BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
FALKIRK duo Kevin O’Hara and Joe McKee could face lengthy suspensions after allegedly abusing Dunfermline attacker Dean Shiels regarding his missing eye.
The Scottish Football Association issued the pair with separate notices of complaint on Tuesday which cited ‘excessive misconduct’ in the Irn-Bru Cup fixture between the sides on October 7.
While not explicitly stated, sources have confirmed that O’Hara and McKee will be accused of making malicious comments about Shiels’ condition. The former Kilmarnock and Rangers player underwent an operation to have his right eye removed in 2006 due to a domestic accident when he was eight years old.
A seething Shiels was ultimately dismissed in the dying embers of the contest – which ended in a 2-0 win for the Bairns – following a wild challenge on McKee on the touchline.
Pars manager Allan Johnston stated after match: “I think there were maybe some poor remarks made towards Dean.”
O’Hara will face a disciplinary hearing at Hampden on Thursday, with the case against McKee being heard a week later.
Falkirk declined to comment on the specific nature on the complaints, with a spokesperson stating: “We note the announcement by the SFA that a notice of complaint has been received regarding two Falkirk players.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further until this process has been completed.”
It is understood the SFA accepted a request from the clubs to delay the issuing of the charges until after the Championship fixture between the sides last weekend, for fear of stoking animosity.
However, that did not appear to have the desired effect, with Dunfermline talisman Kallum Higginbotham dismissed for swinging an arm at McKee during a contest which proved ill-tempered from the first whistle and ended in a 1-1 draw.
