The Edinburgh side were relegated from the Premier League when the league season was abandoned because of the coronavirus pandemic, with final league standings decided on a points per game basis. Amidst controversy over the validity of the original vote, that decision was challenged but later ratified by the SPFL a few weeks ago.
However, Hearts were given a potential lifeline when they were invited to explore options for restructuring the league, including expanding the number of Premier League teams from 12 to 14 next season. However, with only 16 out of the 42 Scottish clubs prepared to back the proposal, that has now been ruled out.
In turn, Hearts have now decided to sue the SPFL for several million pounds worth of damages, and they have been further angered by the news that the Championship next season will only consist of 27 games, and will not start until mid-October, causing even more financial harm to the Edinburgh club.
Partick Thistle, who suffered a similar fate when they were relegated from the Championship to League One have said that they would have liked to follow a similar route as Hearts, but the cost of legal action deterred them. However, they have stressed that they feel betrayed by the SPFL, and that the decisions have not been made in the best interests of the Scottish game.
Hearts now face the loss of a number of their top players, as well as Daniel Stendel as head coach. The club have admitted that they are disappointed but not surprised by the decision, and have been forced to take legal action to protect the interest of supporters, players, employees and sponsors of the club.
Scotland is not the only country where the decision to end the season early has ended up in the courts.
In France, Amiens and Toulouse have been temporarily reprieved from their own relegations, whilst Lyon are still trying to get the season restarted. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, the exact fate of who has been promoted and relegated from the Eredivisie is awaiting a court ruling.