Both sets of proceedings were brought before a Sub-Committee of the SPFL Board sitting as a Tribunal, chaired by an independent senior solicitor and involving a Sheriff highly experienced in sports disputes.
Kilmarnock FC
It was alleged that Kilmarnock FC had breached the SPFL’s Covid-19 Regulations during the lead-up to their postponed League Match v Motherwell FC on Friday 2 October. Kilmarnock admitted a number of breaches of the SPFL’s Covid-19 Regulations. These admitted breaches involved the seating arrangements on the coach and at the pre-match meal for an away game. In both cases it was admitted by the club that there was a failure to observe physical distancing.
The Tribunal imposed the following sanctions:
(i) Kilmarnock FC’s League match v Motherwell FC originally scheduled for 2 October 2020 be recorded as a 0-3 victory for Motherwell FC; and
(ii) a fine of £40,000, suspended in full until 30 June 2021 pending any further breaches of the SPFL’s Covid-19 Regulations by the club.
The decision in full is available here.
St Mirren FC
It was alleged that St Mirren FC had breached the SPFL’s Covid-19 Regulations during the lead-up to their postponed League Matches v Motherwell FC on Saturday 17 October and v Hamilton Academical FC on Saturday 24 October.
St Mirren admitted a number of breaches of the SPFL’s Covid-19 Regulations. These admitted breaches involved the seating arrangements on the coach and at the pre-match meal for an away game. In both cases there was a failure to observe physical distancing by the players and staff.
Additionally, St Mirren admitted failing to provide suitable facilities to enable players to observe physical distancing at training and also accepted that players had been car sharing to and from training.
The Tribunal imposed the following sanctions:
(i) St Mirren FC’s League match v Motherwell FC originally scheduled for 17 October 2020 be recorded as a 0-3 victory for Motherwell FC;
(ii) St Mirren FC’s League match v Hamilton Academical FC originally scheduled for 24 October 2020 be recorded as a 0-3 victory for Hamilton Academical FC; and
(iii) a fine of £40,000, suspended in full until 30 June 2021 pending any further breaches of the SPFL’s Covid-19 Regulations by the club.
The decision in full is available here.
A spokesman for the SPFL commented: “The Covid-19 Regulations put in place by the SPFL and the detailed protocols issued by the SPFL/Scottish FA Joint Response Group are intended to enable Season 2020/21 to continue with the minimum of disruption and the minimum risk for those players and coaching staff involved. Strict adherence to these Regulations and protocols is therefore crucially important in order for Season 20/21 to be completed as scheduled.
“We note the admission by each of Kilmarnock and St Mirren that they breached SPFL Regulations, and commend both clubs for the measures that their boards have recently put in place to avoid a repeat of the circumstances that led to the postponement of these matches in October.”
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