Partick Thistle lose SWPL points for amateur player payments

What the report says

Partick Thistle have been docked three points and fined £6,000 by the Scottish Women’s Premier League after the league found the club made payments to players who were registered as amateurs last season. The decision came after a hearing on Monday and also related to incorrect information submitted during the membership criteria process, according to BBC Sport Football.

The penalty changes the picture in the 10-team SWPL table. Thistle, who finished sixth last season, have fallen from eighth to ninth and are now three points behind Spartans in the current standings. BBC Sport also reported that bottom club Aberdeen are now only four points behind them, which increases the pressure on the Glasgow side as the season continues.

Thistle said on their website that they accept the verdict. The club said the issue came from a failure in internal processes that has now been addressed, and added that it had admitted the breach as soon as it was identified. They also apologised to supporters for the mistake and its consequences.

Half of the £6,000 fine is suspended until the end of the season. The case matters because it affects both the competition table and the standards clubs must meet when registering players and submitting league documentation. In general, women’s football leagues use amateur and professional registration rules to regulate player status and competition integrity.