SFA’s Lafferty ban is ‘harsh’
HEARTS boss Craig Levein has described the SFA’s rejection of Kyle Lafferty’s appeal as ‘harsh’ and ‘unfair’ after the striker was ruled out of this month’s Scottish Cup showdown with rivals Hibs. Lafferty, 30, appeared at Hampden yesterday to challenge his straight red
card from referee John Beaton for a lunge on Aberdeen’s Graeme Shinnie during the closing stages of a goalless draw at Pittodrie last month. The Northern Ireland international denied being guilty of serious foul play, but disciplinary chiefs threw out his bid and upheld a two-match ban which will see him miss the fourth-round tie at Tynecastle on January 21 and the Premiership trip to Hamilton three days later. After the verdict, Levein claimed that ex-Rangers star Lafferty — who has scored 11 goals in 25 appearances since his summer arrival — has been harshly treated. ‘Looking at it in isolation, I thought it would go our way. I’m disappointed because I think it’s unfair,’ said the Gorgie manager, who takes his squad to Spain for a five-day training camp tomorrow. ‘I still think it’s harsh looking at other people who have won appeals. It was a process that was very heavily weighted one way. Nobody will be more disappointed than Kyle. It’s him I feel sorry for because he’ll miss an important match. But there’s nothing we can do.’ Meanwhile, the Hearts boss insists that Jamie Walker has more than earned his chance to ply his trade south of the border after clinching a £300,000 switch to League One leaders Wigan on Monday. Levein said: ‘Every player has ambition and Jamie wants to test himself at the highest level possible. ‘I think he deserves it. He had been here since he was ten and had done enough for us.’