SFA extend Hearts star's ban

Hearts winger Saulius Mikoliunas has been banned for an extra five matches by the Scottish Football Association disciplinary committee after barging linesman Andy Davis in the recent match against Rangers.

The Lithuania international was shown the red card twice in the stormy 2-1 defeat at Tynecastle on March 2, punishment for his offence against Davis and for foul and abusive language.

The 20-year-old was already suspended for three matches following the red cards issued by referee Hugh Dallas and for breaching the 18-point disciplinary barrier.

But now the SFA have added a further five matches for what has been deemed exceptional misconduct.

Mikoliunas was incensed after the assistant referee flagged for a foul by Lee Miller on Rangers defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos inside the area in the final minute, with the score at 1-1.

The former FBK Kaunas player raced across the pitch to confront Davis and barged the linesman with his chest.

Dallas immediately brandished the red card and then added a second for comments made by the player as he left the field.

Now the SFA have sounded a warning to all players and club staff that physical maltreatment of officials will not be tolerated.

An SFA spokesman said: “The Scottish FA disciplinary committee today gave an additional five-match ban to the Heart of Midlothian player, Saulius Mikoliunas, for exceptional misconduct in the recent Scottish Premier League match between Hearts and Rangers.

“The player appeared personally before the committee, who took into account his apology to the match officials.

“However, a lengthy ban was considered appropriate in view of the serious nature of the offence. The player already misses three matches because of the two red cards he received during the match, and the attendant disciplinary points he accrued.

“The five-match ban will take place after those matches have been played, and the ban applies to all football.

“The committee also wish it to be made clear that any form of aggression towards match officials cannot be tolerated, and players who show violent dissent towards officials in a physical or verbal manner will be heavily punished.”

Mikoliunas joined Hearts from Kaunas in January after impressing head coach John Robertson in a training camp organised by the then prospective club owner Vladimir Romanov.

The SFA punishment will rule him out of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic on April 10.