Levein clears Maybury of derby swipe

MARK BONTHRONE

HEARTS defender Alan Maybury will not be punished by the club after he was alleged to have swung a punch at Scott Brown during Sunday’s Edinburgh derby.

The Irishman was due to find out today whether he has a case to answer with the SFA but is in the clear with his employers after Hearts boss Craig Levein reviewed a recording of the match.

Referee Mike McCurry and his two assistants missed the flash-point but it was picked up by the television cameras.

The SFA disciplinary committee have confirmed that they will look at the incident and could yet intervene following last week’s decision to investigate similar accusations against Rangers’ Fernando Ricksen.

Television pictures appeared to show the Dutchman elbowing Derek Riordan during Hibs’ CIS Cup semi-final victory at Hampden and Ricksen will now appear before the SFA’s disciplinary committee next month.

Levein, however, is confident that his player is not guilty of any wrongdoing after having a closer look at the incident

"There was nothing in it," said the Tynecastle boss.

"It was handbags at ten paces. I looked at the video and I didn’t feel there was anything there to warrant any action.

"The SFA will probably have a look at it and they are quite right to do so. However, there is no similarity with some of the recent cases."

Taken from the Scotsman