Hearts fined £60,000 as SFA punishes indiscipline

Hearts have been hit with a record £60,000 fine from the SFA for failing to abide by disciplinary standards for the sixth successive season.

The Tynecastle outfit have been ordered to pay 50,000 within 30 days, while the remaining 10,000 is suspended until the January Disciplinary Committee convenes for its mid-season review in January.

Just 12 months ago, Hearts were handed the biggest ever censure from Hampden officials when they were forced to pay a total of 50,000, including the 10,000 that was suspended until the turn of the year, for unacceptable behaviour on the pitch.

Hearts were again the worst offenders in the SPL last season with ten red cards and 89 cautions issued by referees during the course of the campaign.

Realising the extent of the team's disciplinary problems when he succeeded Csaba Laszlo at the tail end of January, Hearts manager Jim Jefferies vowed to implement a new code of conduct in a bid to avoid further punishment from the SFA.

The SFA have meted out financial punishment on Hearts annually since the 2004/05 campaign when they were fined 5,000 for accruing an unacceptable amount of cards from referees.

That amount has risen each year as the club failed to demonstrate an improvement concerning their on pitch behaviour.

Hearts aren't the only top-flight club to feel the SFA's wrath, however, as Aberdeen have been fined 5,000 for poor discipline during the previous campaign. Manager Mark McGhee's players were shown ten red cards and 74 yellow cards.

In the Scottish Football League, Second Division Ayr United and Third Division Montrose have been handed 2,000 and 1,000 fines respectively.

Meanwhile, Hearts play their second pre-season friendly when they face Milwall at the New Den in London this afternoon in a testimonial match for Millwall striker Neil Harris.