Hearts have condemned the “appalling behaviour” of a small group of fans who are alleged to have stolen a drum from a Ross County supporters bus after Saturday’s match.
Ross County’s stadium and operations manager David O’Connor said he had been dealing with concerns from fans on the bus since the incident outside Tynecastle on Saturday afternoon.
The drum was later recovered in a nearby street after it was taken out of the luggage compartment of the coach as it left the stadium.
In a strongly worded statement yesterday afternoon, Hearts said that club owner Ann Budge had spoken to Staggies chairman Roy MacGregor to apologise, saying that the supporters trip to Edinburgh had been “badly tainted” by the incident.
Mr O’Connor said: “The supporters bus is usually quite buoyant, but not withstanding the result, they were all upset by what happened.
“Our fans don’t want trouble and don’t cause any trouble, they’re recognised up and down the country for that.”
It is understood that no complaint has been made to the police but Hearts said they were working to gather evidence and confirmed “that a number of fans will be banned as a consequence of their recurring bad behaviour”.
In the statement, Hearts said: “It is with considerable disappointment that the club, once again, is put in the position of having to apologise both to our own supporters and, in this case, to Ross County Football Club and their travelling support for the appalling behaviour of a small group of 15-25 young so-called ‘Hearts supporters’.
“Let us make it clear, the club does not need these individuals and, most certainly, does not want them if this is going to be the way they continue to behave.”
Hearts added that tougher ticketing measures are to be brought in as a result of the trouble, while police will also monitoring certain areas more closely.