Spartans want the SFA to order a replay of Saturday's third round Homecoming Scottish Cup tie against Elgin City after claiming the Highland club illegally fielded on-loan goalkeeper Joe Malin.
Former Scotland under-19 and Celtic player Malin joined Elgin on Friday from Ross County and produced a man-of-the-match performance as the third division's bottom side beat Spartans 2-1 in the rearranged tie.
However, the Edinburgh club have queried the eligibility of the 20-year-old for the encounter as he had not signed prior to the postponement of the initial match last Saturday.
Brechin City were kicked out of last season's Scottish Cup after Hamilton Academical reported them to the SFA for fielding two ineligible players in their 2-1 fourth-round replay win at Glebe Park.
Michael Paton - on loan from Aberdeen - and Willie Dyer had both joined City after their initial draw at New Douglas Park.
After seeing Malin perform heroics for Elgin, Spartans chairman Craig Graham has been in touch with the SFA to check if the player made an illegal appearance.
He said: "The rules state that a player needs to be signed before the initial Saturday and we have asked the SFA to clarify the ruling.
"Rule 27 also states that if you have an issue you have to raise it to the match official within half an hour of the game finishing, but we were unable to do that because we had no idea who Joe Malin was.
"We had them watched four times before the game and we thought we knew who everyone was, but then they had this goalkeeper on Saturday.
"It's very similar to the Brechin situation last season when they were thrown out after fielding two ineligible players.
"I think the SFA have three options; they can fine Elgin and let them continue in the competition, they can replay the match or throw them out.
"This guy was their matchwinner on Saturday."
Elgin manager Robbie Williamson, whose side are due to face Airdrie in the fourth round on January 10, admitted: "In the first half, Joe Malin kept us in the game."
Referee Colin Brown's match report has not yet been submitted and the SFA are awaiting confirmation of Malin's appearance. However, they have already begun a probe after Spartans raised the issue.
A spokesperson confirmed: "That matter has been brought to our attention and all I can say is that we are investigating it at the moment."
Spartans were the opposition when St Mirren failed to play two outfield players under the age of 21 in their Scottish Cup replay in 2006. The Paisley club were fined £25,000, which was halved on appeal.
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