I see a bit of debate on the blog this morning on Lord Nimmo Smith’s SPL Commission, which has retired to prepare its report. In March last year former Rangers owner, Sir David Murray, insisted no Rangers players had “side contracts”, inferring there was no case to answer. This line has not been peddled since. Instead, various excuses are offered in mitigation.
BBC’s award winning The Men Who Sold the Jerseys documentary established that a large number of players received money in connection with playing football which was not recorded with the SPL and SFA. Even Rangers counsel at the First Tier Tribunal conceded tax should have been paid on five of these players.
The real issue for Nimmo Smith is how to impose an appropriate punishment for illegal registration on this scale, which is consistent with punishments recently handed out to Spartans, Dunfermline and others, all of whom were kicked out of competitions, and fined up to a quarter of their annual income, for offences relating to single games.
For a couple of years now we have discussed the toxicity of matters surrounding the Rangers group of clubs. Actions carried out during the Murray and Whyte eras put Rangers into liquidation with vast governance issues plaguing the game and the new club which inherited their player registrations.
On the assumption the SPL Commission concludes Rangers were guilty of fielding illegally registered players in hundreds of games, what would an appropriate punishment be? Forget about stripping titles, or reclaiming prize money, both of which are merely consequences of the facts being established, not punishments.
I have total confidence Nimmo Smith will submit a report beyond reproach on whether Rangers broke the rules, but would he send for a Black Cap before handing out a sentence? I’m not so sure. Spartans and the rest might feel their 25% annual income fine for a single-match offence might become an embarrassment to some of the game’s administrators.
“Without fear or favour” was what we were promised last year. Let’s see.
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ernie lynch
FOCUS have attended games such as Barca V Celtic and linfield V sevco this season so I imagine they will be there today.
Staggeringly the concensus of the huns is that today’s sectarian singing was orchestrated by “Agent Provacteurs” who informed the masses they were out with the Scottish borders and therefore not liable to Scot’s Law.
Chelsea fans perhaps?
James Forrest 15.32
But we know that wont happen . Society stood back and let a club be founded and operate a recruitment that openly discriminated against.
Roman Catholics.
This operated over a century ( and we know it still does) in the glare of government and media and NOTHING was done. Ever.
It’s all Lip Service. These people will not change .
Mc Moist is the epitome of ALL that is wrong in Govan.
He acts dumb when it suits. Talks with an earnest, breathless , sincerity,in the hope he deflects from his paucity of intellect.
He demands names, feigns deafness and acts dumb when igniting violence by getting in Neil’s ear at Parkhead.
Sally is a man never to be trusted..
Sadly in the eyes of the deluded he is one of them..
HH
Hunbelievably stupid
pic.twitter.com/O88s4xCZo5
notthebus
Canny open it LOL
While we are all living in the third millennium, the Sevco calendar has still to reach the 18th century.
#ithappenedinenglanditmusthavebeenchelseafans
The Spirit of Arthur Lee :))
pic.twitter.com/O88s4xCZo5
I blame the ole Kafflik Schools
Leftclicktic,
Still name luck :)
Name = nae
leftclicktic
LOL
Not much better
https://twitter.com/Atomicpe/status/305338508866895874/photo/1
https://twitter.com/Atomicpe/status/305338508866895874/photo/1
BBC
Rangers condemn ‘inappropriate’ singing by fans The club said its was disappointed by the behaviour of a section of its support Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
Berwick Rangers 1-3 Rangers
Rangers Football Club has condemned sectarian chanting by a section of fans at the Third Division tie in Berwick.
The club statement was issued while the game was still in progress at Berwick Rangers’ Shielfield Park ground.
A Rangers spokesman said: “The club is disappointed by certain outbursts of inappropriate singing by a section of the support at Berwick.”
Northumbria Constabulary said there had been two arrests over sectarian chants and video footage was being reviewed.
The game ended as a 3-1 win for the Glasgow club. The Rangers statement added: “Our fans have been excellent this season both home and away and we do not want to see this tarnished.”
Start Quote
We identified that some chanting had taken place, we’ve taken video evidence of that to do follow up inquiries”
End Quote
Supt Tim Smith
Northumbria Constabulary
Speaking to ESPN, club manager Ally McCoist said: “I didn’t know anything about it until I came in after the game.
“Our supporters have been nothing short of sensational home and away this season. If they were a little bit out of order today, I apologise.”
ESPN presenter Ray Stubbs had said the broadcaster was contacting the police over what he described as “sectarian singing” during the first half.
Supt Tim Smith, of Northumbria Constabulary, told BBC Radio Scotland: “There was a short outburst involving some sectarian chanting towards the start of the game.
“We identified that some chanting had taken place, we’ve taken video evidence of that to do follow-up inquiries and in addition to that two people have been arrested for that offence today.
“They are in custody and they will be interviewed later this evening regarding the offence. We have video footage of other matters within the crowd and that will be further investigated by officers from the Focus [Football Co-ordination Unit for Scotland] team from Strathclyde Police.”
Supt Smith said legislation covering sectarian chanting applied to travelling fans and was enactable outside Scotland.
He said Northumbria Constabulary would decide with appropriate authorities where any prosecution that takes place would be carried out.
The force also issued praise for the majority of fans at the game, who it said were mainly good natured.
For those struggling to see the Fraser Aird tweet. he just says “Rangers fans different class today WATP”
It’s since been removed but too late to prevent it being screen-grabbed and circulated
Ally says: “our shupporters have been nothing short of shenshational home and away this sheason”. Aye right y’are!
Cheers for all the links guys
The hun nation is stuck in the 17th century…….they
will go the same way as smallpox.
Arranmorebhoy
Couldn’t have put it better myself
a statement before the game was finished, – new world record Timmy!!!!
Who is Fraser Aird?
Burghbhoy 15:21 on 23 February, 2013 Look forward to greeting Bomber tomorrow at the game.
……………………………………………..
I’m sure bomber will get a healthy reception at CP tomorrow. Maybe he’ll find ra deeds stuffed doon the back of a chair in the visitors dressing room.
Alasdair MacLean
The Scotsman have only inappropriate :))
BE CAREFUL TOMORROW
If we raise our voices that FOCUS mob will be onto us like a shot.
Its the law like,they will be out to cause a scene.
my god, have Dundee actually hired Bomber Brown? Sweet Jesus. hope we pump them rotten tomorrow now.
I see the Sevcovians have disgraced themselves, hardly good PR for a brand new team looking for investors I’d wager. What odds headlines of “old firm” shame, “what about Celtic?” etc etc. I expect no less from the craven cowards in our MSM.
Half Time
Hearts 0-1 Inverness CT
Kilmarnock 1-1 Aberdeen
Ross County 1-0 Motherwell
St Johnstone 0-0 St Mirren
•-:¦:-•** -:¦:- sparkleghirl :¦:-.•**• -:¦:-•
Fraser Aird must have been wearing allys ears today.
31003
He’s a sevco 1st team player
james forrest is neil lennon! we are all neil lennon!
15:32 on 23 February, 2013
I’d be very surprised if a sincere apology comes out of ibrokes.
Maybe a watered down one! As green has been playing to the most bigoted since taking over the broken down cesspit.
Its A tweet from Rangers Firs team player Fraser Aird (no me neither) who has tweeted
“The Rangers Fans were absolutely different class today “#WATP
From the nutter Left Two Guns on CM,
http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz31/leftytwoguns1/LTGRSINGING_zps4b925afc.jpg
•-:¦:-•** -:¦:- sparkleghirl :¦:-.•**• -:¦:-•
Even St Anthony couldn’t find decency, respect,dignity and simple good manners for that mob.
My CQN Nap has just stoated at 12/1, got it 14s,which is nice.
BB
25p each way?
E F Fanning@EFFanning
“@BBCScotlandNews: R*****s condemn singing by fans http://bbc.in/UU8iJh ” << No, they didnt. Read your own article.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/bigotry-at-berwick/#more-3573
Flip look at time need to run for vigil mass :))
•-:¦:-•** -:¦:- sparkleghirl :¦:-.•**• -:¦:-•
15:50 on
23 February, 2013
For those struggling to see the Fraser Aird tweet. he just says “Rangers fans different class today WATP”
————————————————————————————————–
To be fair ,he is spot on..but who would want to be in that class?
‘Rangers winger Fraser Aird has signed a new five-year contract with the club.
The 18-year-old has played 12 times for the club this season and scored his first senior goal in the 1-0 win against Queen’s Park in December.
Another youngster, Chris Hegarty, signed a new deal which ties him to the Ibrox club until 2018.
Meanwhile, Rangers chief executive Charles Green has me Standard Liege chairman Roland Duchatelet to discuss cross-border leagues…..’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21480886
leftclicktic
16:06 on 23 February, 2013
Nothing like condemnation. Not even close.
Official club statement….
“The club is disappointed by certain outbursts of inappropriate singing by a section of the support at Berwick.”
Sally’s comment….
”Ally McCoist said: “I didn’t know anything about it until I came in after the game.
“Our supporters have been nothing short of sensational home and away this season. If they were a little bit out of order today, I apologise.”