Probe into Hearts anger

By PAUL SINCLAIR

27 Nov 1996

THE conduct of Hearts manager Jim Jefferies and his stand-in captain, Gary Mackay, at Sunday's Coca-Cola Cup final will be investigated by the SFA.

A spokesman for the disciplinary committee confirmed that the match referee, Hugh Dallas, had reported them for their actions at the end of the match and before the cup presentation.

Both were seen haranguing Dallas, and Mackay had to be restrained by team-mates to stop him approaching assistant referee Alan Freeland.

Hearts' sense of injustice was caused by what they saw as Freeland's failure to award a free kick when John Robertson appeared to be obstructed by Rangers' Joachim Bjorklund.

As they protested, Paul Gascoigne struck to put Rangers back in the lead at 3-2.

Later, Jefferies referred to the incident as the turning point of the game.

Mackay wondered aloud afterwards why Freeland had stood with the Rangers party after the final whistle, while Dallas and the other linesman stood with the Hearts squad.

To most onlookers, it appeared that Freeland was trying to avoid a confrontation.

Both Jefferies and Mackay will appear at the next disciplinary committee hearing on January 20.

At the same meeting, they will be joined by Celtic manager Tommy Burns, who was sent to the stand by referee Dallas at the recent Old Firm match.

Taken from the Herald