Ex-Fifa official: Hibs may be set for stadium closure after Hearts controversy
Hibs may be hit with a suspended stadium closure after fan trouble during their 1-1 draw with Hearts in the Edinburgh derby on Sunday (7 August).
That is the view of former Premier League and Fifa referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the scenes at Easter Road.
Hearts defender Alex Cochrane was struck by a lighter when preparing to take a throw-in during the second-half.
Hibs released a statement after the game confirming “appropriate action” will be taken against anybody who threw anything, used pyrotechnics or entered the field of play.
“I think the Scottish FA have to come in and the home team is responsible for the safety of the players and the match officials,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Therefore, the outcome should be is they are threatened with a potential game behind closed doors.
“They’ve got to do something as a deterrent to stop people doing these daft things. Otherwise, we are going to have a player or a match official blinded.
“For me, I think the Scottish FA have got to act, the current scenario is not working.
“What the club has to do is, is review their security systems and find out the culprit through their cameras and give him a lifetime ban.
“Also, the football authorities have to say they’ve got the safety of the players and match officials at the forefront of the scenario. We are seeing it too often.
“In England, we have loads of fans trained on spectators and we’ve seen in recent weeks fans being given bans.
“It might not be available in Scotland because of cost but there’s a cost-benefit. If they don’t do that then ultimately they can’t find these people.
“Even if they threaten a stadium ban, you’ll get away fans doing daft things because they think the home club will be punished. It’s not an easy one for the authorities.”
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