Hibs fine Riordan for complaining about Easter Road Pitch

Last updated : 02 April 2010 By Steve Forbes

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Hibs have today fined striker Derek Riordan, after the Scotland forward criticised the pitch at Easter Road.

According to reports Hibs boss John Hughes was not the one who handed out the fine, but instead he was hit in the pocket by the board of directors.

The Hibs first team squad is said to be unhappy at the treatment of their team mate, and have called in the Scottish Players Union over the matter.

Riordan, 27, expressed his unhappiness with the pitch last week, and it now seems the board have taken extreme action against the player.

At the time, 15 goal hitman Riordan said:

"The results haven't been going for us lately and I think we have to blame the pitch.

"If we are playing on a good and decent pitch, I think we'd give anyone a game. Ours has let us down recently.

"Look at how bad Motherwell's pitch is, Aberdeen's and ours are really bad too. This is the worst I've seen Easter Road in years. It does not suit our style of play as we are not a physical side and we have been getting bullied.

"You can see photos of how good the pitch was back when Tam McCourt was groundsman.

"You'd think they'd have technology to make pitches a lot better and I think a lot have been let down lately. The pitch is not going to get better and basically it needs to be re-turfed.

"I said a wee while ago I felt the pitch could cost us points and I think it has.

"If you look at some of our chances in the St Johnstone game last Saturday, the ball was stuck under feet a couple of times because it is a bog."

If this is true, it’s an absolutely shocker of a decision by the board, the pitch IS a bog.

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