Hearts' Skacel accused of spitting

Hearts, still reeling from the news that Vladimir Romanov, the club's owner, has taken control of team selection, were plunged into further controversy last night when their top scorer - the Czech midfield player, Rudi Skacel - was accused of spitting in the face of an opponent. The allegation was made by Dundee United's Grant Brebner, who scored the opening goal in Tuesday night's 1-1 draw with Hearts.

According to Brebner the incident - Skacel is alleged to have spat at the United defender, Stuart Duff - took place after the Paul Hartley penalty kick that gave Hearts a 1-1 draw, and angered the home players even more than what they considered to be a dubious decision by the referee, Dougie McDonald.

"The ref gave the penalty and we had to accept that, but the thing we're more than unhappy with in the dressing room is the manner in which some of their players, one in particular, behaved," Brebner said.

"If you're going to bring players in you should teach them manners first and spitting in players' faces is not what we expect. You can accept penalties, you can accept tackles and sending-offs but not that.

"It's the most annoying thing one player can do to another. It was Stuart who was spat on - in the face, which is disgusting. He's not happy about it. The whole thing is horrible." Craig Brewster, the Dundee United manager, added: "Skacel is a better player than that."

Meanwhile, as disclosed in these pages yesterday, Steven Pressley is to meet Romanov after his team-mates voted unanimously for the captain to demand explanations from the Russian-Lithuanian banker. Certainly Graham Rix, the first-team coach, was coy after it was revealed that he told his players on Monday that he was no longer in charge of team selection.

Last night he said: "I have a good situation here and a great bunch of players - they are the most important people, first and foremost - and I won't be walking away."

Asked who would select the team for Saturday's meeting with Aberdeen at Tynecastle, Rix replied: "We have 35 good players to choose from and that's what we'll do."

Romanov was not in the UK yesterday and in his absence the club issued an official statement which read: "Hearts today confirmed that club owner Vladimir Romanov is happy to meet with club captain, Steven Pressley, to discuss a number of footballing matters.

"The meeting follows an earlier discussion amongst the players at which it was agreed unanimously that a meeting with Mr Romanov was the best course of action to debate the circumstances surrounding Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice.

"Mr Romanov is currently out of the country on business and is expected to return to Edinburgh in time for this Saturday's SPL match against Aberdeen."

In a further development, Hearts have banned photographers from their training sessions, perhaps to maintain secrecy about Romanov's plans to exploit dead-ball opportunities.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk