SFA pursue Rangers over alleged breach of Uefa licence rules

The Scottish Football Association will have to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to pursue a case against Rangers for an alleged breach of rules over a Uefa licence.

The Glasgow club’s legal team has successfully argued that the issues surrounding the licence for the 2011-12 season would need to be dealt with by the Swiss-based court under the terms of the fiveway agreement, which allowed Rangers to continue playing in 2012.

Rangers refused to accept a notice of complaint issued in May by the SFA compliance officer, which raised two charges relating to complying with Uefa rules, observing the principles of sportsmanship and “behaving towards the SFA and other members with the utmost good faith”.

An SFA statement read: “This preliminary issue raised by Rangers FC challenged the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA’s Judicial Panel Disciplinary Tribunal to hear the case and contended that the notice of complaint must be determined by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“Having received submissions on June 26, the Judicial Panel Disciplinary Tribunal have issued a decision upholding the preliminary issue raised by the club. The Judicial Panel Disciplinary Tribunal proposes to continue consideration of the complaint until parties consider next steps and terms of reference for any remit to CAS.”

Rangers declared in May they would “fiercely resist” the charges and accused the SFA of being “intent on harming the game”.

They have now called on the governing body to move on as it contemplates whether to proceed with what could be an expensive litigation process.

A club statement read: “Rangers has always been clear about the futility of this action and hopes the Scottish FA will now put the matter to bed and agree to move on and concentrate on the development of Scottish football in the interests of all members of the SFA.”

Meanwhile, Gers boss Steven Gerrard is unlikely to make a move for Blackpool defender Curtis Tilt.

Reports this week had claimed the Ibrox boss was keen to sign the 26-year-old centre-back but the chances of the Light Blues boss making a move for the £1 millionrated player are slim while other targets remain on the table.