Hearts have been hit with a 60 day signing embargo as punishment for failing to pay players and staff on time.
The Scottish Premier League imposed the ban on the club at a meeting on Wednesday.
The decision means Hearts will be unable to add free agents to their squad from now until December 23.
The Edinburgh club admitted the charge of failing to pay six of their players, plus manager John McGlynn, on time with their wages earlier in October.
In a short statement, an SPL spokesman said: “The decision of the sub-committee was to make Heart of Midlothian Football Club immediately subject to a further player registration embargo of 60 days.
“The club will be embargoed from registering any professional players up to, and including, December 23, 2012.”
Hearts accepted the punishment, confirming they had no plans to challenge the SPL sanctions.
A club spokesperson said: "We are satisfied that this matter has now been resolved and accept the sanction imposed by the sub-committee."
The decision dashes fans’ hopes that a deal could be struck with former star Rudi Skacel, who is training with the club, at least until Christmas.
In a separate hearing into late wage payments in September, held by the SPL on Monday, Hearts were warned regarding their future conduct on the subject of wage payments.
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