Kilmarnock and St Mirren overturn points deduction, fined £20,000 and SPFL games to be re-scheduled

Kilmarnock and St Mirren have won their appeals against points deductions for covid rule breaches and failing to fulfil fixtures.

Motherwell will head to Rugby Park after all. (Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

Saints called off games against Hamilton and Motherwell due to an outbreak of the virus in the squad while Killie also cancelled a home match with Motherwell earlier this season.

Both clubs were investigated and cited over covid-19 protocol breaches that led to the postponements and the league handed the pair 3-0 defeats for each missed match plus £40,000 fines.

However after challenging each punishment last month, the Scottish Football Association has ruled the games should now be played at a later date.

The financial punishment has also been halved to £10,000 with a further £10,000 suspended until the end of the season.

The SFA heard the appeals on Thursday this week ‘in accordance with JPP 14.11.4’ of their rulebooks, and overturned the league’s earlier decision.

The SPFL confirmed: “We note the decisions of the Scottish FA Appellate Tribunal in relation to the sanctions imposed on Kilmarnock FC and St Mirren FC by an independent SPFL Tribunal.

"We will reschedule the three matches as soon as reasonably practicable, in line with the decisions. We await written reasons for the decisions from the Scottish FA Appellate Tribunal.”

St Mirren will also host Motherwell and have six points to play for after overturning the verdict (Photo by Craig Williamson - SNS Group)

Both clubs previously admitted breaches but were shocked by the severity of the punishment doled out in December.

They vowed to appeal and were reported to be lining up evidence including Celtic’s recent training camp trip to Dubai for their hearing with Hampden chiefs.

The decision will also Motherwell six points which had been granted under the previous punishments and then revoked pending the clubs’ appeal.

The 10th-placed Steelmen will now face Kilmarnock and St Mirren at a later date having seen their televised Friday night game in Ayrshire on October 2 cancelled and then a trip to Paisley suffering a similar fate with a last minute call-off a fortnight later.

Wins on the pitch to add to appeal hearing success could also propel St Mirren and Kilmarnock into the top six of the Scottish Premiership table with both on the trail of Dundee United with 23 and 24 points respectively.

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