Laszlo accused of swearing at McGhee in touchline spat

STUART BATHGATE
A RELATIVELY civil match between Hearts and Motherwell was followed by a rancorous dispute between the two managers last night, as Csaba Laszlo and Mark McGhee lambasted each other in their post-match press conferences after the Tynecastle side's 2-1 victory

Besides being disappointed by the result, McGhee said he was unimpressed by Laszlo's behaviour after a free-kick had been awarded to Hearts for a foul by Maros Klimpl on Andy Driver. "It was a foul, but the reaction from their bench was like it was an assassination," he claimed. "I asked what it was all about and was told to f*** off."

Laszlo shook hands with McGhee seconds after that incident. He explained he had apologised for his language, and contrasted that with what he claimed was his counterpart's attitude. "If he talk this (ie complain about Laszlo's swearing] he must also tell what he talked before.

"I apologised and he did not do the same. He must not bring too much emotion after losing a game. If you have too much emotion you must control it."

Asked to explain what McGhee had said before, Laszlo declined to specify, but implied it had been serious abuse. "Before he said something, and then after the 1-1 (ie the Motherwell equaliser]. If we talk this I think we must go to the law. I'm not here to make a war. I respect very high his person, definitely. It's also very painful for me to lose games, but it's wrong to go in this direction."

McGhee was still pleased by the way his team had played. "We did everything right apart from win," he added. "I still think we can make the top six."

Taken from the Scotsman