Scottish Women’s Football (SWF) were advised by the Perform and Win Committee that they had considered a breach of competition rules by Hutchison Vale, pertaining to their Scottish Building Society SWPL 2 fixture against Heart of Midlothian (September 22nd). The club have been fined £1200 (£600 suspended) and the match has been awarded 3-0 to Heart of Midlothian.
The Perform and Win committee also operates as the League Management Committee and is chaired by SWF Board member Karen McGowan. This committee is comprised of 3 Scottish FA nominated personnel, and 3 club representatives from across the senior women’s game. This committee is responsible for governing the senior game in accordance with the League and League Cup competition rules.
After convening a meeting, the committee determined that the below rule had been breached:
Competition Rule 10(h): “Any club without just cause failing to fulfil its fixture obligations in respect of any such match in the League on the appointed date or dates shall be liable to such sanctions as the Management Committee may determine, but not limited to including the deduction of points, fine or expulsion.”
The committee agreed that Hutchison Vale did not have just cause for failing to fulfil their fixture, the club will be fined £1200 with £600 suspended until the 24th November 2019 and the result of the match be awarded 3-0 to Heart of Midlothian. Should Hutchison Vale breach any further competition rules within this time frame the club will be liable to pay the full sanction.
Hutchison Vale were fined £1000 with £500 suspended on 9th May 2019. As a new offence has occurred, Hutchison Vale are now liable to pay the previously suspended £500 fine.
The committee noted that a breach of Competition Rule 10(h) is not acceptable within the Scottish Women’s Premier League.
The result and league table have been updated accordingly. SWF will make no further comment on this matter.
