More grief for Hibs as they face SPFL punishment

As if a League Cup record of two wins, a defeat and a penalty kick loss isn’t bad enough Hibs are facing a points deduction for fielding an ineligible player in last night’s match against Morton. 

A defeat at Falkirk last week put the pressure on the Edinburgh side for last night’s tie, after going behind Ewan Henderson equalised but after missing their first three penalty-kicks Hibs lost out on a bonus point and were booed off the pitch. 

At that point they stood a remote chance of topping the group, but only if Clyde win away to Falkirk on Saturday. 

Now it has come to light that Rocky Bushiri was suspended for the Morton match after being booked against Falkirk and Bonnyrigg Rose. 

The SPFL stated: 

Stranraer have confirmed to the SPFL that they included a player in Tuesday’s Premier Sports Cup Group H game against Forfar Athletic at Station Park who was subject to a one-match Scottish FA suspension in the competition. 

The game ended in a 2-2 draw, with Forfar Athletic winning the penalty shoot-out 5-3 for the bonus point. 

Hibernian have confirmed to the SPFL that they included a player in Wednesday’s Premier Sports Cup Group D game against Morton at Easter Road who was subject to a one-match suspension in the competition. 

The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Morton winning the penalty shoot-out 3-1 for the bonus point. 

As a result, both Stranraer and Hibernian have each been charged with breaching an SPFL Regulation and the SPFL has arranged disciplinary hearings for later today. 

The SPFL seem to make punishments up as they go along. Under UEFA and FIFA 3-0 defeats are awarded against any club breaking the rules. In 2012 the SPL decided to take no action against Rangers for almost a decade of fielding ineligible players.