Marc McNulty: Hibs striker charged by SFA over Edinburgh derby 'stamp' on Hearts' Sean Clare

Player could be hit with two-game ban
Marc McNulty faces a two-game ban after clashing with Sean Clare during the Edinburgh derbyMarc McNulty faces a two-game ban after clashing with Sean Clare during the Edinburgh derby
Marc McNulty faces a two-game ban after clashing with Sean Clare during the Edinburgh derby

Hibs striker Marc McNulty has been charged by the Scottish FA following an incident in the Edinburgh derby defeat to Hearts.

The on-loan Reading forward clashed with Hearts midfielder Sean Clare on the touchline during the first half of Tuesday night’s match, and appeared to stamp on his opponent’s back while he lay on the ground.

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Referee Kevin Clancy took no action at the time but the SFA’s Compliance Officer Clare Whyte has issued McNulty with a notice of complaint.

The 27-year-old has been charged with breaching Disciplinary Rule 200, which states: “Where any one of the sending off offences of (A1) serious foul play, (A2) violent conduct, and (A3) spitting at an opponent or any other person is committed by a player at a match, but that sending off offence was not seen by any of the match officials at the time that it was committed, the mandatory suspension for that sending off offence as provided for in Annex C of the Judicial Panel Protocol shall be applied to the player.”

McNulty has been offered a two-game suspension, which he can accept or contest by 3pm on Friday March 6. If he appeals the charge, he will be available for Hibs' trip to Aberdeen on Saturday, with a fast-track hearing set for Monday March 9.

McNulty would miss the home match against St Johnstone on March 14 and trip to Hamilton on March 21 if the appeal fails.

However, if the player accepts the two-match ban, he will sit out the trip to Pittodrie and the St Johnstone game and be available for selection for the Accies clash.