Hibs charged by SPFL after fielding suspended player in League Cup match against Morton

Hibernian face disciplinary action from the SPFL after fielding a suspended player in their Premier Sports Cup match against Morton.

STV understands the club played defender Rocky Bushiri in the game at Easter Road despite the player having been booked in previous group games against Bonnyrigg Rose and Falkirk.

Hibs drew with Morton in 90 minutes on Wednesday with Bushiri in the starting line-up, then lost the bonus point penalty shootout to put them on the verge of being knocked out of the competition at the group stage.

Their chances of going through could now become even slimmer after the competition organisers charged them with breaking competition rules.

A statement from the SPFL read: “Hibernian have confirmed to the SPFL that they included a player in Wednesday’s Premier Sports Cup Group D game against Morton at Easter Road, who was subject to a one-match suspension in the competition.

“The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Morton winning the penalty shoot-out 3-1 for the bonus point.”

The governing body will now decide Hibs’ fate at a disciplinary hearing later on Thursday but in a similar case earlier this month Ayr United were awarded a 3-0 win over East Fife when the League Two side broke the same rule.

Forfeiting the match by a 3-0 scoreline would leave Hibs with six points in second place behind Falkirk in Group B but Morton have a game still to play against Bonnyrigg Rose and would need just a point to leapfrog the Premiership side.

The SPFL also announced that Stranraer are to face disciplinary action under the same rule after admitting playing an ineligible player against Forfar Athletic.