Scottish Premiership bottom club Dundee United have been deducted three points for including two ineligible players in their squad, the Scottish Professional Football League announced on Wednesday.

Ali Coote and Jamie Robson had just returned from loan spells and should not have been named on the bench for United's 3-2 win at Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Friday, in which Coote made a late substitute appearance.

United, who had already been relegated, saw their points tally drop from 28 to 25. The club were also fined £30,000 ($43,360, 37,950 euros), an unspecified part of which was suspended.

"Dundee United pled guilty to breaches of SPFL Player Regulations 12, 14(i) and 14(ii), which breached SPFL Rules," the SPFL said in a statement following a disciplinary hearing.

"As a result, Dundee United were severely censured, deducted three points from their points total this season and fined £30,000 (part suspended)."

Shortly after the SPFL's announcement, United said that chairman Steven Thompson had left the SPFL board in protest, citing his "shock and anger at the severity of the sanction".