Hearts to close section of Tynecastle after fan ‘hate crime’ against Hibs

A 19-year-old man has also been charged with a hate crime after an incident during the Edinburgh derby at the stadium

Hearts will close a section of Tynecastle "with immediate effect" in an attempt to curb fan misbehaviour. In a statement, Hearts chairman Ann Budge confirmed that the club would be closing lower section G of the Wheatfield Stand as a result of fan misbehaviour during the Edinburgh derby against Hibernian last weekend. During the match pyrotechnics, coins, hot drinks and a coconut were all thrown on the pitch, whilst one teenage fan has been charged with a hate crime and three further arrests were made. Budge wrote: "I have said before we will continue to take action to drive this behaviour out of Tynecastle and I know that I have the support of all fair-minded Hearts supporters in our efforts." "Every single instance could have resulted in injury and, in the case of the pyrotechnics, this did result in damage to the pitch - a pitch which, with the financial support of our fans, we have recently put down at a cost of £1m. Why would our own fans want to damage this? It beggars belief." [caption id="attachment_227265" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Tynecastle Park[/caption] The Hearts chairman also made a point of drawing attention to "an appalling example of racist abuse" by a Hearts supporter, as well as the reports of "sectarian comments" being made by Hearts fans. They were also claims of Hearts players "being racially abused" by Hibernian supporters. Budge did, however, apologise to "innocent" fans who will be affected and confirmed that almost 200 season-ticket holders in that section would now be offered seats elsewhere for the final two home games of the season, against second-placed Rangers and third-placed Kilmarnock.