Barry Robson and didn't see what had happened.

"I will have a word with the manager and see how he feels about it, because this was not a nice thing to happen. I was just trying to get the ball and I'm not the type to bring this upon myself. I'm not loud on the pitch."

Grant Brebner, who scored the United goal in the 1-1 draw against Hearts, said he had been disgusted with Skacel's behaviour. The former Hibernian midfielder said foreign players should be taught manners, and action must taken against them for spitting.

Hearts equalised late in the game through a controversial Paul Hartley penalty after Alan Archibald was judged to have fouled Pressley in the box. Brebner was booked for his protests but said the spitting incident caused more anger in the dressing room than any incident during the match.

Brebner said: "If you are going to bring players in you should teach them manners first and spitting in players' faces is not what you expect over here.

"It's not acceptable. It's annoying when players can do that to other players during a game. Stuart is not happy about it at all. The manner in which we lost, with the dubious penalty, was bad enough but the spitting incident is one we cannot accept. The whole thing is just horrible."

Derek McInnes, the United midfielder, also condemned Skacel's behaviour and warned the 26-year-old there was no justification for it.

McInnes said: "There is no place for that sort of thing in the game and it is very unfortunate that the referee missed it. I was shocked to learn about it in the dressing room after the final whistle.

"Stuart is a very honest professional so I am sure he would not have told everyone about the incident if it was not true. Skacel is a terrific footballer... but being spat at is one thing that players can't stand."

Taken from the Herald