Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon hopes something can be done to stop fan disorder after being struck with an object thrown by a Zurich fan during the Europa League play-off.
Gordon was hit by what appeared to be a coin during his side’s 1-0 defeat to Zurich at Tynecastle and dropped to his knees for a short spell before speaking to the match referee about the incident.
The Scotland international played on, but after the final whistle he said that such behaviour was dangerous and that he hoped it could be eradicated form the game.
“I don’t know what I was hit with,” Gordon said. “I couldn’t see it or find what it was.
“Maybe the TV cameras have caught it but I was hit with something on the back of the head.
“It’s not ideal and you don’t want to be facing that when you’re on the pitch. It can be dangerous and that’s disappointing.
“There’s no excuse for it. The players are out there putting on a great show in a really competitive game and we don’t need to be facing that.
“It’s disappointing and I hope we can all do something to stop it.”
UEFA are likely to take action and sanction the Swiss club over the incident.
Reflecting on the game, which Hearts needed to win after losing the first leg 2-1 in Switzerland, Gordon expressed his disappointment.
The Tynecastle side enjoyed the majority of the play in the first half but their chances of turning around the tie were diminished when Jorge Grant was sent off. The player was shown a second yellow card for diving to try and win a penalty.
Zurich pressed home their advantage against ten men and scored the goal that guaranteed them progress to the group stage.
“I thought we played really well and the performance was good,” Gordon said at full time. “We carried out the game plan and did what we wanted to do but we just couldn’t get that goal.
“If we had managed to do that first half then I think we would probably have gone on to win the game.
“We were disappointed we didn’t take one of those chances but if we did I’m sure the roof would have come off Tynecastle and it would have been a very difficult place for them after that.
“Obviously it didn’t come and the big change in the game comes after the sending-off. It looks like it’s a penalty to us and then in the same second it hands the entire tie to Zurich.
“It was a huge moment in the game and I’ve not seen it back but in that moment the game is gone and it has huge consequences for the entire tie.”
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