It wasn't followed this year. Hearts were top at the split yet played away today.
SPFL Chief Operating Officer Calum Beattie: “In recent seasons we have been able to have the club at the top of the table entering into the split at home on the final day. However, that has not been possible on this occasion due to the number of competing constraints and the most exciting title race in years making each fixture round very unpredictable.”
He told the SPFL website: "Celtic have been given a home match on the final day of the season, partly because they have three home matches post-split and Hearts and Rangers only have two.
"In recent seasons we have been able to have the club at the top of the table entering into the split at home on the final day.
Beattie also touched on some of the many factors which determine how the fixture list pans out, including Falkirk's having to finish their campaign having played 20 home games and 18 away.
He explained that this occasionally means they will have three away and only one home game against a team—the converse for Heart of Midlothian this season.
He commented: "Clubs are scheduled to play 16 or 17 home games in the 33 fixture rounds before the split. We then try to ensure all clubs finish up having played 19 games at home and 19 away.
"However, this is not always possible to achieve—in fact, since the split was introduced in 2000/01, we have had a 20/18 scenario around 50 per cent of the time.
"This season, Falkirk will play 20 home games in the top-six and Livingston will play 18 home games in the bottom-six.
"All clubs will play a minimum of two, and a maximum of three, home fixtures after the split.
"We try to ensure clubs finish the season home/away or away/home over fixture rounds 37 and 38 and that is the case again this season."
