Falkirk duo charged over Dean Shiels '˜missing eye abuse'

Falkirk duo Kevin O'Hara and Joe McKee could face bans after allegedly abusing Dunfermline player Dean Shiels about his missing eye, writes Alan Temple.

O'Hara and Shiels clashed after a foul by the Dunfermline forward on the Bairns youngster. Picture Michael Gillen.

The Scottish FA yesterday issued the pair with separate notices of complaint citing “excessive misconduct” in the Irn-Bru Cup fixture between the sides on 7 October.

While not explicitly stated, sources have confirmed that O’Hara and McKee will be accused of making malicious comments to Shiels. The former Hibs and Rangers player underwent an operation to have his right eye removed in 2006 due to a domestic accident when he was eight years old.

A seething Shiels was ultimately dismissed late on in the contest – which ended in a 2-0 win for the Bairns – for a challenge on McKee.

Pars manager Allan Johnston said after match: “I think there were maybe some poor remarks made towards Dean.”

O’Hara will face a disciplinary hearing at Hampden tomorrow, with the case against McKee being heard a week later.

Falkirk declined to comment on the specific nature on the complaints.

It is understood the SFA accepted a request from the clubs to delay the charges until after Saturday’s Championship match between the sides. However, Dunfermline winger Kallum Higginbotham was dismissed for swinging an arm at McKee in the 1-1 draw.