Hearts sound alcohol warning to fans

HEARTS today sent a warning to fans ahead of the league clash with Rangers at Tynecastle, insisting they will clamp down heavily on supporters who turn up tomorrow under the influence of alcohol.

Drink is thought to have been the catalyst for the recent scenes at Pittodrie when fighting between so-called Aberdeen and Rangers fans forced the teams off the pitch and threatened the abandonment of the game.

The Saturday evening kick-off for the purposes of live TV was given as one of the major contributing factors for the trouble, with rival supporters having an extra couple of hours to spend in the city’s pubs.

With that in mind, Hearts security chief Tom Purdie has revealed that the stewards and police around Gorgie tomorrow will be on red alert with the match against Rangers also going out live on satellite television (kick-off 5.35pm).

While insisting that Hearts are treating the visit of Alex McLeish’s outfit like any other Category A fixture, Purdie says swift action will be taken to prevent those supporters who appear to have had too much to drink from entering the stadium.

"We are taking the same measures for a standard Category A game as we do when Hibs or Celtic come to Tynecastle," he said.

"However, we will be taking steps to try to ensure there are few problems with fans who have drunk too much.

"Those who have been drinking excessively and attempt to enter the ground will not be allowed in. We are mindful of what can happen with the late kick-off on a Saturday in Aberdeen.

"The extra couple of hours which fans can have in the pubs can tend to cause a problem at the games and for that reason the stewards and police will be extra vigilant tomorrow.

"We will be treating it like any other high-profile match but at the same time keeping a closer eye on those coming into the ground.

"The most recent visits of Hibs and Celtic have been uneventful inside the stadium and hopefully the same applies this time."

Manager Craig Levein, meanwhile, is looking for his players to build on the second-half performance against Dunfermline last week which salvaged a point at East End Park.

And he is keeping his fingers crossed that the visitors to Tynecastle are still feeling the exertions of Tuesday’s gruelling extra-time win over Celtic in the CIS Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.

"The way we rallied after going a goal behind at Dunfermline and always looked dangerous was very encouraging," he said.

"But tomorrow is obviously a very different game. Who knows whether having played such an exhausting game will affect Rangers but we’ll find out.

"We will try to keep the game as high-tempo as possible and try to test them late on.

"Maybe the elation that they got from winning the game will carry them through - that is sometimes what happens.

"When a team feels its confidence grow it can gain extra strength - both physically and mentally - and that might happen with them. We’re certainly not expecting it to be any easier."

Taken from the Scotsman