Youssouf Ndayishimiye has been accused of trying to break Hearts star Jorge Grant’s leg during the Jambos' final European match this season.
Robbie Neilson's side are in Turkey facing off against Istanbul Basaksehir and are starting down the barrel of a fourth defeat in six games in Europa Conference League Group A. But a turning point in the game could have occurred when Ndayishimiye lunged into a tackle on the creative midfielder, seeming to plant his studs into the Englishman's leg.
BT Sport pundits and former Hearts pair Neil McCann and Michael Stewart were far from pleased with the situation that only warranted a booking, and the Burundi international could have caused a serious injury concern for Neilson. McCann fumed: "I think the referee has jad a shocker. This is a red card. It is clear. As this gets slowed up, it is intent.
"It's really intentional and his eyes are down. He knows where he is putting his studs and that could have been a leg-breaker. Stewart was in no mood for holding back punches either: "I couldn't agree more. When you see incidents like that, you wonder what the player is thinking.
"I can't come to any other conclusion than he knows exactly what he is doing on Jorge Grant there. His eyes are down on the leg and is fortunate that the officials have not picked up on it."
