Ref responds in Brellier row

Hearts midfielder Julien Brellier has slammed his sending off against AEK Athens.

Hearts midfielder Julien Brellier has slammed his sending off against AEK Athens, but Russian referee Yuri Baskakov has defended his decision.

Brellier was dismissed during The Jambos' 3-0 defeat to AEK in the UEFA Champions League qualifier on Wednesday for collecting two yellow cards.

The Frenchman's second caution was for a foul, but he has taken particular umbrage at his first booking for wearing jewellery.

The player believes he was singled out by Baskakov and is adamant his red card in Greece was an injustice.

"I'm feeling really bad, worse than yesterday because I can't stop thinking about the game," Brellier told The Daily Record.

"Some decisions were very, very bad against us and I still feel a sense of injustice at being sent off for two yellow cards.

"The first was especially hard to take because the touchline assistant checked me over in the tunnel before the game and said nothing.

"He looked at my fingers and said nothing, even though I was wearing a ring, and he checked my neck. He also said nothing abut my ear-rings.

"I don't know if the referee came to the dressing room before the game, I think probably yes because they always do, but I was a long time in the bathroom.

"But the fact is the fourth official did not do his job properly in the tunnel because I wasn't the only player wearing jewellery."

Baskakov, though, has accused Brellier of insolence and claims the Hearts man put his jewellery back on after he had been checked.

"If they think I did something wrong I would suggest they watch a video of the game again," said Baskakov.

"Their players do not know the rules. Brellier had no ear-rings or wedding ring when the teams were checked.

"He put those on in the last five minutes before kick-off.

"Allegations I allowed the Greek team's players to play with jewellery on is an absolute lie. Their rings were all taped over, as was the wedding ring of the Hearts player Fyssas.

"But Brellier went out to play insolently shining his diamond ear-rings and big wedding ring all over the stadium.

"So whose problem was it that I had to book him? It was a problem he created for himself."