In pictures: Rangers v Hearts, match abandoned

Steven Smith and Callum Paterson battle for the ball at Ibrox. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Madden had decided to start the game after having a kickabout with the other match officials, but after it became clear that conditions were not improving, he signalled a premature end to proceedings.

Perhaps the farcical nature of the match was summed up by Rangers left back Lee Wallace, whose promising run up the wing came to a comical end when the ball held up in the snow and the former Hearts man kicked fresh air on the edge of the Jambos’ penalty area.

It was Hearts who came closest to scoring in the 25 minutes, a thunderous free kick from Alim Ozturk being tipped onto the bar by Steve Simonsen in the Rangers goal.

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson, who revealed Ozturk had sustained a shin injury during play, added: “At the end of the day, you need to respect the players as well. You can’t say the game’s got to go ahead because it’s live on TV or because there are people inside the stadium.

“Players’ careers are on the line as well. There are young guys there who have got 15 years ahead of them in the game – if they had kept the game going, it could have ruined a career.

“I don’t think the fact the game was live on TV had any influence on it. No matter what pitch you are on, you do need to give it a try. I think Bobby made the right decision putting the game on and he made the right decision cancelling it eventually.”

Pictures: Lisa Ferguson, SNS Group and Press Association

Video used with kind permission of Conor Elen. Original link here >>>