Hearts skipper Steven Pressley has branded Neil Lennon a bad loser and jumped to the defence of team-mate Rudi Skacel in the spitting row after having discussions with the Czech player.
Pressley has now turned on the Irishman, who claims he was spat on by Skacel in the 3-0 defeat to Hearts at the weekend.
Pressley said: "The one thing I will say is poor old Neil Lennon. He always seems to be the one involved in the middle of any controversy.
"He always seems so innocent but in a lot of the highlighted incidents that have occurred between players this season the one common denominator is Neil Lennon.
"This should not be overlooked. He was defended by his manager after the Stuart Dougal incident and then there was the CIS Cup final war of words with Greg Shields when he criticised a fellow professional.
"I understand spitting is an entirely different issue but Lennon has gone public and made a great deal about things again. And again he has claimed he is completely innocent.
"But in this instance I do not think Lennon has been gracious in defeat and he has tried to cloud that by making a big issue of something we at Hearts simply do not believe happened.
"If Rudi did spit at Lennon then I certainly would not defend him in any shape or form nor would I put these comments into print, but I just don't believe such an incident took place."
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and Hearts interim boss Valdas Ivanauskas, not surprisingly, share different opinions and Pressley made it clear whose side he is on.
He told the Daily Record: "Spitting is one of the worst offences any footballer can commit.
"Not for one minute would I condone the actions of anyone who spits — and I include my Hearts team-mate Rudi Skacel in that statement.
"That is why before making any comment as club captain I had to be 100 per cent certain Rudi was telling me the truth.
"I spoke to him on a number of occasions about this and the fact I was prepared to go public and defend him I wanted to be completely sure he did not commit the offence.
"Rudi categorically denies spitting at Neil Lennon. He admits he did spit but not at the Celtic player."
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