Prima Facie Day!

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!