Lawwell raps SFA over EBT review KO
Celtic have branded the SFA’s refusal to review the controversial Rangers EBT case as “disturbing”.
The Hoops have released a raft of letters between themselves and the game’s governing body as they again demanded an independent inquiry into the events that led to the Ibrox oldco’s liquidation. The SFA declared on Thursday they will not
be party to an independent review into Rangers’ use of EBTs following the Supreme Court’s ruling they should have been taxed because the payments were contractual.
In the letters, Celtic chief Peter Lawwell implores the SFA to accept an invitation from SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster to join the review and has described their failure to do so as “disturbing”.
But in his replies, SFA power broker Stewart Regan insists a review would be a waste of time.
He insists senior counsel have told them “there was a very limited chance of the SFA succeeding in relation to any complaint” and even if it was successful “any sanctions available to a judicial panel would be very limited in their scope”.
Lawwel l f ired back, admitting his disappointment over the lack of appetite from Scottish football’ s governing body for a root-and-branch investigation.
In their statement, Celtic said the lack of support for a review represents a “failure in transparency, accountability and leadership”.
The club’s statement added :“Celtic was disappointed to note that the SF Aboard has confirmed that it does not intend to commission such a review.”
In another letter Lawwell states: “Within the context of Scottish football these have [ been] monumental events and the reluctance to consider them as a whole, on the basis of all information, in order to clarify the narrative and learn the lessons for the future is both surprising and disturbing.”