HART CUP KO AFTER 3-MATCH BAN RAP

PAUL HARTLEY will miss Hearts' Scottish Cup fourth-round clash with Aberdeen on Saturday after receiving a three-match ban.

The midfielder was given a retrospective red card by the SFA disciplinary committee yesterday for kicking out at Celtic's Ross Wallace and the additional 12-point penalty takes him over the 18-point barrier.

Hartley will be available to play in SPL games against Dundee United and Aberdeen but will then sit out matches at home to Motherwell on February 18 and at Livingston on March 4.

The 29-year-old admitted the offence which was missed by referee Iain Brines but caught on camera as Hearts went down 3-2.

Hartley said: "I held my hands up and totally regret the incident. I'll now take my punishment as I received a fair hearing and can have no complaints.

"I was caught up in the heat of the moment during a big game and I reacted in the wrong way.

"I will now miss Saturday's game against Aberdeen which is disappointing but we have enough quality players to come in and do the job."

Ex-Dundee United No.2 Billy Dodds also appeared in front of the Hampden beaks to answer charges relating to his touchline clash with Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood.

Dodds had one game added to his automatic two-game ban for the incident which occurred at the end of United's Scottish Cup defeat at Tannadice last month.

Gordon Chisholm and Dodds lost their jobs the next week and the new Partick Thistle striker was far from happy at his latest setback.

He said: "I accepted the two match ban so to have another game added on top of that is a bit severe in my opinion.

"The extra game was added for my aggressive behaviour but we kissed and made up after the game. I've been in the game for 20 years and they are setting a precedent to go and ban everybody now.

"It was all verbal and I lost my job because of it. You get flashpoints in most games but everybody could soon end up banned.

"I'll speak to my lawyers and see where we go from here. Everyone was called but I just thought it was my point to turn up and put my case across."

Dodds' ban relates only to the touchline which means he's free to play in his side's Scottish Cup clash with Inverness at the Caledonian Stadium on Saturday.

The suspension will only come into affect if he ever returns to coaching or management.

Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies was let off the hook after being asked to explain his comments about linesman Andy Davis in a recent defeat to Rangers.

Jefferies was infuriated by the legitimacy of the Ibrox side's first goal from Peter Lovenkrands and he said he feared there would be "something controversial" with the match official.

After viewing video evidence the Rugby Park chief apologised to Davis for the remark and having already served his two-match ban for being sent to the stand no further action was taken.

Jefferies said: "I have come out publicly and apologised for what I said and I have apologised privately to the official.

"I'm pleased they've decided not to enforce more sanctions. It was a heat of the moment thing which looked worse than it was."

Taken from the Daily Record