Hearts say they will appeal Robbie Neilson's SFA charge
Tuesday 15 September 2015 17:01, UK
Hearts say they will launch an appeal after head coach Robbie Neilson was charged by the SFA in relation to a post-match interview he gave following his side's defeat to Hamilton last month.
Neilson hit out at referee Willie Collum after Callum Paterson's red card proved to be a turning point in their 3-2 defeat at Hamilton, a loss which ended his side's winning start to the season.
Paterson then had the red card rescinded on appeal and reduced to a caution for recklessly dangerous play.
The Hearts boss revealed at the time that he purposely had his players training in a team of 10 in the build-up to the game because of the number of Hearts players who have been sent off by Collum in previous matches.
A statement on the SFA website said: "In that following on from the Scottish Professional Football League Premiership match between Hamilton Academical FC and Heart of Midlothian FC upon 29th August 2015, in an interview with the BBC you criticised the performance of the Match Officials in such a way as to indicate bias or incompetence on their part."
The SFA said Hearts had until September 22 to respond to the complaint but a statement on the club's official website confirmed they would be formally appealing.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle boss John Hughes has also been issued with a notice of complaint by the SFA's compliance officer after slamming referee Andrew Dallas following his side's 1-1 draw with Dundee on August 29.
Hughes also faces disciplinary action after claiming that Dallas is not ready to be a top flight referee after his side's draw at Dens Park.
An SFA statement said: "In that following on from the Scottish Professional Football League Premiership match between Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC and Dundee FC upon 29th August 2015, in a television interview you criticised the performance of the Match Referee in such a way as to indicate incompetence on his part.
"In that following on from the Scottish Professional Football League Premiership match between Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC and Dundee FC upon 29th August 2015, in interviews with the written press you criticised the performance of the Match Referee in such a way as to indicate incompetence on his part."
The principal hearing date for both Neilson and Hughes is set for October 1.
