SKACEL TO STAY AT HEARTS

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Hearts midfielder Rudi Skacel will remain at Tynecastle until 2008 after the Edinburgh club agreed an undisclosed fee with Olympique Marseille.

The 26-year-old Czech Republic international arrived in Gorgie on a one-year loan deal with a two-year option last summer.

Skacel has since become a cult hero with the fans after scoring 16 goals from midfield this season.

A Hearts spokesman said: "The clubs have agreed an undisclosed fee. "Hearts and Marseille agreed terms before Rudi joined, which has resulted in the club exercising their right to retain the midfielder for a further two years in addition to this season."
The announcement, however, comes in the wake of yet another alleged spitting incident involving the Czech midfielder.

In February, he was accused of spitting on Dundee United defender Stuart Duff during their Bank of Scotland Premier League clash at Tannadice.

Then, on Sunday, Celtic captain Neil Lennon also claimed the Czech midfielder had spat at him during the Hoops' 3-0 defeat by the Gorgie side at Tynecastle.

A newspaper photograph appeared to show the incident, but Hearts have backed Skacel in strongly refuting the allegations.

Taken from sportinglife.com