JAMBOS DEMAND DAVIS PROBE

Mar 5 2005

And they want Gers game replayed

By David Mccarthy

HEARTS last night demanded Wednesday night's controversial match with Rangers be replayed - and that the SFA launch an inquiry into the integrity of assistant referee Andy Davis.

The unprecedented move followed Davis' decision to alert referee Hugh Dallas to an injury-time foul that led to the spot-kick Fernando Ricksen converted to give Rangers a 2-1 win.

Referee Hugh Dallas gave the penalty and the decision provoked a spate of coin throwing and a red card for Hearts winger Sauliaus Mikoliunas, who barged into Davis.The Tynecastle club's

acting chief executive Sergejus Fedetovas insisted Hearts had enough grounds to ask the SFA to probe the actions of the match officials.

Former chairman Chris Robinson, now a non-executive director, insisted Dallas was above reproach so that points the finger squarely at linesman Davis - - a move certain to infuriate the refereeing fraternity.

At a hastily-convened press conference in Glasgow, the duo insisted Hearts had come to the decision at the insistence of their fans.

Asked if they were looking for a replay, Fedetovas said: 'Yes, yes. I think the match should be replayed if the result of this investigation shows there was something wrong and we believe there maybe something wrong.

'A lot of disappointed supporters are asking why this decision was taken and asking questions. The club feels an obligation to ask for this inquiry.

'We are questioning the integrity of the decision that was taken. I don't want to go into details but I need that inquiry to give the club a feedback. If everything is okay that is positive but if that was the wrong decision, the game should be replayed.'

Robinson alluded to the fact Dallas may have admitted privately the penalty was a poor decision but Hearts want the SFA to investigate whether it was an honest mistake by the match officials or something more sinister.

He said: 'Mr Dallas made a statement to our manager after the match that conflicts with the events on the park as to why the decision was taken. There is a clear disparity between what the official said he saw and what everyone has seen.

'Hugh is a top-class referee. I have the utmost respect for him and I think everyone in the game has.He is a first-class individual and a very good referee, not only well thought of in Scotland but throughout refereeing circles. I think he may well be already brassed off with the outcome of Wednesday night's game but that's for him and the inquiry to look into.

'As for his integrity, I don't think any inquiry will find anything different about Hugh Dallas.

'We've had hundreds of calls and emails and people are telling us they don't want to come back and watch professional Scottish football because they don't believe the outcome is the meritorious outcome.'

A letter was handed in by Hearts to the SFA yesterday demanding the probe and a decision is likely to be taken on whether to go ahead with one at a disciplinary committee meeting on March 15.

SFA spokesman Andy Mitchell said: 'The SFA has a clear and well-established process for dealing with disciplinary matters and the events of Wednesday night will be considered by the disciplinary committee on March 15.

'No evidence has been submitted that the match was not played in accordance with the laws of the game, which state the decision of the referee regarding facts concerned with play are final.'

Taken from the Daily Record