Hamilton Accies have been deducted 15 points by the SPFL after the club was found guilty on four charges of breaking league rules.
The Lanarkshire club now sit bottom of the Championship in a decision that will almost certainly relegate them to League One, as they fell from seventh spot on 35 points down to 10th on 20 points.
They are eight points adrift of Airdrieonians with just three games left to play in the season.
An independent SPFL disciplinary tribunal found the club were in breach of multiple SPFL rules.
SPFL statement – Hamilton Academical FC
— SPFL (@spfl) April 17, 2025
So, a 15-point deduction was deemed the punishment, along with a £9,000 fine.
A statement on the SPFL website reads: "Hamilton Academical Football Club (the 'Club') have today (17 April) received a 15-point deduction and been fined £9,000 after the Club was found to have breached multiple SPFL Rules by an independent SPFL disciplinary tribunal.
"The SPFL Board had issued four charges against the Club and the Club were found by the independent tribunal to have breached SPFL Rules and have been sanctioned as follows:
- Charge 1: Breach of Rules B1, E17 and E18 in relation to the failure to notify the SPFL of Remuneration Defaults in respect of six players and a failure to act with the utmost good faith in its representations to the SPFL Board regarding the lifting of a transfer embargo after previous Remuneration and Tax Defaults.
Sanction: Immediate 12 point deduction and £5,000 fine
- Charge 2: Breach of Rule D4.3.2 in relation to the provision of incorrect information regarding stadium ownership in the Club’s Season 2024/25 Membership Criteria submission.
Sanction: £3,000 fine (£1,500 of which has been suspended)
- Charge 3: Breach of Rule D4.8 in relation to the downgrading of the Club’s Scottish FA Club Licence overall award from Bronze to Entry level.
Sanction: Immediate 3 point deduction
- Charge 4: Breach of Rule E28.7 in relation to the late provision of the Club’s Membership Criteria submission for Season 2025/26.
Sanction: £1,000 fine (fully suspended)
"The William Hill Championship table will be updated accordingly."
Hamilton have responded, insisting they will explore all of their options before considering an appeal.
A spokesperson said: "We are astonished but we shall wait for the written reasons then the board will meet to consider an appeal."
