Hamilton Accies drop to bottom of Championship after being deducted 15 points

Hamilton Academical Football Club have been deducted 15 points by the Scottish Professional Football League after several rule breaches.

The penalty leaves the South Lanarkshire side rock bottom of the Championship and facing likely relegation to League One.

They have also been fined £9,000 after they were found to have breached four rules by the governing body.

They are now eight points behind Airdrieonians with only three games left and nine points to play for.

Before the deduction, they were in seventh place and seven points ahead of the automatic relegation spot.

They will play Queen’s Park, Livingston and Falkirk in their final three games of the current campaign.

Only three wins alongside three defeats for Airdrie, who play Greenock Morton, Dunfermline and Ayr United, would be enough to keep Hamilton the second tier.

A statement from the SPFL released on Thursday said: Hamilton Academical Football Club have today received a 15-point deduction and been fined £9,000 after the Club was found to have breached multiple SPFL Rules by an independent SPFL disciplinary tribunal.

The SPFL Board had issued four charges against the club and the club were found by the independent tribunal to have breached SPFL Rules and have been sanctioned.

The breaches include:

“Failure to notify the SPFL of Remuneration Defaults in respect of six players and a failure to act with the utmost good faith in its representations to the SPFL Board regarding the lifting of a transfer embargo after previous Remuneration and Tax Defaults” which brings an immediate 12-point deduction and £5,000 fine.
“The provision of incorrect information regarding stadium ownership in the Club’s Season 2024/25 Membership Criteria submission.” which brings a £3,000 fine (£1,500 of which has been suspended).
“The downgrading of the Club’s Scottish FA Club Licence overall award from Bronze to Entry level.” – which brings an immediate three-point deduction.
“The late provision of the Club’s Membership Criteria submission for Season 2025/26.” – which brings a £1,000 fine (fully suspended).