SAINTS, KILLIE IN COVID FURY
expected to understand. Jim Goodwin’s relegation battlers were hammered with two 3-0 defeats after top-flight matches against Motherwell and Hamilton were postponed.
That decision sees Accies draw level with them on points at the bottom of the table.
Killie were also hit with a 3-0 loss for a coronavrius outbreak which forced the plug to be pulled on a home clash with Well.
The decisions have outraged top brass in Paisley and at Rugby Park even though fines of £ 40,000 have been suspended until June next year and will only be activated if the clubs are guilty of future breaches.
They are considering legal options even though the written decisions of the SPFL tribunal appear to be damning.
Both clubs are blamed for causing outbreaks of the virus by failing to implement proper social distancing rules.
The disciplinary panel ruling said: “There is no ambiguity about two metre distancing.
“Every school child in Scotland should be aware of it. This is not a complex matter despite the large welter of NHS, SPFL and Go v ernm e n t documentation available on the subject.”
St Mirren admitted their players ignored the rules on a bus trip to face Queen of the South and during a pre-match meal ahead of that Betfred Cup tie.
They have also been hammered for allowing up to four players at a time to car share to training and for allowing “cramped and overcrowded changing rooms” with as many as 10 players using the same eight-metre-long bench.
Killie were also accused of breaching strict Covid regulations on a “day to day basis within the club” and it’s claimed they withheld documents from the SPFL probe in which they had previously admitted to a raft of rule breaks during emergency talks with health board officials.
The tribunal decision says: “The document clearly was within the parameters called for and under rule B1 all clubs have a responsibility and duty to act in good faith.”
Kilmarnock bosses are adamant that their players did fully respect the government guidance.
A club statement said: “Kilmarnock Football Club is bitterly disappointed with the outcome of the SPFL disciplinary hearing into the circumstances surrounding the postponement of our match with Motherwell.
“The club is discussing our position with our legal representatives and will make further comment in due course.”
A St Mirren statement said: “We are disappointed with the outcome of the SPFL disciplinary hearing into the circumstances surrounding our postponed fixtures against Motherwell and Hamilton.
“The club operated honestly throughout the whole process and will review its position before issuing a further response.”
The threat of legal action has shocked the SPFL but a spokesman said: “The Covid- 19 regulations put in place and the detailed protocols issued by the SPFL/ Scottish FA Joint Response Group are intended to enable Season 2020/21 to continue with the minimum of disruption and minimum risk for players and coaching staff.
“Strict adherence to these regulations and protocols is therefore crucially important.”