ABERDEEN FC chiefs today claimed punches were thrown at two of their stars in a tunnel bust-up with Hearts.
The club confirmed Lee Mair and Chris Maguire were both victims of punches as players clashed after the Dons beat the Jambos 1-0.
And Aberdeen also intend to make the ill-tempered Edinburgh club stump up for damage to the away dressing room door.
Club spokesman Dave Macdermid said: “There was an altercation in the tunnel and a few of our players were involved.
“Both Lee Mair and Chris Maguire were caught up in it and both had punches thrown at them.
“It happened in a very confined space, so players were involved.
“But it is fair to say it was Hearts players, rather than Aberdeen, who instigated it.â€
As tempers boiled over after the final whistle Hearts left -back Lee Wallace was then sent off by referee Iain Brines for a foul mouthed rant at the whistler.
The away dressing room door was also left damaged, and the Dons will make the Jambos stump up for the damage.
“There was damage to the glass panel in the door,†he said.
“A Hearts player kicked the door and it cracked.
“As it was a Hearts player who did the damage a bill will be sent to Hearts.â€
The SFA will also launch a major probe into the explosive bust up.
Ill-tempered Hearts have the worst disciplinary record in the SPL this season.
But Jambos gaffer Csaba Laszlo insists he will not discipline his players.
“The referee will be filing a report on the matter, so we will leave that side of it to the SFA, but we will be billing Hearts for the door.â€
Laszlo’s disgraced side had earlier had Marius Zaliukas red carded in 73 minutes for aiming a headbutt at Lee Miller.
The Lithuanian defender then kung-fu kicked the retractable tunnel as he left the Pittodrie pitch in shame.
Hearts had three other players cautioned, including Robbie Neilson for a clash with Maguire, in front of a bumper crowd of 18,021.
But Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood hopes the bust-up will not overshadow a vital win for his side.
He said: “It was an important win for us because we had not beaten any of the top six teams so far this season.
“That has now changed and it was pleasing to beat a team who were on such a great run of form.â€
Dons midfielder Stuart Duff and striker Tommy Wright are set to return to training this week after being sidelined with long-term injuries.
