Prima facie day is here! Neil Doncaster spent weeks telling us that the SPL had yet to establish if Rangers had a prima facie case to answer in connection with the alleged illegal registration of players. Today he confirmed to the SPL board and the media that they do indeed have a case to answer.
Rangers Employee Benefit Trusts have been the source of considerable controversy since 2010 when it emerged that HMRC had taken action against the club, at the time claiming in the region of £24m. EBTs had been recorded on Rangers accounts for a decade without much comment, so there was no reason to assume the club had made payments to players out-with the oversight of the football authorities.
On 22 February this year Celtic Quick News asked the question, were these EBT payments recorded with the SFA, or did Rangers hide them? There was little reason for the club to hide them, unless, perhaps, they had something to else hide, which was beginning to look the case.
Today we have our answer. Whatever is left of what some regard to be Rangers FC will be subject to some of the most severe disciplinary procedures levelled in the history of football. Appropriate penalties for subverting the game for over a decade are impossible to define.
Celtic fans are not the only ones to lose from this illegal registration of players but they suffered significantly. Five league titles went to Rangers, in 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2011. All of these titles will be stripped from Rangers records and awarded to Celtic.
You can look forward to 12-in-a-row day soon, which is simply, CHAMPION!
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greenjedi on 18 June, 2012 at 16:20 said:
if Green is indeed all the man we think he is, it wont be long till its a little off the shoulder number….
Greenjedi
I thought that was seagull droppings!
Paul if reading the words PRIMA FACIE DAY
“Today he confirmed to the SPL board and the media that they do indeed have a case to answer”. Fills me with satisfaction .
YOUR SIR must be bursting with pride and satisfaction .
Take a bow Paul take a bow.
Days like today must make everything just Accchhh I dont have the words to describe how I feel reading It LET THE FUN BEGIN ,
If I was connected to DEADCLUB IN THE PAST I would be starting to wear trousers with turn-ups as they will need to be stashing roll ups & matches in them for where they are going.
WE’VE got a team to support ant THEY’ve NO.
Thank you again and keep shining the kight of truth on them.
HAIL HAIL
EBT Investigation
The SPL Board heard a report from its solicitors following the investigation into payments to, or for the benefit of, players allegedly made by Rangers FC outside of contract.
The delay in concluding the investigation was caused by an initial lack of co-operation from Rangers FC.
The investigation has now been completed and, in the view of the SPL, there is a prima facie case to answer in respect of its Rules.
Disciplinary charges will be brought when the future status of Rangers FC is clarified and prior to the start of season 2012/13.
General Meeting
An application for registration of transfer of Rangers’ SPL share has been received. Consideration of the application will depend on receipt by the SPL Board of all required documentation and verification.
A general meeting of all 12 member clubs has been convened for 10am on Wednesday 4 July 2012 for members to decide whether to approve the transfer
Kayal33-Beat me to it mate,leave it blank.Says much more.
Kayal33 – I don’t want them….they really are tainted titles and the record books should reflect that forever more.
And I say that as someone who was sitting surrounded by gloating Motherwell fans on Black Sunday, one of the worst days of my life and also the day that I first discovered this great blog.
Paul – what’s your old man’s opinion now on that particular title? He’s never forgiven that Celtic team from Black Sunday….not one!
T4
Paul67
This long and winding road of a journey is slowly but surely coming to an end
Congratulations to you are your bold fellow bloggers
I stopped buying msm newspapers a long time ago
due to the anti celtic stories, paranoid tims we were called
So just for the record The only news is CQN news
and thats a fact
The used-to-be R@ngers have brought humiliation and devestation on Scottish football. Regan and Doncaster are said to be “slightly miffed” (but forgiving).
Sorry Paul, I can’t share your optimism here. No matter how much I desperately want their titles stripped on account of 10 years of tax evasion and, let’s not forget, bad debt – I just can’t see the SPL taking much action here. They may try to impose a points penalty if they are to be re-admitted to the SPL but I expect they will be voted down to a lower division with no further sanctions.
My reason for this is simple – there is absolutely nothing that could have stopped this decision being taken months ago. We already know:
1. Rangers paid players through the EBT scheme;
2. They are appealing the resultant tax bill on grounds that these payments were non-contractual;
3. If they win the tax appeal on these grounds they have made non-contractual payments to players for 10 years in breach of SPL Rules;
4. If they lose the tax appeal as the payments are indeed contractual then they have paid players on two contracts in breach of SPL Rules.
The further delay to ascertain the status of Rangers FC is completely unnecessary. There is enough evidence of a breach of SPL Rules to discipline Rangers right now.
The vote to ascertain whether Rangers should be re-admitted to the SPL is completely unnecessary. There is enough evidence of systematic tax evasion and bad debt to kick them out of the league right now.
I want them to be wiped off the face of Scottish football forever but we all know that any other team in these circumstances would have been exiled to the amatuer leagues as soon as the season ended.
There is a big difference here between what should happen and what is about to happen. I really hope that I am proved wrong over the coming weeks.
Craiginho
Glass half empty CSC
You are all missing the bigger picture, there are several European teams now on the phone to UEFA regarding loss of income.
Green should just demolish ibrox now.
So on EBTs that’s a “maybe aye” from the SPL.
Big Tax Case? Calling the FTT? Could we have your view please?
tommytwiststommyturns on 18 June, 2012 at 16:23 said:
im with you T4
“Title removed from thems due to cheating.”
Haven’t posted a lot recently, to be honest just scunnered with the whole debacle that is Scottish football.
A decent enough development eventually Dungcaster has got the finger out and the fallout from the EBT scandal will rock the entire world game, cheating the league with help from well placed friends in the SFA/SPL will show up the game in this country for what it surely was/is……a rotten cesspit of corruption where the establishment club road roughshod over every rule or law of the game and the ruling bodies didn’t bat an eyelid hell they even helped and condoned it.
I wonder if the slimy tentacles of the EBT’s made there way into any of the referees rooms or to well placed individuals within the SFA/SPL, only a full independent inquiry will suffice.
Now the SPHell have stated that the punishment for Hun 1872 (now dead) will be handed on to Govan Wanderers 2012.
I predict the Green machine will quickly sell onto the cardigan and the fly by knights, and all the spin, lies and full weight of the hun PR machine will kick into over drive to minimize any sanctions to Govan Wanderers and to reject any penalties relating to the EBT scandal.
Never mind the clamor for Walt and the fly by knights to return direct to the SPHell.
I honestly think if getting out of this corrupt shitpit of a country isn’t our number one objective there is something far wrong, the last 10 years have proven we were not paranoid we were in fact 100% correct, the evidence is plain for all to see.
I do not hold any hope that there will be any remorse or contrition shown by Govan Wanderers as to the past deeds of the club that they have evolved from, if they had any gumption they would actively seek the 3rd division, casting aside 140 years of sectarian bigotry, and at least attempt to say sorry!
But what do you get Herr Dark Mingwall calling out the Riech battalions for a rally on Saturday on behalf of Walt and the fly by knights, and they wonder how there previous club died………phannies!
gebhoy
Oops. Devastation
As much as we would all like there to be the correct justice, we all know this isn’t going to happen. Why else do you think this is taking so long to settle? This is about leaving themselves with the out of “there just isn’t enough time to cast votes for the Newco to enter the third division, so we will slap their wrist and let them take the place of liquidated rangers in the SPL”
If we truly believe that the SFA will punish these cheats the way they should, we are being dillussional.
Paul
I have noticed that you’re becoming increasingly bullish these days.
The demise of the hun sure is powerful medicine and doing wonders for my self esteem.
Ernie, want some?
HH
Now that the arch procrastinator, Doncaster, has been forced to recognise thems’ wrong doing, can we expect to hear of his forced resignation? Mind you, I would like to see that coupled with Ogilvie and Regan’s being charged with bringing the game into disrepute.
Clear the whole incompetent corrupt crowd out of Scottish football.
On one view there is a perfect storm developing to finally kill of the hun.
The other view is that liquidation conveniently allows them to dump ALL the adverse stuff and start afresh.
Beware any suggestion of stripping of titles as a quid pro quo for entry into the SPL.
Any hurking luns? – Exclusa opes omnes
I’m Neil Lennon (tamrabam) on 18 June, 2012 at 16:00 said:
All the way through this scandal I have wanted them gone, I know that if they go into Div3 then there will be no further punishments, but their history is gone, they can have no claim on it.
That will hurt more than anything.The SPL here are offering Green a choice, escape punishment or take the punishments, and they will be harsh and many, they may even leave them out of football altogether, if they decide to apply for the SPL membership. Or go into Div3 as a clean new club with no history, but this will give them no baggage.
Rock and a hard place for Green, another to walk away?
leftclicktic on 18 June, 2012 at 16:12 said:
I got caught out as well.
I loved the story you told, it was well worth the re-post.
Has ogilvie made a statement yet?
Or his he consulting his brief?
The man has no shame!
Just like the huns!
Ernie,
i agree, entry to the SPL if all cups previously won are declared null and void as a punishment especially if the cardigan and co are in charge of Govan Wanderers 2012 by then.
i will believe it when i see Dundee are club 12.
gebhoy
Those who want the records left blank to reflect their cheating….don’t worry, their cheating will be extremey well documented online and in print so that future generations are well aware of the disgraces of this club.
When the history books are revised to take account of this this will be the thing that hurts them most.
Enjoy it. Heres to 13 in a row.
HH
They might be Club 12 but I’d rather be Club 12 in a row !!!
Paul
I posted this in the last comments but you sneaked in this article while I was there – naughty! I think it is probably more appropriate here.
If the ‘prima facia’ – who am I to contradict Hatley? – case becomes an actual case, and the ‘govanliquidatorees’ (in the Oxford dictionary next week)’ are proven guilty, can the S.F.A./S.P.L. retrospectively expel/sine die, or for Hatley, Siny Daeye, the ‘govanliquidatorees’ and would that mean their would be no ‘licence/membership’ etc. to transfer to a ‘new entity’? Get the crystal bowl out or just share your knowledge as usual!
H H
“structured financial deficit” – how good does that sound?
HH
TLK
Craiginho on 18 June, 2012 at 16:26
It doesn’t matter IF they win the big tax case, it looks like Rangers never had these payments to players recorded in the contracts lodged with the SFA/SPL
So it’s the case of players not being registered properly = breach of the rules.
That’s my take on it.
My father in law is coming down for his tea tonight, as if its not bad enough that his daughter is cooking ill be sitting here ready and waiting with the remote control in hand, bang on 6
“Ahhmmm John MacKaaaaayyyyy”
Its a two courser tonight, the dessert would just be too obvious wouldn’t it?
Yup
And its Coias ice cream from Duke Street.
Yo ho ho off we go, what do you know it’s 12 in a row, Bye Bye Rangers!
What about all the CL revenue we would have gained? We were cheated off that too!
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! on 18 June, 2012 at 16:01 said:
Apologies. Lesson learnt.
Does this annoncement mean that the outcome of the BTC is known?
Do you guys not get it?
This announcement will not be made until AFTER the SPL clubs vote.
So this is another factor those clubs MUST consider.
Are they REALLY going to vote for a club which is in front of a disciplinary case for ten years of cheating? Will they vote for a club which an independent tribunal might decide to expel from the league?
Doncaster’s procrastinating has sunk them like a stone. Unintended, yes, but that is the end result all the same.
We’ve all done it!
When are the SFL going to investigate the titles won(by cheating?) by the now deid huns between 89 and 97?
Are Celtic, Aberdeen & Motherwell going to ask for a formal investigation as they are the ones who lost the flags to them
Paul,
Hopefully you might be able to shine some light on this matter. How can a club that no longer exists and a club that has no licence have a vote in the future of a club that doesnt exist and a club that has no licence?
God, I hate getting this wrong – ‘there and their’ – yeeeeeee!
I did mean ‘bowl’, by the way, as I have no balls!!!
H H
Hail! Hail! the Celts are here!