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Hearts chiefs have vowed to demand answers after their club crest was “defaced” by Rangers at Tynecastle during the Sky Sports Cup final.
Club officials released a strongly-worded statement after images on social media showed the club crest in the changing room covered by a Rangers badge.
Furious supporters blasted the dressing room branding, prompting Hearts chiefs to clarify the situation and send a message over their wishes being “disregarded”.
Hearts hand over the running of the stadium to competition organisers, the SWPL, on the day of the final. However, they were involved in pre-match planning.
And the club states no dressing room branding – in either dressing room – was approved by the club.
Hearts chiefs blasted the club crest being “defaced” as “extremely disappointing” and conceded no explanation over the circumstances will be “satisfactory in our eyes of the eyes of our fans”.
Jo Potter’s Rangers women retained the Sky Sports Cup with a 4-1 win over Partick Thistle on Sunday.
A club statement read: “Heart of Midlothian Football Club is aware of images circulating of the Tynecastle Park home dressing room at today’s Sky Sports Cup Final.
“Although the club hands over the running of the stadium on the day to the competition organisers – the SWPL – we were involved with pre-match planning.
READ MORE: Rangers retain Sky Sports Cup with win over Partick Thistle
“We would therefore like to assure our supporters that we did not approve any request for dressing room branding in either dressing room for either club involved.
“It is extremely disappointing to learn that our wishes were disregarded. How this came to be is a matter for the SWPL and Rangers to sort, but needless to say no explanation will be satisfactory in our eyes or the eyes of our fans.
“Nevertheless, we will demand answers to ensure that our club crest is never defaced again.
“It is also regrettable that this action has taken away the focus from what was a successful cup final and another opportunity to grow women’s football in Scotland.”