Edinburgh City hit with 6 point deduction by SPFL for failing to pay players wages

Edinburgh City have been docked six points by the SPFL after breaching rules relating to paying players' wages on time.

The League One club are rock bottom and lost a number of key players in December due to ongoing financial problems. They've been heavily reliant on loans to stay competitive with players from Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen, Dundee United and St Johnstone joining in January and a point against league leaders Falkirk in their last outing was their first in six games.

But they have now been hit with a deduction by the SPFL for not paying players 'on time or in full' in November. They were already three points adrift at the bottom on ten points so will now have just four to show for their 20 games, meaning relegation to League Two is a near certainty. An SPFL statement reads: "Edinburgh City FC has received a six point deduction following an SPFL Disciplinary Tribunal into SPFL Rule breaches, which were admitted by the club.

"The breaches relate to the cinch League One club having failed to pay its players’ wages on time, and in full, on 30 November 2023. This failure to pay was also not notified to the SPFL as required by SPFL Rules and Regulations.

"The club also admitted it had breached the rules by failing to advise the SPFL that it had been in default of its tax obligations to HMRC, as required by SPFL Rules and Regulations. Furthermore, the club did not engage fully in the disciplinary process leading to further breaches of SPFL Rules. Edinburgh City’s points tally for season 2023/24 will be adjusted immediately."

An SPFL spokesperson added: “The payment of players’ wages, and the tax default and reporting rules, are integral parts of maintaining a fair league competition.”