Brendan Rodgers has accused Craig Levein of being obsessed over Scott Brown.
After requesting extra protection from the Celtic skipper last week the Hearts boss today claimed that Brown deliberately got booked against Kilmarnock to be free of suspension to face Sevco on March 11.
Levein’s unhealthy interest in another club and a non Hearts player is puzzling with Rodgers getting concerned for the welfare of the Tynecastle boss.
“He is a wee bit obsessed with Browny, isn’t he?” the Celtic boss said at today’s media conference to preview Saturday’s match against Partick Thistle.
“I think it’s a huge compliment for Browny that Craig keeps talking about him.”
“We don’t play them (Hearts) for a little while, it’s the first I’ve heard of that (players getting deliberately booked).”
Celtic could play Hearts in the quarter final of the Scottish Cup although a post split visit to Tynecastle is more likely assuming Hearts remain in the top six.
Levein’s anger seems to date back to a neck injury suffered by Harry Cochrane in the 3-1 defeat to Celtic last month.
The Hearts midfielder fell to the ground as he tussled with Brown for the ball with referee Craig Thomson not awarding a free kick.
Other than Levein no one else has complained about the challenge with almost every pundit admitting that Brown is hard and physical but that there was no foul play involved in his challenge with Cochrane.