Fyssas can't forget his red card injustice

TAKIS FYSSAS believes Iain Brines' decision to red card him against Celtic cost Hearts any chance they had of winning the SPL title last season.

The Greek defender was ordered off in the 3-2 defeat to Celtic on New Year's Day, the referee showing him a straight red card for a challenge on Shaun Maloney.

Television evidence later proved that Fyssas had not made contact with the Celtic striker and the card was rescinded two weeks later. However, despite being proved innocent over the tackle, Fyssas feels that decision denied the Tynecastle side a fair crack at the title.

Hearts were leading 2-1 when the Greek international was sent off and Fyssas said: "I think that we had played fantastically against Celtic in the first 45 minutes of that match but everything changed in the second half because of one bad decision. I got a red card but for me it was absolutely not and this changed the whole season because if we had won that game we would have had a good opportunity for the championship."

Despite missing out on the title, though, Fyssas believes that Vladimir Romanov's reign, which saw Hearts secure a place in the Champions League qualifiers for next season, has made Hearts a household name all over Europe.

Speaking on the club's end-of-season DVD 'Glorious: The Romanov Revolution', Fyssas added: "When I first came to the club I knew only that there were two teams in Edinburgh, Hearts and Hibs. I wanted to stay here and make a new contract with this team. I had two or three other choices but I liked it here.

"Everybody knows that it is not only Rangers and Celtic any more, now we have Hearts and it is very important that after so many years Hearts are back up there."

The DVD was launched at the Dominion Theatre on Sunday with a touch of Hollywood glamour, coach John McGlynn and former Hearts stars Gary Mackay and Alan McLaren among those who walked the red carpet for the first screening of the season's review.

Narrated by Rob McLean, the DVD charts the ups - and the downs - of a rollercoaster season for the Tynecastle side, including the sacking of George Burley while the team were riding high at the top of the league.

Hearts captain Steven Pressley admitted that Burley's departure is still bitterly disappointing and insists the former Derby County boss could have lead the club to even more success if he had remained at the helm.

Pressley said: "I received a phone call on the Saturday morning, prior to the Dunfermline game, saying that I was to come into the hotel slightly earlier to meet Mr Romanov so that he could explain the reasons behind George's departure.

"I listened to what he had to say. You know that you have to accept the reasons given because Mr Romanov is the man in charge of the football club. But, while I accepted them, I was bitterly disappointed that George had departed because I believed that we were on the crest of something very special with him in charge.

"In the short period of time he had been at the club George made an enormous impression on all of the players. We had a great rapport with him and a great belief in his methods. I was bitterly disappointed to see him go

"I think that the Dunfermline game actually came at the right time for us, though, because it meant that we didn't really have time to reflect on the decision.

"It was a case of focusing on the game, getting it over and then reflecting later. I think that, in the circumstances, we showed a great deal of character."

Glorious: The Romanov Revolution goes on sale from Friday at the Hearts superstore, priced £20.

Taken from the Scotsman