Date set for Hearts and Partick Thistle v SPFL independent tribunal over relegations

The tribunal was expected to begin this past week with just 14 days until the Premiership begins

The next step in Hearts and Partick Thistle’s case against the SPFL over their relegations is expected to begin on Monday.

Following a preparatory meeting on Friday, the arbitration process will get underway slightly later than expected.

It is widely expected that the independent tribunal would commence this past week with the Scottish Premiership starting in just two weeks’ time but as of Thursday there appeared to be no concrete date.

The independent tribunal is set to begin on Monday. Picture: SSN

However, the pivotal hearing is all ready to begin as Hearts and Partick Thistle seek to be reinstated into the Premiership and Championship respectively.

Both the clubs and the SPFL have appointed an arbitrator with a third chosen by the aforementioned appointees. It will be played out in private and witnesses can be called.

If the relegation is not overturned the duo are looking for compensation which could see the SPFL’s member clubs pay out £10million in compensation.

It has been a long and drawn out process to this point following the SPFL’s recommendation and subsequent vote for the 2019/20 campaign to be terminated back in April.

What followed were resolutions from clubs, voting controversy, failed league reconstruction and a court of session hearing which saw Lord Alistair Clark QC refer the case to the SFA’s arbitration process.

A fresh twist arrived last week when the governing body issued a notice of complaint to both clubs alleging they had breached ‘Disciplinary Rule 78’ which itself states: “No member or Associated Person shall take a dispute which is referable to arbitration in terms of Article 99 to a court of law except as expressly permitted by the terms of Article 99”.

In turn the clubs released a statement which said they were “incredulous” with the decision.