Hearts Deducted Two Points in Betfred Cup

Hearts have been notified of the sanction taken by the SPFL following the fielding of an ineligible player during last week’s Betfred Cup victory against Cove Rangers. At a disciplinary hearing on Monday afternoon, a sub-committee of the SPFL board decided that Hearts should be deducted two points and fined £10,000 – £8,000 of which has been suspended until the end of season 2019-20.

Hearts, who admitted breaching SPFL rules when they brought on Andrew Irving as a substitute  – a player whose registration had not been uploaded to the SFA registration system –  will not appeal the decision.

The decision means Craig Levein’s side now have three points in Section C of the Betfred Cup. They finish this round of the competition with two home games, against Cowdenbeath on Tuesday evening and Inverness Caledonian Thistle next Sunday. There is still a chance they can top the group but will need to win both games and score a few goals to do so.