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Livingston face the possibility of being thrown out of the Irn-Bru Cup after being charged by the SPFL of fielding Alan Lithgow in the victory over Crusaders even though the defender was suspended.
The former Hearts trainee played the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 victory over the Northern Irish side last Friday when he should have been serving the second of his immediate two match ban.
Lithgow was ordered off in injury-time in the 3-1 League One East Fife on September 24 for serious foul play.
The 28-year-old sat out the victory over Peterhead the following weekend but was included by Lions manager David Hopkin for the Belfast clash.
Livingston have been drawn at home to Welsh outfit The New Saints in the November 13 quarter-final but expulsion from the tournament is among a host of penalties that available to the SPFL.
The club will learn their fate at an October 24 hearing.
A SPFL statement read: “It has been reported to the SPFL that Alan Lithgow of Livingston FC played in the IRN-BRU Fourth Round Cup tie away to Crusaders FC on Friday, 7 October, 2016, while under suspension by the Scottish FA.
“Alan Lithgow started for Livingston FC in the above game and played the full 90 minutes.
“As a result, Livingston FC have today been charged with fielding an ineligible player and are requested to attend a hearing to be held by the SPFL on Monday, 24 October, 2016.”
