Hearts to appeal offer of a two-match ban for Jamie Walker
Thursday 11 August 2016 17:42, UK
Hearts say they will appeal the offer of a two-match ban for Jamie Walker over an alleged "act of simulation" against Celtic.
The midfielder went to ground in the 36th minute of Sunday's match at Tynecastle, later claiming he felt contact with Celtic full-back Kieran Tierney.
The Scotland U21 international picked himself up after the incident and scored from the spot before the champions hit back to win 2-1 thanks to a late goal by Scott Sinclair on his debut.
After the match, Celtic captain Scott Brown labelled Walker 'a cheat' and on Tuesday Scottish FA compliance officer Tony McGlennan offered him a two-match suspension for a breach of the rules by 'pretending to have been fouled by an opponent'.
Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson backed his player claiming there had been contact between him and Tierney after studying replays of the incident several times.
The Tynecastle side have until 3pm on Wednesday to contest Walker's suspension and a spokesman for the club has told Sky Sports Scotland they intend to appeal the ban.
The hearing will be heard at the Scottish FA's Hampden headquarters on Thursday.
