Red card pair could be shown exit door

Saints team-mates Swanson and Foster sent off after bizarre incident

St Johnstone brawlers Danny Swanson and Richard Foster, who were both red carded for fighting each other in a bizarre piece of on-field violence on Saturday right on the half-time whistle, could be booted out of the Perth club, their careers in tatters.

SFA delegate at the match, former Kilmarnock secretary Kevin Collins, is expected to file a full report this morning, which will almost certainly lead to a full probe and both players being hammered with extended bans and fines on top of their automatic two-game suspensions.

Both players were suspended with immediate effect on Saturday night.

The shamed duo face the possibility they could be sacked by the time the SFA beaks meet to take action, after manager Tommy Wright views the video evidence.

Saints boss Wright, clearly seething about the shocking incident as well as losing all three points to an Alex D’Acol goal in the final minute, said: “Until I see it I can’t really comment.

“I’ve told the two players in the dressing room in front of the rest the club will investigate it. I’ve heard what’s alleged to have happened.

“But until I see it with my own eyes I can’t say more.

“But if what is alleged to have happened has happened I will and the club will come down on them as hard as we possibly and legally can. Both players will be dealt with in the strongest possible way we can.

“At half-time it was a case of trying to regroup, get a team together and try and get a result. They shook hands.

“They’ve been foolish, really foolish and probably embarrassed to be sent off in that manner. They’ve cost us three points.

“We nearly got a point out of a magnificent performance from the nine that stayed on the pitch.

“We will do a fair investigation and the players know I will not show them any sympathy if what is alleged to have happened has happened.

“There was a bit of frustration in the first half as we weren’t playing well and they had words before that. I knew I could sort that out in the dressing room at halftime but unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to do that. We are down to four defenders and it will not allow us to be derailed for that fourth place.

“I should have been sitting here celebrating with a glass of Champagne that we have secured a top-six place. But two of my players have been foolish and were punished for it. They have let themselves down and let their teammates down.”

The club did not allow either player to comment after the match.

Accies’ Darrian MacKinnon said: “It was bizarre what happened on the pitch. It was a bit heated and even coming out for the second half Tommy Wright bumped into me trying to get me into trouble. He’s not normally like that, he’s a nice guy.

“The two players had been shouting at each other but I never saw that coming. You can’t do things like that, if you’re going to do things like that do it behind closed doors.”

Accies boss Martin Canning said: “I didn’t think the goal was going to come. Even at 11 versus 11 I felt we were the better team. As for the incident at halftime it turned into a mess and you shouldn’t be seeing things like that, it should be about the football.”

Saints began the day unbeaten by Accies in their last six clashes, dating back to January 2015 – Alex Neil’s last match in charge before his move to Norwich. So his successor, Canning, was still trying to break his managerial hoodoo against the Perth outfit.

He could never imagine he would achieve it in such surreal fashion.

There were few chances in the first period until utter mayhem ensued as referee Don Robertson blew the interval whistle.

Right in front of the main stand, and for no apparent reason, Swanson and Foster exchanged blows. Foster threw a punch at Swanson, slipped and as Foster lay on the ground Swanson clearly kicked Foster in the stomach.

It caused a massive melee with players and benches from both sides getting involved and the unsavoury scenes continued as they went down the tunnel.

During the interval Saints were reduced to nine men as both Foster and Swanson were red carded in the dressing room, Paul Paton saw yellow, Accies’ Ali Crawford was booked and Hamilton assistant boss Guillaume Beuzelin was sent to the stand.

Saints put all nine behind the ball in a second half rearguard action and after a stunning Alan Mannus save from Crawford four minutes from time, Accies finally got the winner on 90 minutes when Alex D’Acol, returning from injury, swept a Scott McMann cross from the left, beyond the Perth keeper from 12 yards.

Late on Saturday night Saints issued the following statement: “Following the incident in today’s match against Hamilton Academical FC, the club wishes to advise that players Danny Swanson and Richard Foster have been suspended pending a full and thorough investigation into the matter.

“The club also wishes to make it clear that, contrary to some reports, no player or member of staff has been spoken to or interviewed by Police Scotland.”

I’ve told the two players inthe dressing room in front of the rest the club will investigate it. I’ve heard what’s alleged to have happened