Hearts count cost of referee's expensive European send-off

TWO games into the mini-group phase of the UEFA Cup and Hearts believe themselves capable of competing against most teams but according to the players, they have had to admit defeat when it comes to the referees.

Erroneous offside decisions left them on the back foot against group favourites Feyenoord two weeks ago and on Thursday night, against the current form side of the Bundesliga, Schalke, the club were again left fuming by the actions of the Russian match officials.

A home win was considered a virtual must, with three of the five teams assured of progress in the competition but a flurry of yellow cards as well as the red flashed at Patrick Kisnorbo for his second football felony of the match, not only cost them on the night but also leaves them without the services of both the Australian and fellow midfielder Paul Hartley, whose accumulation of bookings means he also misses the trip to Basel.

Even the normally placid Mark De Vries was livid. "We’re disappointed with the result but we feel we’re not getting beaten by the opposition team, we’re getting beaten by UEFA, who keep sending out these referees. It’s unbelievable - it’s time we got a referee with a little bit of class."

Still "miles away" from full fitness following a lengthy spell out with the poisoned toe, which sidelined him for the match in Rotterdam, he spent the first 65 minutes of Thursday’s showdown on the bench. But his position in the dug-out did not render him immune to the refereeing display. Seemingly speaking for the 25,000 disappointed Hearts fans in the stadium he said "watching it was almost more frustrating than playing in it. But it was just as bad when I got on. I’m a physical player but they play physical as well and the ref doesn’t see that.

"You see their players playing right into it, and the referee buys it every time, that’s the most frustrating thing about the loss. There’s only one word to describe it and that’s ridiculous."

His team-mate Jamie McAllister had one or two alternatives. "I thought the referee was terrible. Some of his decisions were crazy and every time we got into the last third he seemed to blow for a free kick for them."

Matters of culpability aside, the fact is defeat now means that with two game remaining, against Basel and then Ferencvaros, Hearts sit bottom of their mini-league, still seeking their first points.

"They [Schalke] are a quality side," said McAllister. "It’s three points dropped and we have to win the last two. It’s a hard task. Their boys scored a great goal to win the game."

The calibre of the strike which eventually guaranteed the Germans victory is exactly what is fuelling hope in De Vries. Provided UEFA show more compassion when it comes to refereeing appointments, he is refusing to believe this year’s European campaign will culminate with the match against the Hungarians in December. "Talking about the football, Schalke are a good side. But they said they are capable of beating every side in Europe yet they needed to score a goal from nearly 40 yards to beat us!"

If the sojourn does conclude next month, it increases the need to up the ante on the domestic front to ensure they will be able to have another go next season.

Which is why today’s trip to Aberdeen could prove pivotal come the end of the season. Having finished third for the past two seasons, Hearts are now under pressure from the rejuvenated Pittodrie side.

"There’s three points between us, so if we go up there and get a win we’ll go ahead of them on goal difference," says McAllister, already putting Europe on the back burner to concentrate on matters closer to home. A former Aberdeen player he admits to still having a soft spot for the club but will be proffering no favours today. "It will be very difficult but we’re going up there full of confidence. The boys have done tremendously well for the last couple of years, finishing third. There are a lot of quality players in the side and hopefully we will finish third again and win a trophy."

McAllister still has a year and a half of his contract to run but, should third place and European football be secured for next season with wins against the likes of the Dons, a dozen players, including De Vries, may not be at Hearts by then to enjoy it.

Already a raft of names have been linked with former boss Craig Levein at Leicester and while the fans will be fretting the players have decided that humour is the best answer to the speculation.

"The boys are having a bit of banter about that, about who’ll be first to go. We’ve not opened a book on it yet but a lot of boys are coming to the end of their contracts.

"I don’t really want to talk about my contract. I’m not fit, I haven’t played for a month and I don’t think it’s the right moment or fair to Hearts.

"No-one has spoken to me about it yet but one of the things I wanted to know was if the gaffer was going to stay - well, he didn’t! I know that now. But we’ll see if the new owner wants to talk to me and if he does, I’ll speak to him."

But that’s for another day. In the meantime, there’s European sores to pick over and a league game to focus on. And that’s all before they meet Dunfermline in the quarter-finals of the CIS Cup on Wednesday.

Taken from the Scotsman