Rarely has a low key friendly attracted such attention but it’s fair to say Hearts’ bounce game with La Liga side UD Almeria has gained a few column inches in Spain. The match in the Estadio Jose Burgos didn’t even last until half-time with the game abandoned as the fixture descended into chaos.
Robbie Neilson described it as a “shambles” as he explained how the match erupted into a 60-man brawl after referee Sanchez Carreras, from Cordoba, sent off Jambos defender Alex Cochrane and Rodrigo Ely from the Spaniards. Neilson spoke of Cochrane being on the end of a forearm smash during the melee and in the end decided against continuing the game, which had a fair bit of needle before it erupted. The Gorgie gaffer spoke to Hearts TV after the match but opposite number Rubi and the Spanish top flight side have been silent as they head off to Saudi Arabia to continue their winter break preparations and the Jambos continuing training ahead of their Scottish Premiership return.
However, the local media have been less than impressed, particularly with Ely who flattened Cochrane after reacting angrily to a challenge by the stopper on Alejandro Pozo. Journalist Tony Fernandez of daily newspaper La Voz de Almeria wrote: "Let Almeria be the one to issue an apology note because their player and the entity appear portrayed in an embarrassing action inappropriate for a professional. I couldn't expect this from Ely. He is so much more than that. If he wanted to save Pozo then it was enough for him to stand in front and protect him but not with his fists out.
“It is not a move to teach children and it has gone around the world producing embarrassment in the environment of a rich club like Almeria. We couldn’t believe Ely’s action. He went too far. It is already taking time for Almeria to issue an apology statement because half the world has seen it and worst of all is that many children, when contemplating that move by a well-paid professional, can imitate him. What a poor image.”
Newspaper Ideal also commented on the astonishing scenes although not quite as sympathetic to Hearts as they pointed the finger at Cochrane. They said: “The action of the fight was provoked by the second hard challenge of the Scottish winger Alex Cochrane, first on Samu Costa and a few minutes later –in minute 36– on Alejandro Pozo, who in the jump for control of the ball even put elbows and already with the ball on the ground he knocked down the civilians with violence.
“This action was the spark that led to a fight in which Rodrigo Ely, who came to defend his teammate and recriminate the entry of the Heart of Midlothain footballer, hit and caused the English player to fall to the ground, but causing slaps and shoves between the members of both teams, without a moment of peace in sight, with the benches of both teams also embroiled in the fight, invading the field of play.
“From the Hearts bench the attitude was not the most suitable, aborting the continuity of the stake and the referee, who had taken the decision to expel Rodrigo Ely and Alex Cochrane, had to suspend the match, later, due to Hearts' refusal to play. The Scots opted to retire to the changing rooms of the José Burgos Quintana Sports City, when only 42 minutes had elapsed. Almería continued on the pitch, taking the opportunity to finish a work session that had been incomplete due to the brawl.”
READ NEXT
