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Hearts friendly in Spain abandoned following clashes between players

Robbie Neilson accused the opposition of overreacting to a ‘standard’ tackle.

HEARTS’ FRIENDLY against Almeria in Spain has been abandoned following clashes between opposing players.

The match against the La Liga side was stopped in the first half, Hearts’ Alex Cochrane and Almeria’s Rodrigo Ely having both been shown red cards after what the Scottish Premiership club called “a heated argument” following a challenge.

Hearts tweeted: “Following altercations between both sets of players, the decision has been made to abandon the match.”

Hearts, who lost 4-0 to Blackburn in their previous friendly in Spain on Friday, were trailing 1-0 when the match was abandoned.

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson accused the Spanish players of overreacting to a “standard” tackle and said there was little option but to abandon the game after the referee “totally lost control”.

Speaking to Hearts TV, Neilson said: “It was a very competitive game and all of a sudden on the far side there was a tackle from Alex which I thought was just a standard tackle and then all hell broke loose.

“The ref just totally lost control of it – benches were over and there was about 60 people on the pitch.

“It was just a bit of a shambles, so we just felt that in a pre-season game, there’s no point carrying on because tensions were extremely high, to say the least.

“There’s always going to be a competitive edge but there’s a line that you can’t really cross and I think it got crossed several times.”

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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    May 3rd 2018, 6:32 PM

    Makes sense he’s had a few injuries this season so why use him, give him a rest and proper recovery. He’s a big part of Jose’s future plans so he’ll be raring to go next season as a result

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    Mute Alana
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    May 3rd 2018, 6:46 PM

    @Johnny Bravo: how do you know he’s a big part of Jose’s future plans ?

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    Mute Alana
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    May 3rd 2018, 7:01 PM

    @Johnny Bravo: o

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    Mute Alana
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    May 3rd 2018, 7:02 PM

    @Johnny Bravo: or did you just make that up ?

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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    May 3rd 2018, 7:09 PM

    @Alana: to much coffee today Jamie ?

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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    May 3rd 2018, 7:11 PM

    @Johnny Bravo: or is your hand and fingers swollen from some other offline activity?

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    Mute Alana
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    May 3rd 2018, 7:11 PM

    @Johnny Bravo: stick to making up stuff Thommo

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    Mute Johnny Bravo
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    May 3rd 2018, 7:22 PM

    @Alana: So I’m Thommo now lol you’re some tulip

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    Mute Alana
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    May 3rd 2018, 7:25 PM

    @Johnny Bravo: where did you read he’s part of Jose’s plan for the future?

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    Mute Jumperoo
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    May 3rd 2018, 7:44 PM

    @Alana: don’t know if this helps, but I read it here. Some bloke called Johnny said so.

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    Mute Alana
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    May 3rd 2018, 7:46 PM

    @Jumperoo: you must be new here, he makes a lot of stuff up here he also uses the account Thommo

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    Mute FPL Thommo
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    May 4th 2018, 8:16 AM

    @Alana: obsessed

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    Mute Eric Djemba-Djemba
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    May 3rd 2018, 7:08 PM

    Wrapping him in cotton wool with nothing to play for in premier league. Probably get a game before FA cup final, arrangement suits everyone good managing. Another CB, LB and a CM who can control tempo of the game(very few out there) needed to challenge man city next season.

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    Mute Alana
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    May 3rd 2018, 7:13 PM

    @Eric Djemba-Djemba: why would he wrap him up in cotton wool when he had the whole summer off lol deluded

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    Mute Eric Djemba-Djemba
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    May 3rd 2018, 9:37 PM

    @Alana: why risk injuring your best player with nothing to play for at the end of season?

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    Mute Alana
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    May 3rd 2018, 10:11 PM

    @Eric Djemba-Djemba: going by your logic Madrid will rest Ronaldo for every game bar the CL final then

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    Mute Ich bin brendan
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    May 3rd 2018, 11:59 PM

    @Alana: do you ever stop 20 comments on a Jose article and you took up 10 spouting absolute drivel

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    Mute Marko Polo
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    May 3rd 2018, 6:54 PM

    Great management. That will make his players warm to him even more.

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    Mute Alana
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    May 3rd 2018, 6:30 PM

    So considerate of Jose

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    Mute Teddyzigzagbigbag
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    May 3rd 2018, 7:34 PM

    Story outta nothing again lads…..

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    Mute Alana
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    May 3rd 2018, 6:29 PM

    So

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    Mute Tricksy
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    May 4th 2018, 10:11 AM

    Makes no sense ? Mourinho is moaning when players have too much games , no rest he moans ? Yet he is playing guys who will be playing an extra month of World Cup in nothing games ! Bizzare

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    Mute Kevin Chip
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    May 4th 2018, 12:51 PM

    Nothing strange great man management

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