FIGHTING TALK
Rangers to ‘fiercely resist’ SFA charges
RANGERS last night turned their guns on the SFA after the governing body charged them with a breach of rules concerning the granting of a licence to play in Europe seven years ago.
The Ibrox club now face a disciplinary hearing next month over historical tax details which they submitted to the Hampden authorities.
They were yesterday hit with two charges which relate to complying with UEFA rules, observing the principles of sportsmanship and ‘behaving towards the SFA and other members with the utmost good faith’.
Although the club could theoretically be suspended from cup competitions for a year in the event of being found guilty, a fine would be the most likely sanction.
Rangers say they will ‘fiercely resist’ the charges and accused
the SFA of being ‘intent on harming the game, Rangers Football Club and its supporters by pursuing a course that has no sensible purpose or reasonable prospect of success’. The charges date back to when Rangers were seeking clearance to compete in UEFA competitions in season 2011-12 and were required to hand over financial information about their outstanding tax liabilities to the Hampden authorities for processing. Rangers said at the time of their application in 2011 that they had no overdue payables but that they were in dispute with HMRC over their £2.8million liability from a Discounted Option Scheme, known as ‘the Wee Tax Case’, which was in use from 2000 to 2002. Although UEFA rules state clubs applying to play in Europe should have ‘no payables overdue’ to tax authorities, dispensations can be granted if the matter is in dispute. The SFA, however, reopened an investigation into the controversy, following evidence from former directors during Craig Whyte’s trial, which stated that the club knew the tax bill was overdue in November 2010, months before their UEFA licence application. In a letter to member clubs in September last year, the SFA wrote: ‘On the face of it, there seem to be contradictions between those statements and written representations made at the time.’ After seeking further legal advice, the SFA referred the matter to their compliance officer to investigate, which resulted in the announcement of fresh charges yesterday. Rangers vowed to fight the charges, with senior club figures insisting they would go to court if required. A statement from Rangers read: ‘The club will fiercely resist this reconstructed Notice of Complaint. ‘Unfortunately, monies that should be available to Scottish youth and grassroots football will be diverted into another rehearsal of seven-year-old debates on the rights and wrongs of events that the SFA should have prevented at a time when doing so would have served a useful purpose. ‘It seems that Scottish football is, once again, being directed by individuals intent on harming the Scottish game, Rangers Football Club and its supporters by pursuing a course that has no sensible purpose or reasonable prospect of success.’ A principal hearing date is set for June 26. Regardless of the outcome, UEFA are unlikely to take any action over the matter, having a five-year limit on dealing with historic cases.