Hearts player at centre of SFA charge against SPFL club as appeal launched after loan transfer move
The Hearts player was signed by the SPFL club this week.
A Hearts player has turned the centre of an SFA charge against Stranraer after his debut in the Scottish Cup.
The Stair Park side from League Two set up a money-spinning fifth round tie at Ibrox against Rangers with a 6-5 penalty shootout win over Championship outfit Queen’s Park, following a 1-1 draw after extra time. Goalkeeper Josh Lane had been recalled by Hamilton from his loan at Stranraer and it left boss Chris Aitken in need of a new shot-stopper for the cup tie that was postponed last Saturday and rescheduled for Tuesday.
Young Hearts keeper Lyndon Tas was brought in ahead of the game and selected immediately for action, saving a penalty in the shootout, with another Jambos loanee in Dom Plank scoring Stranraer’s goal across 120 minutes. The Scottish FA have now hit Stranraer with a notice of complaint as Tas was not registered for the original fixture on January 17th, and wasn’t an emergency loan signing either. Rules outline that only players registered for the original date can participate in the event of postponements, abandonments or replays, and a hearing is set for January 28th ahead of fifth round ties on the weekend of February 7th.
Why have Stranraer been hit with notice of complaint by SFA?
It’s stated by the SFA: “Disciplinary Rule allegedly breached: Disciplinary Rule 303. Eligibility — clubs shall observe the terms of Competition Rule 12 (Specifically 12.5).
“The charge against Stranraer is that they have failed to observe the terms of Competition Rule 12, and in particular 12.5, and did list on their Official Team Line for a rescheduled match a player, namely Lyndon Tas, who was not eligible to be listed on their Official Team Line at the date fixed for originally playing the match, and who was not a recognised goalkeeper pursuant to an emergency temporary transfer approved by the Scottish FA Board.”
Stranraer have appealed the decision and stated in a statement: “We can confirm that an appeal has been made to the Scottish FA regarding the eligibility of goalkeeper Lyndon Tas. Agreement had been reached with Hamilton Academical for Josh Lane to feature in the Scottish Cup 4th Round on Saturday, but this was refused for the rearranged fixture on Tuesday night.
Why have Stranraer launched appeal against SFA charge?
“With only one goalkeeper in our playing squad, we acted quickly in good faith to recruit a goalkeeper on loan with help from Heart of Midlothian. Scottish Cup competition rules state that where fixtures are rearranged, any new player must be registered by the date of the original tie, unless signed on an emergency loan.
“The question was raised as to whether the signing of Lyndon qualifies as an emergency loan, and we are deemed to have breached that regulation. We will have the opportunity to present our case and provide mitigation to the panel in due course.”
A Stranraer announcement on Tas read: “We are delighted to announce the loan signing of Hearts goalkeeper Lyndon Tas. The Jambos shot-stopper has represented both England and Scotland at youth level and goes straight into tonight’s squad. The club would like to thank Shelley Kerr and everyone at Heart of Midlothian for their help in making this move possible. Welcome to the Blues, Lyndon!”