Hull City training at Riccarton today but Hearts can't due to SFA and SPFL ruling

English club in Edinburgh for a training camp at Oriam

Hull City are training at Oriam but Hearts cannot do likewise.

Hull City are training at Riccarton today whilst Hearts remain idle after the Scottish FA and Scottish Professional Football League suspended their pre-season programme.

The English League One club are using Edinburgh’s Oriam sports complex for a training camp and will work on the very pitches Hearts are banned from using.

Millwall are also due to use the facility next week having planned a similar stay in Scotland ahead of their new season.

Hearts officials are bemused and outraged at the situation after Thursday’s decision by the SFA and SPFL to stop training for all teams outwith the Scottish Premiership.

While English teams can train at their base, the Tynecastle side have been told they must not put on any sessions until at least August 24.

That decision came after Aberdeen and Celtic players ignored rules surrounding coronavirus restrictions, but only teams outside the top flight have to stop training.

The Tynecastle club have spent more than £100,000 already on bringing players back from furlough, plus testing and cleaning equipment.

They began pre-season training two weeks ago to ensure players were fully fit by October for Betfred Cup, Championship and Scottish Cup matches.

An order from the SFA and SPFL means they now cannot train again until given permission by the football authorities.

Hull’s squad are using one of the main training pitches at the back of the Oriam building. However, the ruling by Scottish football’s governing bodies prevents Hearts from doing any sessions at all.

The SFA and SPFL have allowed Glasgow City Women to continue training in preparation for a Champions League tie, but all other football outside the Premiership has been paused.

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