The SPL has charged Hearts with "failing to behave with the utmost good faith" over the delayed payment of player wages.
Hearing date to be announced regarding wages row
The Scottish Premier League has charged Hearts with "failing to behave with the utmost good faith" over the delayed payment of player wages.
Disciplinary proceedings and the prospect of unlimited sanctions have been opened by the SPL, which determined January's wages, due on Monday, did not arrive on time. Hearts refute the claim.
Following a meeting of the SPL's board of directors, a statement was issued, charging the Edinburgh club, with a hearing to be scheduled in due course.
The SPL statement read: "The Scottish Premier League Board met this evening (Tuesday) to consider the alleged failure by Heart of Midlothian FC to comply with the terms of the order made by the SPL on January 4, 2012 that the club pay the January wages due to the relevant players on the due date of January 16, 2012.
"As a result, Heart of Midlothian FC are being charged under SPL Rule A3.1 with failing to behave with the utmost good faith to the SPL.
Action
"A hearing date will be notified to the club in due course."
The disciplinary action was opened by the SPL board of directors, presently comprised of SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster, SPL chairman Ralph Topping, plus Stephen Thompson of Dundee United, Eric Riley of Celtic, Derek Weir of Motherwell and Steve Brown of St Johnstone.
The group met on Tuesday evening after the SPL announced wages were delivered late for a fourth successive month - something Hearts dispute, insisting they have "documentary evidence" to confirm salaries of players and staff, including manager Paulo Sergio, were paid on time for the first time since September.
A statement on the club's
official website read: "The club totally refutes the suggestion made in today's statement from the SPL that it failed to comply with this order.
"The club has made payment of the remuneration to each of the players on January 16, 2012 and has documentary evidence to this effect."
Technicalities
Key to whether Hearts will be punished will be the technicalities of any breach - whether payment had to be made, or received, by midnight on January 16, for example.
Hearts contend salaries were processed from Lithuanian bank UBIG, controlled by Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov, yesterday afternoon.
But if they fail to provide the evidence, sanctions could be imposed, including the prospect of a large fine, docked points or a transfer embargo - all of which would have untold consequences on the future of the 138-year-old club.
Hearts are sure to contest any punishment which might result from the forthcoming hearing, with the Scottish Football Association likely to be required to hear an appeal.
The present situation is a consequence of delayed wages in October and November.
A further delay in December prompted 14 members of Hearts' first-team squad to submit a complaint to the SPL via players' union PFA Scotland.
Their December pay, which had been due on December 16, was received on January 4, the day the SPL sub-committee adjudicated over the dispute between the players and Hearts, ordering the club to comply to a number of demands - including timely delivery of January's salaries.
Hearts later issued a short response to the charge, remaining determined to fight the charge.
A Hearts spokesperson said on the club's official website: "The club has noted the decision of the SPL this evening and will defend its position at the appropriate time.
"The club will make no further comment on the matter."
