Lennon spit claim angers Skacel

Both players were booked as tempers rose during Hearts' 3-0 victory.

But a Hearts spokesman said: "There doesn't appear to be any proof of these allegations on television pictures.

"As for Rudi himself, he is very angry and strenuously denies that he spat at Neil Lennon. Rudi finds the comments attributed to him extremely offensive."

Lennon had been shown a yellow card early in second half for pushing Skacel to the ground in an off-the-ball incident.

There may have been people round about him who were trying to take advantage
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan

The Celtic midfielder appeared to gesture towards Skacel on the pitch that there had been spitting.

Newspapers suggested that this was later confirmed by Lennon himself.

Skacel had also been booked soon after for trip on Lennon from behind, after which the Northern Irishman was substituted by manager Gordon Strachan.

Strachan said: "I took Neil off because I didn't want to take any chances with him after he got booked.

"It wasn't so much Neil, but there may have been people round about him who were trying to take advantage."

Referee Alan Freeland has not yet filed his report on the match.

It is the second onfield controversy to feature Lennon in recent months.

The 35-year-old was accused by Dunfermline Athletic's Greg Shields of making inappropriate boasts about the size of his wage packet during the CIS Cup final.

Skacel, who has faced previous allegations of spitting, is believed to have signed a contract to stay at Hearts at the end of his loan spell from Marseille.

However, Hearts continue to insist that the Czech will not decide his future until the end of the season.

Taken from the BBC