SPL says it cannot intervene in row over unpaid wages

Friday 9 December 2011

The Scottish Premier League last night reiterated its stance on the Hearts wages row saying it was powerless to intervene unless a complaint was brought to it by a player or players of the club.

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The announcement came after Fraser Wishart, the chief executive of PFA Scotland, had earlier urged the league to take action against the Tynecastle club over the continual non-payment of players' salaries.

Hearts' first-team squad are awaiting delayed payment for the second successive month and no indication of a date for payment is forthcoming.

However, the SPL issued a statement which read: "Under the standard SPL player's contract, the SPL has the power to adjudicate on any complaint made by a player or players. To date, no such complaint has been received by the SPL in relation to any Heart of Midlothian player. Any appeal against an adjudication by the SPL would be heard by the Scottish FA."While the SPL and Scottish FA have the utmost sympathy for any player who is not being paid, it would be entirely inappropriate to meet with the players of any football club. To do so risks prejudicing any case that might later be heard."Wishart had asked football's governing bodies to act, claiming that he believed it was within their gift to do so.In a statement on the union's official website, pfascotland.co.uk, he said: "Our members ask for the governing bodies to intervene and help resolve this matter. The governing bodies have an obligation to the integrity of the game in this country and it is imperative that from this aspect our members are paid."Players sign standard contracts which are registered with the governing bodies. As part of this contract players also have to adhere to the registration processes put in place by the governing bodies. The governing bodies also adjudicate upon any disputes and are responsible. There is therefore a care of duty to ensure that these very contracts are being honoured."PFA Scotland believe the SPL have "the power of inquiry into financial arrangements between clubs and players within their current regulations".Wishart confirmed that Hearts players are seeking an escape from Tynecastle, indicating that some are prepared to invoke FIFA's article 14 (breach of contract) to seal their release.He added: ""The longer our members go without pay the more likely that many will look to use the terms of their contract and the FIFA regulations. The club is in clear breach of our members' contracts and players are now looking at their contractual position."Article 14 of the FIFA regulations for the status and transfer of players allows for unilateral termination of a contract by a player for just cause; continual non-payment of salaries can be seen as just cause. This may mean that players will be free to leave without any compensation to the club."

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SPL says it cannot intervene in row over unpaid wages

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