Livi must replay Crusaders clash

Livingston have been ordered to replay their Irn-Bru Cup tie against Northern Irish side Crusaders by the SPFL next week and have been hit by a hefty fine after they were found guilty of playing an ineligible player in the original meeting between the sides last month.

Alan Lithgow was due to be serving a ban after being dismissed against East Fife in a League 1 match on September 24 and despite the SFA advising on their weekly suspension list of September 29 that the defender was to miss “two first team matches immediate”, Livingston believed that Lithgow was due to serve his suspension in league matches only.

He missed out on the League 1 win at Peterhead on October 1 but returned and played the full 90 minutes as the Lions won 2-1 against the Belfast side at the Seaview Stadium on October 7.

After the error had been discovered and Livingston had been notified that they faced an SPFL charge, Lithgow missed out against Albion Rovers last Saturday in the league.

Livingston pleaded guilty to breach of the cup regulations and as well as having to replay the game they were fined £4,000. The replay will take place next Tuesday, with a 7.45pm kick-off.

The winners of the second meeting will go on to meet Welsh side The New Saints in a quarterfinal tie on Sunday November 13, with the decision not to throw Livingston out of the competition a surprise to many.

There has been no mention of Lithgow being suspended for the rearranged game.