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SportHeartsHearts boss Craig Levein on collision course with Scottish FA after being...

Hearts boss Craig Levein on collision course with Scottish FA after being hit with Notice of Complaint for Rangers rant

BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport

CRAIG LEVEIN has been hit with a Scottish FA notice of complaint following his withering attack on referee Bobby Madden in the aftermath of Hearts’ contentious defeat against Rangers.

Levein, 54, was irate after watching his side succumb to a 2-1 reverse on December 2, with Alfredo Morelos notching a controversial winning goal despite being in an offside position when James Tavernier’s cross was delivered.

Although that error can be attributed to assistant Anthony Cooper, Levein was also seething at Madden’s failure to punish Alfredo Morelos for what he perceived to be a string of fouls on Tynecastle captain Christophe Berra.

Levein stated his side were up against ’13 men’ in Gorgie and described the officials’ showing as ‘abysmal’.

He also expressed confidence that he would not be carpeted for the blast after citing how Neil Lennon escaped punishment for similar comments directed at Don Robertson following Hibs’ 4-2 defeat against Celtic in October. The Northern Irishman said that was ‘like playing against 12 men’.

However, Scottish FA compliance officer Clare Whyte sees it differently.

She has charged Levein with an alleged breach of disciplinary rule 72, relating to ‘suggesting bias or incompetence on the part of [a] match official’.

If found guilty, the former Scotland manager faces a likely two-match touchline ban.

Asked recently whether he would contest any notice of complaint as a result of his comments, Levein stated: “I’m sure I would.”  The hearing will take place at Hampden on December 20.

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