Robbie Neilson to miss two Hearts games after being hit with SFA ban

The Tynecastle manager was issued with a Notice of Complaint after allegedly breaching the rules surrounding misconduct in the aftermath of last month’s home match against Championship rivals Raith Rovers.

Neilson was sent off after the final whistle by referee John Beaton after taking issue with some of the match official’s decsions during the game.

The Hearts boss was unhappy with some decisions, including the penalty award for Raith’s second goal and an alleged handball at their third, although he conceded his side “hadn’t been at the races for the first 50 or 60 minutes”.

He told the Evening News: “Part of the reason I got a second yellow was because I just tried to speak to the referee. Most referees you are allowed to speak to but he just tells you to get out of his face.

“If you don’t get out of his face then he will yellow-card you. I’m disappointed as I just wanted to speak to him.”

A hearing was held on Thursday February 18 with the outcome of an immediate two-match ban, and two matches suspended until December 31 2021.

This means that, should he breach the rules again between now and the end of the calendar year, he will incur a further two-match suspension.

Neilson will now be absent from the dugout for Saturday’s Scottish Championship match at home to Morton, as well as next weekend's trip to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

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