Hearts and Hibs have been fined £6,000 and £6,400 respectively while Rocky Bushiri has been handed a two-game ban after it all kick-off on the last day of the season.
Hibs were hit with the higher penalty due to a previous breach of the same rule last year. Staff and players from both sides piled onto the park to confront each other after the 1-1 draw at Tynecastle, which saw Hearts pip their rivals to fourth spot in the Premiership after playing an hour with ten men. Youtaro Oda opened the scoring early before Kevin Nisbet took advantage of Alex Cochrane's red card, firing the resulting free-kick beyond Zander Clark to level things up.
Tempers flared after the final whistle however, after Lee Johnson appeared to aim a dig into the ribs of opposite number Steven Naismith after they shook hands. That sparked a furious reaction from the Hearts bench, and both dugouts engaged in a spot of handbags as accusations over who was at fault flew. The anger spilled over onto the pitch as the players - some of whom such as Bushiri hadn't even played - squared up to each other. Hibs' Manchester City loanee CJ Egan-Riley appeared to be in the thick of it, taking issue with Hearts defender Toby Sibbick.
Both clubs were cited by the Scottish FA compliance officer at the beginning of the month. They were charged with breaching disciplinary rule DR 204, which reads: "All Clubs and recognised football bodies shall procure that its officials, Team Staff, employees and players conduct themselves in an orderly fashion at all times during and/or after a match.
"In particular, Clubs and recognised football bodies are responsible for ensuring that its officials, Team Staff, employees and players refrain from any one or a combination of the following:
(a) becoming involved in a confrontation
(b) conduct that is likely to lead to or to exacerbate or prolong a hostile or argumentative situation with players and/or team staff from the opposing team and/or match officials
(c) conduct that may otherwise
incite disorder."
The upshot is that both clubs will have to fork out fines and behave themselves in future. The first capital clash of the season is likely to be a tasty one, and the date will be revealed on Friday when the SPFL releases the 2023/24 fixture list.
The draw back in May sent the Jambos into the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League and the Hibees into the second qualifying round. They'll face either Vikingur of the Faroe Islands or Andorran outfit Inter Club D'Escaldes, with the first leg to take place at Easter Road on 27 July. Hearts will learn their opponents when the draw for the third round takes place on 24 July.
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