Hearts to appeal record fine

Last updated : 11 June 2011 By TwoTonTed

Hearts_red cardHearts plan to appeal against the record £100,000 fine imposed by the SFA for their disciplinary record last season. The fine is made up of  £60,000 to be paid immediately with the remaining balance payable over two instalments if their record does not improve next season. This is the seventh consecutive season Hearts have been fined by the SFA and were fined £60,000 a year ago, which was then a record. Hearts, who received five red cards in the SPL this season and one in the Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat by Falkirk, had 10 men sent off and 89 booked in the SPL in season 2009-10. 
 
A statement from the club read: "The appeal will be based on the fact that Jim Jefferies' side improved its discipline significantly in season 2010-11, its red card count slashed to just five compared to 10 during the previous campaign. The club strongly believes that the heavy fine - £40,000 of which is suspended - grossly misrepresents the improvements made, with Hearts' final season disciplinary co-efficient of 7.54 well below the previous season's co-efficient of 8.33. Hearts will also use in its defence the fact that the difference between the average co-efficient across the league and its final co-efficient has reduced substantially from 2.94 in season 2009-10 to 1.63 last season, demonstrating a further trend of improvement." 
 
Hearts will have to find £20,000 if their record does not improve by January 2012 with the remainder of the total fine payable next summer if again there is no "noticeable improvement". The SFA's disciplinary committee, which is set to be disbanded following the major reforms put in place at this week's AGM, also handed Kilmarnock a warning for their record. Six Scottish Football League clubs were fined along with 24 non-league sides. Stirling Albion received the second highest fine (£3,000) while Dundee, Airdrie, Alloa, Arbroath and Montrose were also punished. Several clubs were commended for their record, including Inverness for the second successive season.