Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths issued with notice of complaint by SFA
Tuesday 1 April 2014 21:44, UK
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths has been issued with a notice of complaint by the Scottish Football Association for singing in a pub.
The former Hibernian loanee, who is a lifelong fan of the Easter Road club, was filmed singing "Hearts are going bust" with some friends prior to Sunday's match between the two Edinburgh teams.
Mobile phone footage of the 23-year-old was posted on the internet following the match which Hearts won 2-0 at Tynecastle.
Bryan Jackson of Hearts administrators BDO is flying to Lithuania this weekend to try and secure a Company Voluntary Arrangement for the club.
Should Jackson fail to reach an agreement with creditors Ukio Bankas and UBIG then Hearts will be placed in liquidation before the end of the season.
SFA compliance officer Vincent Lunny has decided Griffiths, who joined Celtic from Wolves in January, has a case to answer after viewing the footage.
The Scotland international has been "accused of breaching Disciplinary Rule 86 - which demands players, staff or officials act in the best interests of the game - by singing in public about Heart of Midlothian FC in administration."
A principal hearing has been set for Thursday, 24 April.
Celtic say they will Griffiths, with a spokesman announcing: "Following the incident, the player publicly apologised for his actions. Celtic have fined the player and the club has also apologised to Hearts, an apology which they have accepted.
"Therefore, the club feels there is no need for any further action, and this is something which we will defend."
Hearts boss Gary Locke was questioned about the video on Tuesday morning and said: "I haven't seen it. Obviously you read about it and according to reports I've heard he is not a very good singer."
