Hearts' MacLean given ban for grabbing Kouassi's groin

On Sunday, Hearts suffered defeat at the hands of Celtic, who advanced at their expense to the Betfred cup final; they will face Aberdeen at Hampden Park next month.

Hearts striker Maclean was captured grabbing the groin of Celtic defender Eboue Kouassi during the match, and has since been handed a two match ban. 

MacLean has the option to either accept or contest the ban, as Hearts have until Thursday to answer the charge. And so the striker will be free to face the side's fixture with Hibernian at Tynecastle on Wednesday.

 

28 October 2018

The incident was caught on camera, with victim Kouassi  collapsing to the floor before protesting to match official Willie Collum.  Under the rule change that dictates that any deliberate contact with that area of the body to be deemed an act of 'brutality', MacLean could face a ban. 

Hearts boss Craig Levein discussed the charge with the media ahead of the visit of Hibernian, saying: "I can't without laughing! Yeah, we've had a chat. I think he knows he can't do that, eh? I think he knows... They've changed the rules in the summer. He says he's been doing it for years! I did have a wee chuckle...Yeah, we knew the rule change. But Steven just seems to like doing it..."

The striker will have to decide whether to accept or negate the charge, and will then face a wait to see if he faces a ban under the new SFA regulations.