Ashley to pay SFA £20,000 as judge rejects rules appeal
Rangers shareholder must hand over half of association’s legal costs
BILLIONAIRE Rangers shareholder Mike Ashley will have to pay half the Scottish Football Association’s legal bill – thought to be about £40,000 – for his failed bid to reverse its decision to fine him for breaching dual ownership rules.
Judge Lord Brodie ruled at the Court of Session the businessman needs to pay 50 per cent of the footballing watchdog’s costs.
A source suggested he would need to pay around £20,000 to the SFA.
The judge made the decision following a short hearing yesterday at the court in Edinburgh.
Lord Brodie said the exact circumstances of the case meant Mr Ashley should not have to pay all the costs, which have not been disclosed, incurred in the case.
The judge also ruled Mr Ashley should have to pay an additional fee to the SFA to meet the cost of legal advice it had to take from a solicitor who specialised in sports law.
Lawyers for the entrepreneur had gone to Scotland’s highest civil court earlier this year in an attempt to overturn a decision to fine him £1,000 for his involvement with Newcastle United and Rangers.
The SFA issued the fine against Mr Ashley, who was the world’s 318th richest man in June 2015, after he took an 8.92 per cent shareholding stake in the Glasgow club.
The association concluded Mr Ashley broke its rules about how an individual should not be involved with two football clubs at the same time.
Lord Brodie rejected arguments made by Mr Ashley’s representatives that it was Mr Ashley’s company – MASH Holdings – that controlled the Rangers shares.
The court heard there was a legal difference between Mr Ashley as a person and MASH Holdings.
Consequently, advocate Craig Sandison, QC, said the SFA should have appreciated the differences and not have fined Mr Ashley.
In his judgment Lord Brodie wrote: “I shall uphold the second plea in law for the respondent. The petition is dismissed.”
At proceedings earlier this year, it emerged that in October 2014 MASH Holdings Limited, of which Ashley is the 100 per cent shareholder, entered a credit facility with Rangers.
As part of the loan, Mr Ashley’s business associate Derek Llambias was nominated and then appointed a director of Rangers.
A panel ruled he had breached dual ownership rules as a result of MASH loaning Rangers money and through the appointment of Mr Llambias.
Mr Sandison claimed the SFA acted wrongly when it concluded Mr Ashley broke the organisation’s dual ownership rules. Mr Sandison told the court: “The panel did not apply the principles of natural justice in relation to the factual matters that were put before them.
“Their reaction was unjustified and we seek a reduction of their decision.”
However, Lord Brodie disagreed with Mr Sandison’s arguments.
He wrote: “The appeal tribunal considered that the disciplinary tribunal was entitled to make the finding it did about nomination. I agree.”
An independent assessor will decide what the costs will be.