Six supporters told to stay away from Tynecastle

HEARTS fans’ chief Robin Beith today backed the club’s stance in clamping down on abusive behaviour by supporters - after six individuals were handed indefinite bans from Tynecastle.

Five were ejected from the lower main stand during Saturday night’s clash with Rangers for being drunk and abusive, while another was thrown out of the Gorgie Stand for shouting out during a minute’s silence for Princess Margaret.

Beith stressed that he was unaware of the circumstances involving each individual, but admitted he was glad the club were taking steps to stamp out unacceptable conduct at the club.

He said: "It’s good to see the club taking this sort of stand and we would fully back them in their actions of dealing with abusive fans.

"I heard somebody shout during the minute’s silence but I was not aware of anything happening on the main stand so I could not comment specifically on that.

"As far as the first guy is concerned, whether you agree with having the minute’s silence or not, you cannot do something which has the potential to provoke a violent reaction from other fans.

"I would imagine closed-circuit television has helped identify the fans in the main stand and I’m sure the club have taken the appropriate steps.

"It’s part of the constitution of the Federation of Hearts Supporters’ Clubs to stand against the hooligan element and we are glad the club is taking this issue seriously.

"However, I would hope the threat of such action would not sterilise the atmosphere at Tynecastle. Emotions run high at football games and shouting, and dare I say it, the odd expletive, is part of the game. But that is not to condone any sort of obscene chanting or abusive behaviour which the club is right to confront."

Club spokesman Douglas Dalgleish explained the club’s position. He said: "A total of six people have been banned indefinitely from the club after Saturday’s match at Tynecastle.

"The first man shouted out during the minute’s silence and was asked to leave before the match began. He showed complete disrespect and the other five were behaving drunkenly and causing a disorder. They acted like thugs.

"It has been a situation we have been watching for some time at Tynecastle so this is not a knee-jerk reaction.

"Other supporters had attracted our attention to this problem and it was something we had been monitoring. We hope this sends out a message that Hearts are a family club and this sort of thing will not be tolerated."

Stephane Mahe, meanwhile, is unlikely to train until tomorrow at the earliest after being injured against Rangers.

The Frenchman was able to complete the match despite suffering a thigh knock but has been receiving treatment since the start of the week in a bid to have him available for Saturday’s clash with Kilmarnock.

Taken from the Scotsman