Ref's automatic action headed off hassle

Published on Saturday 9 May 2009 20:02

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."