Hearts to play Royal Antwerp to mark Tynecastle anniversary

HEARTS have agreed a pre-season friendly with the Belgian club Royal Antwerp at Tynecastle next month to mark the stadium's 125th anniversary.Belgium's oldest club side will visit Edinburgh on Sunday, July 17, for a game which kicks off at 3pm. It is likely to be Hearts' only home match of their pre-season schedule with the SPL commencing six days later.

"We are delighted to welcome Royal Antwerp to Tynecastle," said a Hearts spokesperson. "This is the first time we will have faced them and the match provides us with the ideal kind of preparation before the SPL season kicks off.

"Royal Antwerp has a proud history like ourselves and I'm sure our supporters will give them a very warm welcome to Tynecastle next month."

Antwerp finished sixth in Belgium's second division last season but are expected to bring a vociferous band of supporters to Tynecastle. Ticket prices for the game will be announced as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, club officials have pledged a zero tolerance approach to sectarianism as they back government proposals to stamp out bigotry at football grounds. Future matches with Celtic at Tynecastle will see certain areas of the stadium left empty and extra security in place around the dugout areas following last month's controversial match between the clubs.

However, there will be special measures taken at all future games in an effort to eradicate sectarianism from the game. A Hearts statement said: "There will be increased vigilance and monitoring in relation to any incidents of sectarian singing or other related unacceptable conduct.

"The club will give its full support to the stewards and police in their work at identifying any individual taking part in such behaviour, and support any resultant punishment they may face through legal procedures."

Supporters have been informed that certain flags deemed unacceptable by Hearts will also be removed from the stadium.