SPL statement on Hearts

The Scottish Premier League today announced that the charge against Heart of Midlothian FC for an alleged breach of SPL Rule A3.1 has been dismissed.

An SPL Board sub-committee determined that for the Club to have complied with the order of 4th January, it had to have the players' wages in the players' bank accounts and available for their use by not later than midnight on 16th January. In fact the wages did not reach the players' bank accounts until the morning of 17th January.

However, the SPL Board sub-committee found that the Club's directors believed that, by irrevocably instructing their bank on 16th January, that was sufficient to make payment and comply with the order.

Because the Club's directors believed that they were complying with the order, Heart of Midlothian were acting in good faith.

Accordingly, the charge against the Club was dismissed.

Hearts 'satisfied' at outcome

Hearts today declared itself "satisfied" at the outcome of the SPL hearing into an alleged rule breach in relation to the payment of players' wages.

At a meeting of the SPL Board sub-committee at Hampden Park today, the charge was dismissed and a Hearts spokesperson said: "We are satisfied at today's outcome.

"Both the SPL and ourselves worked constructively to assess the circumstances that led to the hearing and we can now move on having resolved the situation.

"The matter is now closed and the club will be making no further comment."

Hearts World