Hearts lodge fine appeal

HEARTS have officially lodged their appeal against the record £100,000 fine issued by the Scottish Football Association for poor on-field discipline last season.

The governing body's appeals board will hear the case at a specially convened meeting, for which a date has yet to be confirmed. Hearts feel the punishment is excessive and unfair and are hopeful of having it reduced at the very least.

The Edinburgh club topped the SPL cautions list with 92 yellow cards, however their red card count was halved from ten the previous season to five. That cut little ice with the SFA, who opted to fine them for the seventh successive year.

Of the 100,000, Hearts were due to pay 60,000 immediately with 40,000 suspended. The appeal could change that if successful.