Hamilton Academical have been issued with a “season-long transfer embargo” by the SPFL after the League 1 club failed “to settle its tax obligations”.
Accies were already subject to a ban on registering new players “following remuneration and tax defaults which were determined or admitted during season 2024-25”.
A 15-point deduction last season led to John Rankin’s side finishing bottom of the Championship and suffering automatic relegation.
“Hamilton Academical FC admitted to further breaches of SPFL rules by failing to settle its tax obligations to HMRC on three occasions, and for failing to notify the SPFL that it had been in default of its tax obligations to HMRC on each occasion,” the SPFL said.
The league body added that the embargo will be lifted at the end of the 2025-26 season and have also imposed a £7,500 fine, £5,000 of which is suspended.
Under SPFL rules, a club under a transfer embargo this season can register amateur players or professional players born on or after 1 January 2006.
Hamilton have played three competitive fixtures so far this season, winning one and losing two of their Premier Sports Cup group fixtures. They conclude their Group E campaign at home to Dumbarton on Saturday. Accies open their League 1 programme the following Saturday at home to Montrose.
The South Lanarkshire club are playing their home fixtures at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld this season after taking the decision to look for an alternative ground amid a row over stadium ownership and rental at New Douglas Park, where they had played for 24 years.
Accies have stated their long-term aim to return to playing in their home town.
