MacLean is sweating at prospect of an SFA ban

HEARTS striker Steven MacLean will learn today whether he faces a two-match ban for grabbing Eboue Kouassi’s groin after the SFA launched a disciplinary investigation.

Sportsmail understands the compliance officer will review television footage of the incident, which occurred as the pair jostled during the first half of Sunday’s 3-0 Betfred Cup semi-final win for Celtic. MacLean later dismissed it as ‘just a laugh’ but a summer rule change means there could now be more serious consequences for the veteran forward. After similar incidents last season, clubs were warned that future attempts by a player to impact on an opponent’s groin area would be regarded as ‘brutality’ and therefore subject to the same red-card sanction as violent-conduct offences. MacLean’s actions prompted

furious protests from Parkhead midfielder Kouassi but were seemingly missed by referee Willie Collum, who didn’t reach for a card after speaking to both players. The Tynecastle forward was already on a booking. The 36-year-old now seems likely to be hit with a retrospective two-match suspension in line with disciplinary protocol — although the process means he could still be available to feature in tomorrow’s Edinburgh derby. The compliance officer will ask three former match officials to view video evidence and, if they share the opinion that a redcard offence was missed, a notice of complaint has to be raised by 3pm today. The player then has a further 24 hours to respond. If the charge is contested, MacLean’s case would be expected to be considered by a judicial panel on Thursday. He would miss Saturday’s Premiership rematch with Celtic and a subsequent meeting with Kilmarnock if found guilty at that point. Speaking on Sunday, the exSt Johnstone striker said: ‘It was just a laugh. It was a wee wind-up. It’s fitba’, eh?’ Meanwhile, Steven Naismith will today discover the full extent of the knee injury which saw him limp out of the semi-final after undergoing a scan yesterday.