Paul Heckingbottom has accused Olivier Ntcham of throwing three punches at one of his players during Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Hibs.
The Easter Road boss has been under fire from supporters since the start of the season with his side running out to a sea of empty green seats for yesterday’s visit from the champions.
Ntcham was booked by Kevin Clancy in the 39th minute with Heckingbottom having a perfect view from his seat in the stand after being red carded for booting a water bottle at assistant referee Alan Mulvanny from a distance of less than five yards.
After the match the Hibs boss told the Daily Record:
He should have been sent off three times. For the three punches. That is the worst one and that is the biggest injustice. Refs get things wrong and we should have dealt with it after he gave the free kick, we will be looking at why we didn’t deal with it and why they scored.
But that, everybody has been let down by that, everyone. All the supporters, all the players, everyone connected with the club. Listen, there is an incident, a couple of arms thrown. He can claim he hasn’t seen it fine but the fact he is actually stood right there between the two players when the third one comes in on the end of his chin, so you tell me why it isn’t a sending off.
Having attacked a match official from close range Heckingbottom can expect to be charged by the SFA with misconduct.
Ntcham will next face Hibs at Hampden on November 2 when the two clubs meet in the semi-final of the Betfred Cup.
Had Neil Lennon kicked a water bottle at an assistant referee from close range the media reaction is likely to have been much different.
Video Celts has contacted Celtic for a reply on this inaccurate accusation against a first team player, any reply will be published in full.