Hearts' Robbie Neilson stands by comments despite SFA charge
Friday 18 September 2015 00:46, UK
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson says he stands by his comments regarding referee Willie Collum despite being hit by a notice of complaint by the SFA.
Neilson hit out at the referee after he sent off Callum Paterson during their 3-2 defeat to Hamilton last month, a loss which ended his side's winning start to the season.
The Jambos head coach said his players trained 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.
Paterson had the red card rescinded on appeal and the club have decided to fight Neilson's charge as well when he appears before an SFA disciplinary tribunal on October 1.
"I stand by everything I said. I chose my words, I felt, well," Neilson told Sky Sports News HQ.
"I wanted to get a point across that I wanted to say. The red card has been rescinded, which highlights that, as I said at the time, it shouldn't have been a red card.
"But it's an active case so I don't want to say too much about it. But hopefully when we go up to speak to them they will see sense."
The 35-year-old believes managers should be afforded more leeway when it comes to voicing their opinions on important decisions after matches.
"You have to be careful of what you say because it gets broadcast nationwide, and worldwide as well. But I think there should be some freedom of speech on it," Neilson said.
"I don't think you should be held to ransom about what you say. It's important that you get your feelings across.
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"But it's important for the media and the fans as well to get that understanding of what's going on, what you feel and what the players feel as well."
Neilson also thinks referees should be given the opportunity to come out and explain some of their decisions after matches.
"I think it would be a good thing," he said. "There are some referees that do. Some are more than happy to speak to you after the game. It always makes it easier to accept a decision if they give their point of view.
"You're not always going to agree with it a lot of the time but at least if they can give their opinion on it you can agree to disagree. But at least you can move on from it."
He revealed he is yet to receive an explanation after the red card against Hamilton.
"I'm still waiting for the phone call but I don't expect it to come," he added. "It might come after the hearing but, as I say, it's an active case so I don't expect to hear anything until it is finished."
Hearts have lost their last two fixtures and face league leaders Aberdeen on Sunday as they aim to get back to winning ways.
Their quick start after returning to the top flight prompted some to suggest they could join the Dons in pushing Celtic for top spot but Neilson said it is too early to get involved in title talk.
"It's a long, long way to go. It's one game at a time," he said. "We are only seven games into the season. We've still got a lot of football to play.
"Celtic have got a huge budget and they've got a big squad, and have the ability to go in the January transfer window and spend big and bring players in to bolster their league title challenge.
"So we have to work hard and get a bit of a rub of the green as well, like Aberdeen."
Watch Hearts versus Aberdeen on Sunday, September 20 from 2pm on Sky Sports 5.
