CRAIG LEVEIN has backtracked on comments he made on Monday that he and Hearts would appeal any ban imposed on Steven Naismith for his cowardly Scott Brown stamp.

The Hearts boss was adamant after seeing the incident that he would be challenging any decision made to punish his striker.

However, today Hearts have accepted the two-match ban which was handed out by the SFA for Naismith’s thuggish behaviour.

In all honesty, it was a no brainer to accept the fine. Naismith is only on loan at Hearts and will only miss the final game of the season this weekend after scoring the winner in the Edinburgh derby on Wednesday.

He will only have to serve the second game of his suspension if he returns to Scottish football.