Spartans risk being stripped of Cup after fielding Young

SPARTANS, who won the Colin Campbell Sports League Cup with a 1-0 win against Whitehill Welfare on Sunday, could be stripped of the trophy for allegedly fielding an already cup-tied player in the final.

The player in question is Kenny Young, who came on as an 80th minute substitute when the score was 0-0. Young had already played four games for his previous club, Edinburgh City, in the sectional games in this season's competition.

Young was released by Edinburgh City after their Scottish Cup tie against East Stirlingshire in late October and signed for Spartans in January.

John Greenhorn, the secretary of the East of Scotland Football League, said: "Whitehill Welfare have made contact with me to intimate that, in their opinion, Spartans played a player in the cup final who was already cup tied with Edinburgh City.

"Having checked the records I can confirm that this is the case. Irrespective of whether Whitehill Welfare make an official protest in writing by registered letter within three days of the match then the Executive Committee of the East of Scotland League will convene a meeting to decide on an appropriate course of action.

"The situation will have to be discussed and the decision will be made as quickly as possible."

It is difficult to second guess what decision the Executive Committee might make because there is no precedent, although awarding the cup to Whitehill is a possibility, or ordering the game to be replayed, while a fine is not out of the question.