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Ref's automatic action headed off hassle

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Published Date: 10 May 2009
REFEREE Steve Conroy has played down his part in preventing a Hearts fan confronting Derek Riordan in Thursday night's Edinburgh derby.
Hibernian striker Riordan was celebrating scoring what proved the only goal of the game from the penalty spot at Tynecastle when two Hearts supporters rushed on to the pitch. Robert Wyllie, 16, from Kirkcaldy, came within feet of Riordan but failed to reach him after Conway put himself between them.

The official insisted he acted out of pure instinct, saying on STV: "We're mic'd up in these games and the other officials shouted at me, 'They're behind you'. That's when I turned round and there were a couple of guys on the pitch. Thankfully, nothing did happen but it was just an automatic reaction to try to stop any further hassle happening."

Wyllie and Robert Philips, 25, from Edinburgh were both banned from Tynecastle and both admitted breach of the peace at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Hearts face action from the Scottish Premier League following the incident but the club began their own probe in conjunction with police yesterday morning. Managing director Campbell Ogilvie said: "We have acted quickly with the police to identify two supporters who entered the playing area. On no account will we tolerate any unacceptable conduct."


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1

Hysterical Jambow,

10/05/2009 10:14:48
idiots! deserfedly banned for life. No doubt they are part of the union jack carrying group that are not welcome being associated with us. Why don't you lot head back to Glasgow, or England, where you'd be much happier and where you belong?

It's a game of football, passionate for 90 mins then requires toning it down a lot afterwards. There are very few other social function that have alternative beliefs/supportings which they feel the need to have vioence as a method to sort out differences, get a grip!
2

jumpship,

Edinburgh 10/05/2009 10:17:05
Hibs players are coming out of all this like a bunch of wee school girls crying to the press.
3

Spanish jambo,

10/05/2009 10:31:20
This article's now old hat, innit mait?
Hearts 0 Hibs 1, fine let's get over it but why all the hoo ha? No-one got decked on the field and there wasn't any riot, so punish the guilty (without this ridiculous threat of prison) and let's enjoy future fixtures withour rivals, end of.
Well done Hibs fans. You got the better of us this season but it was more our undoing than your "Mixu play". With a decent manager you'd have probably taken all the points!
BTW:
I've always admired the Hibs fans passion (which is a major part of the game us fans love) and if a Hearts player provoked them then IMO he'd deserve all he got, but vice-versa with their lot too. In other words, it's just a question of time before loose-cannon-Riordan players are brought into courts as part of defence cases - Big Brother plays a part in football for many reasons!
Finally, anyone spotted this reporter's attempt at "Hero Ref" article?
4

busbyfh,

10/05/2009 12:27:40
Rear done slots away the penalty - ignores his fellow team-mates,ignores his team's fans and races over to the Hearts support to wind them up - WHY ?
This is the third derby game in a row that he has been involved with gesturing trouble - He started the whole bloody thing. Why is he not in serious 5hit ?



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5

Diego Armando Maradona,

10/05/2009 13:18:08
#4 You ask WHY ? the answer is Because he can GIRFUY
6

Bleeding Heart,

10/05/2009 14:44:03
#5 - "Because he can...". True, Diego, true.

Just like YOU can put a brick through the window of a Princes Street store if you desperately want to. Trouble is, that sort of behaviour is frowned upon by the powers-that-be.

And do you want to know something strange? Football has rules governing conduct too! Yes, it's true - it really is.

So I'm sorry to have to tell you, but this also means that Riordan's actions are deemed by the football authorities to constitute a misdemeanour.

Which takes us back to the original question: why is nothing apparently being done about it?
7

Rolland,

10/05/2009 17:08:23
Indeed why is nothing being done against Ratboy ?

Well that might change as I've submitted a complaint to the polis, the actions of this individual are particularly nasty and what a terrible human being.

He should be in court and hopefully he will get what ius coming to him.
8

allanr,

perth 11/05/2009 03:37:04
#7.Greetin' face loser
9

petegeneva,

geneva 11/05/2009 08:29:03
#7 Good idea. I'm sure the local police will make that their number one priority as soon as your letter arrives.

Not sure I share your optimism that your letter will result in DR going to court but don't let me stand in your way.

Or you could of course just get on with your life and realise that in the bigger scheme of things what happened on Thursday was of little importance really.
10

Private Pike,

11/05/2009 08:43:14
#7 He kissed his badge ande held his fingers to his lips in front of the Hearts support.

Thousands of Hearts supporters managed to cope. Others like yourself have no doubt sought counselling to get over the trauma.

I think your point is that these actions justify him being attacked and then charged with some offence.

After all, it was all Riordans fault.

11

Weel Kent Jambo,

11/05/2009 08:55:50
What Riordan did was deliberately inflammatory and he does have some previous for this sort of thing, which was also rushed under the carpet. That's no excuse for the knuckleheads in our support getting onto the pitch but unlike Mixu's excuses for the wee ned his actions were premeditated and therefore there is a degree of culpability on his part.

Just like the penalty incident itself where the slo-mo clearly shows he decelerated quickly, arms out behind him to ensure Kari ran into the back of him. Clever professional move or rank gamesmanship - you takes your pick.

Anyway, the result on Thursday will become academic if we do the biz in our next two.
12

BrownTrout,

11/05/2009 11:11:06
Aw the Yams are having BrownTrout like issues.
The game is over ladies, you lost.
Riordan is just returning the favour - to all the lovely Yams in the crowd who were saying such lovely nice things. I believe the words used by Riordan was G.I.R.U.Y.

And is justly deserved.

It's a pity that the lovely Yams could not appreciate that nice gesture as I am sure in many previous derby's the Yams were sure to have done the same.

I wonder how many points the Yams will get deducted?

And what will the fine be for allowing a self harming sloth onto the pitch?

I do know that they will be getting fined heavily for the fans what refused to wear paper bags over their heads, but that's another story.

GGTTH

13

Adso,

17/05/2009 09:55:00
I thought the ref did not do well. Watching at the match, Riordan peeled off to the hibees then swerved round to the Hearts fans. The ref was in close attendance and could/should have stopped him long before he got in front of the Wheatfield.

However, for what it's worth, had I been Riordan I would have probably done the same. After his humiliation when getting subbed at ER in the cup game he was due us one. He clearly decided to 'take a yellow' and get it up the jambos. The ref did not do his job by not booking him.

All fun and games though - don't think I'd ever get so upset that I'd run on the pitch.

 

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