Hearts and Partick Thistle fined for taking relegation case to court
The Scottish FA have fined each club £2,500
Last updated 6th Aug 2020
Hearts and Partick Thistle have each been fined £2,500 for taking their battle against relegation to the Court of Session.
The pair were fined following a Scottish Football Association disciplinary hearing.
The SFA's disciplinary rule 78 states that no member shall take a dispute which is referable to arbitration to a court of law except as expressly permitted in the governing body's articles of association.
A panel ruled against the clubs' bid to beat the drop last week after a Court of Session judge referred the case to the SFA's arbitration process, as he granted motions from the Scottish Professional Football League and promoted clubs Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers.
The relegated pair now face paying at least some of the legal expenses of the league and the three promoted clubs, with the arbitration panel due to decide on costs.
Hearts and Thistle were previously ordered to pay half of the SPFL's legal costs in relation to the three-day court hearing.
The two clubs and Stranraer were consigned to the drop following a vote by clubs to call the season early amid the coronavirus lockdown, a fate which was reinforced by several failed attempts at league reconstruction.