Levein accuses Scott Brown of tactical booking
The Hearts boss says the Celtic skipper may have got booked deliberately so he won't miss next month's Old Firm.
Last updated 8th Feb 2018
Craig Levein has hinted Scott Brown deliberately got booked against Kilmarnock on Saturday to ensure he wouldn't be suspended for next month's Rangers clash.
The Hearts boss was hitting back at the Celtic skipper's claims that he got him booked against Kilmarnock - when Levein claimed players need more protection from the Hoops midfielder, after midfielder Harry Cochrane was injured in a challenge at Parkhead.
Brown's yellow card at Rugby Park mean he'll miss St Johnstone's visit to Parkhead later this month, and he accused Levein of influencing the decision.
He said: "He has done his job, hasn't he?
"I was booked with my first foul and I think that is exactly what Craig was looking to do.''
But Levein has said the booking was Brown's fault with his response in the latest war of words, suggesting Brown got himself booked against Killie to ensure he would be free to face Rangers at Ibrox on March 11.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Hearts' William Hill Scottish Cup clash with Saints on Saturday, he said: "I'm not trying to irritate anybody. I'm just pointing stuff out.
"On that front actually, Scott Brown mentioned last week that he got booked because of me bringing attention to his proclivity to foul people.
"I disagree with that completely. If Scott didn't get booked against Kilmarnock last week and got booked against St Johnstone (on February 18) then he would have missed the Rangers game.
"I'll leave that to you to deduce.
"I'm just pointing out things that are obvious. I'm just pointing out as a retort to his statement last week that it was me who got him booked (against Killie).
"I think you'll find that his intentions were always to get himself booked in that game so he didn't miss the Rangers game.
"That sort of things happens all the time. Anybody who is sensible would look at the situation if there is a particular game they want to play in and know they need to get booked to miss a game prior to that. I did it myself when I was playing, so it happens.
"I don't know Scott's intentions but I'm just pointing out the fact. That's all.'