Hearts attack their 'mafia' enemies after clearing sex offence player to continue

The claim comes after Craig Thomson was cleared to continue his career at Tynecastle following an internal investigation into his conviction last week for sexual offences against two underage girls.

The Scotland under-21 international, who was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for five years and fined 4,000 after pleading guilty to two charges of lewd, libidinous and indecent behaviour over the internet, last night issued a formal apology for his conduct.

Thomson, who will now resume training with Hearts as they prepare for the new season, expressed his gratitude to the club's management and pledged to win back the faith of supporters dismayed by the nature of his criminal conviction.

Hearts, whose investigation was led by managing director David Southern and manager Jim Jefferies in consultation with club owner Vladimir Romanov, say they have taken steps to ensure Thomson does not re- offend. But they have concluded that "mitigating circumstances" surrounding the case leave them with no cause to dismiss the 20-year-old defender or prevent him from pursuing his first team development with Hearts.

A later statement, attributed to the Hearts board of directors, employed the rambling, often incoherent language that has become the trademark of Romanov's rants against those he perceives as enemies of the club. In a tirade against a "mafia" they claim are undermining the club, the statement linked Thomson's case with other controversies at Hearts since Lithuanian businessman Romanov took control in 2005.

"What's happening with the club today is not a new thing," read the statement. "For almost seven years we have been fighting to shield the club from crooks, criminals and thieves. Many of the top players at the club have felt the bitter results of the swindles that have been carried out with them on their own skin.

"Over a short space of time, four players at our club have been on the wrong end of the law. Taking into account the facts that have been omitted by the media it can be presumed that each of these cases is not a coincidence, but the result of targeted actions of a mafia that wants to manipulate the club and the results.

"Every year, Hearts fights to be in the top three, but even last season in the last 12 games of the season it was almost like someone replaced the team with a different one. Whose fault is that? Players? Manager's? Or it is mafia?

"Stealing players, bad games, problems with the law - all of that on top of record SFA fines. Problems are just shifted to another level. Mafia are dragging kids into the crime, in order to blackmail and profit on them.

"It is not possible to separate these people from paedophiles, and you don't need to do that. Each year we are forced to fight against these maniacs harder and harder. We are standing in their way not letting them manipulate the game of football in the way they want. As such they undermine us in every possible way they can. The task of the club is to tear these kids out of hands of criminals."

The initial statement on the club's website was far more temperate as it explained the decision to retain Thomson.

"The club's detailed investigation has provided a complete picture of the entire circumstances relating to the case, which led the footballer to plead, and subsequently be found guilty, of ‘lewd, libidinous and indecent' behaviour," said the first statement. "The club views this matter very seriously and does not condone the behaviour of the player. Appropriate action to prevent any further development of unlawful activities has been taken.

"In reaching this decision, the club accepted that there are sufficient mitigating circumstances that provide significant assurance that the player's conduct, no matter how distasteful, was the result of a grave error of judgment due to naivety and possible wrong outside influence rather than anything more sinister and it will not be repeated.

"As such, the club believes that there is no reason for Craig Thomson not to continue his career as a professional footballer and he will resume training with immediate effect."

Scotland under-21 internationalist Thomson accepts there are "no excuses" for the conduct that led to him being registered as a sex offender. In a statement on the club's website, he said: "Firstly, I would like to apologise to all those involved in this unfortunate affair," said Thomson. "I also want to apologise to my family, friends and the staff, players and supporters of Heart of Midlothian Football Club.

"I was wrong for what I did and will, rightfully, accept my punishment for my errant conduct. I am fully aware that I have let everyone down and I am truly sorry for that.

"I make no excuses for what I did, but I would like to thank the club for studying the entire circumstances around the matter.

"I am fully aware of the extreme pressure the club faced from individuals and organisations that were not in full possession of the facts surrounding my situation. I thank them for this understanding.

"My aim now is to move on and develop my career and I know that this will only happen with the support of my family, friends and the club. I also know how hard I will have to work to restore your faith in me as an individual and a footballer. I can assure you that I have no intention of letting you down again."