SFA prepare to suspend Rangers

Scottish FA chief executive, Stewart Regan, this evening announced that the Association would not appeal against the Court of Session decision to rule in Rangers favour over the 12 month player registration ban imposed by a Judicial Panel for not paying social taxes between May 2011 and February 2012.  Rangers didn’t pay social taxes in the period since February 2012, the period during which they launched their appeal.

I hear Rangers today served the ruling on the SFA and that the SFA have responded by informing the club that, under Fifa auspices, fresh proceedings will be raised against them for taking a civil court action, which will lead to a minimum punishment of Rangers being suspended from the Association.

The initial case will be referred back to the SFA Appellate Tribunal.  Regan reminded us that Rangers appeal to the civil courts broke two SFA Articles and five Fifa statues.  The tone and content of his statement demonstrated the frustration at the behaviour of the errant club.  He suggested the SFA would tell clubs [Rangers] that they must accept and abide by the Articles of Association at next week’s AGM.

While it appears the Association is about to get tough, they are in the middle of a problem of the making of the SFA and, in particular, Mr Doncaster of the SPL.  Here is the problem…

Rangers believe they are needed.  This belief is absolute and has been reinforced by the people running our game, the very same people who have been rag-dolled by Rangers in recent weeks.

The SPL waited almost three months for Rangers to respond to their demand for information into what is allegedly the biggest scam in British sporting history.  Despite this, throughout that time, the SPL chief executive campaigned vigorously for a Newco-Rangers to become the first club in Scottish football history to be parachuted into the top league.

It took the SPL 11 weeks to set a deadline.  No wonder Clark, Whitehouse and Green think they can play hardball.

During this time the SFA, who are the only body competent to investigate if Rangers illegally registered players across all domestic competitions, have taken no action.  The SFA president, who was an executive director of Rangers when they introduced the controversial EBTs and who received and EBT himself, has remained in position throughout.

Time for strong leadership, Mr Regan.  Mr Doncaster, there’s always a career in the law.