SFA HAVE TO CARRY THE SHAME

IF YOU ever needed proof there's one rule for Old Firm players and fans and another for the rest you only had to look at events in Edinburgh on Boxing Day.

Hearts' derby victory over their great rivals was totally engrossing stuff. I loved every ferocious minute.

But there's no doubt in my mind that if all the controversial incidents on and off the park had happened in an Old Firm clash the critics would be screaming from the rooftops about yet another "shame game".

Look at the evidence. One player sent off for aggressive conduct that resulted in a melee inside the penalty box.

Six men booked and over the 90 minutes one or two others lucky to stay on the field after dangerous tackles.

At the final whistle players squared up to one another before leaving the field, then Hibs boss John Collins refers to Hearts as a "pub team".

Earlier Hibs fans threw coins and spat on Paul Hartley when he was about to take a corner.

If that had happened in Glasgow with either set of Old Firm fans, people up and down the country would be calling for action to be taken against the guilty club.

No doubt there will be plenty of Hibs fans looking for Hartley to be charged by the SFA for inciting the crowd immediately after he'd given Hearts the lead when he motioned the action of puffing on an imaginary cigar.

How rude of him!

Prominent players at almost every club have to put up with the most vicious, foul-mouthed abuse at away grounds but as soon as they react fans want them punished.

What sort of moral code do they work from?

As police and stewards stand by, supporters let rip with the worst kind of abuse they can think of and no action is taken.

But when a player smokes an imaginary cigar, cups his hand to his ear or puts one finger to his lips to ask for quiet it's an inflammatory gesture or incitement to riot.

Thousands are deeply offended by it and want the player punished.

But as long as they celebrate on the pitch, players should be able to do what they want.

Ask any Celtic or Rangers player and they'll tell you a higher standard of behaviour is expected from them.

Since the start of the season Hearts and Hibs have picked up an astonishing 92 yellow cards and 11 reds between them.

Hardly angelic but again, if the Old Firm had that record between them they'd be labelled thugs who were out of control. And we're only halfway through the season.

Will the SFA ask either Hearts or Hibs for an explanation? Not a chance.

When any review panel is asked to watch an incident from a game to determine if retrospective action is to be taken, invariably it will be an Old Firm player they want charged.

They're in the spotlight much more than anyone else and so are their supporters. Off the park Hearts fans sunk to a new low with their treatment of red card victim Dean Shiels.

At a time when Old Firm supporters face the threat of their team losing points for offensive chanting, followers of Hearts revelled in the most disgusting taunts toward a player who has recently lost the sight in one eye.

The fact he's battled back from such a major operation to continue his career was completely overlooked by Gorgie punters. As the Irishman left the field, cries of "you've only got one eye" rang round Tynecastle. Shiels' parents were at the game, they must have wanted to throw up and who could blame them.

And let's not forget Hearts supporters are often guilty of sectarian chanting inside their ground. Do they wind up in the dock like Old Firm fans? No way.

Elsewhere, Aberdeen supporters constantly abuse great Rangers players who have passed away and applaud a tackle that almost ruined Ian Durrant's career. Any sanctions towards them? Not a chance.

It's deeply offensive but if it's not sectarian it seems the SFA will let you away with it.

Undoubtedly Glasgow's big two have their problems but they're not alone when it comes to repulsive chanting. You hear it at every ground in the country.

And for the record, being born and bred in Glasgow it was a dream for me to play in an Old Firm game and I feel proud and privileged to have taken part in that special atmosphere.

I can guarantee every player gets a real buzz from the noise as you come out of the tunnel.

The one I remember most is October 1987 when three players were sent off.

Like the latest Edinburgh derby it was full of incident, but what happened?

There was a court case, players ended up with criminal records. The police even spoke to me after I was booked for kicking the ball away.

I'm a great Old Firm fan. Many hate their input but I'm in no doubt they have a big part to play in shaping Scottish football's f uture.

Taken from the Sunday Mail