After Hearts lost to Glasgow Rangers in December, Levein’s comments on the game against the Ibrox side have resulted in a ban.
The Scottish Football Association has given Heart of Midlothian manager Craig Levein a one-match touchline ban, with a second game suspended, following his criticism of referee Bobby Madden.
Following the Jambos’ 2-1 loss to Rangers in December, the 54-year-old said that “it was like playing against 12 men” in comments reported by BBC Sport.
Levein appeared to refer to Alfredo Morelos scoring the winning goal seemingly from an offside position, as well as the striker’s clashes with Hearts captain Christophe Berra.
At a Scottish Football Association judicial panel hearing at Hampden Park on Monday, Levein was found to be in breach of Disciplinary Rule 72.
The rule states that no team official “shall criticise the match officials in such a way as to indicate bias or incompetence or make remarks about such match official(s) which impinge on his character”.
Levein is now suspended from the dugout for Hearts’ Scottish Cup fourth round tie against Livingston on January 20 and has also been given an additional one-game ban, which is suspended until December 31.
Following the news of the former Scotland manager’s suspension, some Hearts fans took to Twitter to express their thoughts – needless to say there weren’t many particularly happy with the verdict:
Hearts currently sit fifth in the Scottish Premiership table, six points behind leaders Celtic and second-placed Rangers, with their next league game at home against Dundee on January 23.
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