Romanov in no mood to pull punches in SFA attack

VLADIMIR Romanov last night hit back at the Scottish Football Association's attempt to gag him by launching a withering attack on the game's governing body.

The SFA announced this week it had passed a resolution to stop so-called "shadow directors" speaking out with impunity. Romanov, who owns Hearts but holds no office, put the new legislation to the test immediately by mocking the association and its chief executive, David Taylor.

He repeated claims Hearts had been badly treated in the season just ended and claimed Scotland needed a debate on refereeing standards rather than a gag.

"I would like to hear David Taylor's comments on the new regulations," said Romanov. "Do they mean that I'll need to keep silent until the end of my life? Or will this rule only apply while you are in your post?"

Speaking from Lithuania, he told Taylor: "I hope you won't leave your position for another 80 years because, without you, there's no-one to think up such ingenious regulations.

"In case I do get fined for what I say, I'd like to know how you are going to spend the money. If it goes to pay bonuses to the referees then which ones - those who just happen to be Celtic fans or those who monitor the direction of Skacel's spitting?

"Or should we establish some foundation to conduct spitting contests? You have already accumulated quite an experience in this field. So I suggest you become the general director of this new Spitting Federation. I guarantee there will be not a word of criticism from me. I'm even prepared to forget that you never apologised after an 'independent from you' referee wrongly sent off Fyssas.

"Instead of apologising you disqualified key Hearts player Hartley for three games, just before decisive matches for the SPL. Maybe you just forget that he's the real pride of the Scottish national team, unlike you or me.

"Well, I understand that one's own interests are above everything else."

The SFA now finds itself under pressure to take action against Romanov, who clearly still bears a grudge about Hearts' meetings with Celtic this season.

When the sides met at Tynecastle on 1 January, Hearts had Takis Fyssas sent off for a tackle on Shaun Maloney. Eight days later, an SFA review panel decided referee Iain Brines had made a mistake and rescinded the red card. Hearts were leading 2-1 at the time of Fyssas' dismissal but eventually lost 3-2. In a separate incident, Hearts' Paul Hartley was charged with serious misconduct and later banned for three matches for kicking Ross Wallace of Celtic.

When the sides met again in April, Celtic captain Neil Lennon accused Rudi Skacel of spitting at him, a charge the Hearts player denied. No action was taken.

Meanwhile, Hearts announced yesterday that demand for season tickets had exceeded 19,000. With Tynecastle holding just over 17,000, thousands will be disappointed. The club will have a record 13,500 season ticket-holders with the remainder of fans placed on a waiting list.

Taken from the Scotsman