The SFA has waded into Scottish football’s civil war by threatening Hearts and Partick Thistle with a Hampden hammering over their £10m relegation ransom note.
Record Sport revealed last night that the compliance officer was on the verge of launching an investigation into the unprecedented legal dispute which has rocked the game in this country during the coronvairus lockdown.
And today she followed up by contacting both clubs to inform them that their actions - which have dragged the SPFL into the Court of Session - are now about to go under her microscope.
Hearts and Thistle will now be officially written to and asked to explain themselves before a final decision is made on whether to issue them with a notice of complaint for breaking the SFA’s articles of association.
The development emerged on the day Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers teamed up in a legal counter move of their own against the Tynecastle and Firhill clubs.
And the SPFL board also held an emergency meeting to discuss the gathering crisis - with fears growing that it could lead to a move by angry clubs to have the Jambos and the Jags expelled from the senior game entirely.
The SFA’s move will inevitably further heighten tensions across the country with a Hampden source confirming to Record Sport tonight: “The compliance officer has today had verbal communication with both Hearts and Partick Thistle to inform them that the situation is now under investigation.
“They will be asked to offer their opinions in writing and then a decision will be made on whether or not to throw the book at them. It’s an incredibly tense and sensitive moment for all concerned.”
We revealed yesterday that the compliance officer was set to make a move after Hearts and Thistle lodged papers at the Court of Session demanding that their respective relegations be reversed - or that they are weighed in with eye-watering pay offs worth £8m and £2m respectively.
They have also threatened to serve an interim interdict on the SPFL preventing the top flight from kicking-off on August 1 if their demands are not met.
