SFA delay Griffiths hearing

Leigh Griffiths: Caught on camera singing Hearts chants with Hibs fans

Leigh Griffiths’ disciplinary hearing has been postponed by the Scottish Football Association pending a police investigation into allegations of “racist chanting”.

The Celtic striker had been summoned to an SFA hearing at Hampden on Thursday to answer two charges relating to an incident in a pub ahead of last month’s Edinburgh derby.

Griffiths was filmed with a group of Hibernian supporters singing derogatory chants about Hearts prior to attending the game.

He was initially charged by the SFA with not acting in the best interests of football by “singing about Hearts in administration”.

Griffiths, who spent two years on loan at Hibernian from Wolves before joining Celtic in January, was also caught on camera singing “Hearts are going bust” – prompting Celtic to fine the player.

The club and Police Scotland then launched an investigation after fresh footage emerged during which the Scotland international is seen apparently singing and dancing as Hibs fans sing a song which refers to former Hearts player Rudi Skacel as a “refugee”.

The SFA responded with an updated charge of bringing the game into disrepute by “singing in public a song of an offensive, racist and/or discriminatory nature”.

An SFA statement read: “At the request of his solicitor, the principal hearing date relating to the notice of complaint issued to Leigh Griffiths on Wednesday, April 9 has been adjourned until Thursday, May 22 to allow for the conclusion of the ongoing criminal investigation by Police Scotland.”

Celtic manager Neil Lennon – who previously stated he had a “zero tolerance” approach to racism – said last week that he was confident Griffiths would remain a Celtic player following the conclusion of the club’s probe.