Wilkie's Disgust At SPL Decision

After witnessing Phil O`Donnell collapse during last weekend`s SPL tie at Fir Park, its no surprise that the Dundee United requested today`s match against Hearts was called off.

The SPL have agreed to postpone Motherwell`s match against Hibernian and the Old Firm encounter, but refused to call off Dundee United`s game against struggling Hearts at Tannadice as a mark of respect.

Many of the Dundee United squad were shaken by the events at Fir Park, as O`Donnell collapsed with 10 minutes remaining of the match, with his death confirmed not long after the full-time whistle.

United defender Lee Wilkie was one of the first to react when Phil O`Donnell collapsed, checking to see if the Motherwell captain had swallowed his tongue and was outraged by the SPL`s decision.

"The match means nothing when you consider the recent tragic event. It is a joke and an absolute embarrassment that we are being made to play," complained Wilkie to the BBC.

"Surely if Celtic can call their game off, so can we and that's what our players wanted. Ideally, the SPL should have called off all the fixtures as a mark of respect."

"It's hard to focus on a game of football when you've seen something so tragic happen to a fellow professional."