(253)  FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN THE DUG-OUT (AND AFTER THE GAME)

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN THE DUG-OUT (AND AFTER THE GAME)

 

The manager of Heart of Midlothian Football Club, Craig Levein, won an interim interdict against the Scottish Football Association on 5 September 2003, stopping the Association implementing a four-month ban on him appearing at the touchline of Hearts games.  The ban came after Levein had refused to pay a fine, originally of £1,000, later doubled and re-doubled for continued non-payment.  The SFA’s disciplinary committee imposed the sanctions after Levein had publicly criticised the referee of a match between Hearts and Kilmarnock in May 2003, during which two Hearts players were sent off.  Levein said he had stopped counting the referee’s mistakes after the 97th”.  In the Court of Session Lord MacFadyen said that