Laszlo avoids touchline ban after appeal upheld by SFA

Published on Tuesday 2 December 2008 23:35

HEARTS manager Csaba Laszlo has escaped a two-match touchline ban.

Laszlo's appeal was upheld by the Scottish Football Association following a meeting of their disciplinary committee at Hampden yesterday morning.

Laszlo was reported following the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on 25 October, where he stormed on to the pitch at the end of the game and became involved in a heated exchange with the fourth official John McKendrick.

He was also accused of shoving Aberdeen coach Sandy Clark but claimed afterwards he was simply following his usual post-match ritual of going on to pitch.

Meanwhile, Laszlo admits he is facing a goalkeeping selection headache for this weekend's SPL clash with Motherwell. Jamie MacDonald impressed between the sticks in last week's 2-1 win over Rangers after Janos Balogh missed out through illness.

He is set to return to training this week and should be back in contention for the visit to Fir Park.

But Marian Kello, who occupied the gloves earlier in the season, is also keen for a return to the first team.

"We will wait and see how Balogh is but we hope he can be back training this week," Laszlo said.

Hearts striker Mike Tullberg has returned to Denmark for treatment on a troublesome thigh injury.

He has been plagued by the problem since his arrival on loan from Reggina in the summer. Tullberg will now have a further consultation with a specialist in his homeland, who has treated him previously, as he attempts to overcome the injury.

Lee Wallace will be free to return to the side for the meeting with league leaders Celtic. The 21-year-old is banned for this weekend's encounter with Motherwell following his red card on Saturday but remains one booking short of the disciplinary threshold.