Here’s the problem: this is a can of worms. If contagion was limited to Sir David Murray and other Murray Group executives, there may be more “appetite” to analyse what went wrong and what to do about it.
Rangers were a rogue football team, operating a tax scheme out with the law, failing to disclose appropriate documentation to HMRC, the SPL and SFA. Legal responsibility for the club’s actions lies with all directors, not just the majority owner. They have collective responsibility to ensure business is conducted appropriately. David King, Paul Murray, Alistair Johnston and former SFA president Campbell Ogilvie, were all Rangers directors during the EBT and DOS years.
The SPFL (formerly SPL) are also implicated. They set terms of reference for what became the Lord Nimmo Smith Commission, then amended those terms to only include matters which were, at that time, regarded as legal, explicitly excluding matters already confirmed as illegal.
They then failed to present evidence to Nimmo Smith of the five matters Rangers admitted guilt on during the First Tier Tribunal process, preferring only to present matters that were in dispute, but (temporarily) found in Rangers favour.
Having done this, they instructed their lawyer not to ask for an opportunity to appeal if the pending HMRC appeal was upheld. Instead, closing the book on a procedural appeal.
The SFA executives side just along the corridor from their SPFL counterparts. Yesterday they issued a remarkable statement:
“Specifically, Senior Counsel was asked to anticipate whether a determination in favour of HMRC, as announced today, could imply that there had been a breach of the Scottish FA’s Disciplinary Rules as they applied at the time of the EBT payments.
The clear opinion of Senior Counsel is that there is a very limited chance of the Scottish FA succeeding in relation to any complaint regarding this matter”.
I refer you to SFA Disciplinary Rule 71, Article 94.1:
“No recognised football body, club, official, Team Official or other member of Team Staff, player, match official, or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall bring the game into disrepute.”
They are asking you to believe that Senior Counsel told them no Rangers official brought the game into disrepute as a consequence of this matter. A matter which has left over £100m debt and hundreds of creditors unpaid, saw 55 players incorrectly registered, and one of the largest clubs in the country liquidated – the consequences of which will be permanent, no matter your view on Newco/same club.
All for an issue which Rangers directors gave evidence in court that the EBT scheme was undertaken to allow them to sign players they would otherwise be unable to pay. Ensuring an illegal sporting advantage.
Possible SFA sanctions for this include fines of up to £1m and/or expulsion from the game.
Sorry, but this is not a tenable position. The game was massively brought into disrepute; to issue a statement claiming otherwise just adds the stench of cover up to an already dreadful state. And bringing the game into disrepute is just scratching the surface, without going into consequences of the club’s actions on competitions.
I question the scope and remit given to Counsel, which was clearly limited in order to make it possible to deliver this statement. Who issued that scope and why it blinded Counsel to the clear matter of disrepute is another question to answer.
Executives at Hampden will have scoured news coverage this morning in the hope that this this will blow over. Scottish newspaper, TV and radio coverage is irrelevant. Instead, they should be looking to establish a recovery position for our game. This is not finished.
Those implicated by the contagion – the “heavily conflicted” do not get to decide that no action is to be taken; Scotland is not yet a Banana Republic.
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67 ECW
For me,the most telling aspect of the whole affair is the behaviour of the MSM. In any country in the world-and even in this one,were any other team involved-the press would have been at the forefront of the investigation.
In fact,they would probably have broken the whole sorry saga to a disbelieving public. One journo gets the exclusive,others do their own digging,and head roll,justice done.
Not this time. Not where Rangers are concerned. Our lot declined to print anything,then attacked as swivel-eyed loons,obsessed bigots,fantasists,liars and bampots,the online community who broke it.
They then trumpeted the FTT as a victory for Rangers-they lost 5-0,btw. And further attacked the online community.
Further down the line,they hid behind a spurious sub-judice,while still spouting their previous guff. And gave us a continuity myth while they were at it.
Now that guilt has been established-their own included,I might add-the time for debate is long gone in their opinion,nothing good can come of punishment.
Etc,etc,etc.
A plague on their houses,and if I have a wish to squander,it is that each of them finds a mirror in every room they enter. They won’t know where to look.
PHILBHOY
Aye,but for how long were you 67?
Congratulations to hamilton Tim and his wife on this special day I wish you both a long and happy marriage
Good luck and best wishes for the future to 2 of CQN’s finest, the future Mr & Mrs Hamiltontin-Minx1888.
I always dislike those double barrel names but this one has a ring to it.
Hail Hail Chris and Helen. May your future be as successful as Celtic’s season 2016-2017 without the red imp blip.
MWD
Congrats to Chris and Helen.
Lurkin T if anyone should have the opportunity to reconsider its Helen-)
No side letters mind, everything has to be above board.
HH and up the Hoooops
Very best wishes to Chris and Helen. Have a fantastic day. Hh
Helen and Chris have a great day today, hope it all goes smoothly, mind you when does anything with a Celtic connection ever go smoothly!!!! All the the best for your future together. Hail Hail Hebcelt
I too would like to send my congratulations to Chris and Helen. I wish you both your dreams.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 7TH JULY 2017 9:19 AM
As time goes on , the Scottish MSM become more and more irrelevant.
That , I know , is scant consolation for the misdeeds of the past .
But the future is ours .
In Brendan we trust.
Hail Hail , Bobby and yer paw.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
As time goes on , the Scottish MSM become more and more irrelevant.
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I’d go one further and say they are totally redundant to anyone with the ability to think.
They are only useful to those that are already invested in believing what they write.
DAVIDOPOULOS:
They can still, with prejudice and malice, influence public opinion, and that is still a most potent weapon even today.
Thank God they don’t have the launch keys.
A Stor Mha Chroi
Perhaps but in my view they only really influence those that are predisposed to being influenced, i.e. those that are comforted by their lies.
So Sevco fans basically…
USUAL, IF SOMEWHAT JUSTIFIED TIRADE AGAINST MSM ON HERE.
ONLY ANSWER IS TO HIT THEM IN THE POCKET.
GIVE THEM NOT ONE THIN DIME .
SOME MIGHT ARGUE THAT SUCH AN APPROACH MIGHT EVENTUALLY PUT JOURNALISTS OUT OF WORK.
MY OWN VIEW , UNKIND THOUGH IT BE IS SIMPLE.
HAVING STOOD WITH CROWS AND PROSTITUTED THEIR PROFESSION, THEY DESERVE TO BE SHOT WITH THE CROWS.
quonno
HAVING STOOD WITH CROWS AND PROSTITUTED THEIR PROFESSION, THEY DESERVE TO BE SHOT WITH THE CROWS.
———————————————————————————————
Kind of how I feel about Gerry McCulloch being back on Celtic TV…except I wouldn’t have shouted….
;)
MACJAY,ASTORMHACHROI,DAVIDOPOULOS
Yes,indeed. By their own actions they have pretty much nullified their importance.
Kinda brought it on themselves,you might say…
QUONNO
The newspaper industry faces enormous problems due to readership and advertising falling off a cliff in the last decade or less.
It needed SMSM-style succulent lamb,craven cowardice,and outright lies like it needed a hole in the head.
Which of course it got. Self-administered.
Not in the least surprised to see that the board of Aberdeen are going to sit on their hands, this seems to be in opposition to what their support want so it will be interesting to see how long either will hold these positions. I have loved watching Celtic this passed season Barcelona away being the exception, but I am sick of Football administrators who think they can bend rules to suit certain clubs, I am sick of the complicity and compromised media who allow this to go ahead without any scrutiny , their commentaries tell you all you need to know about their dishonesty, individual clubs who will not use their votes to stop this will kill the game, there is no doubt about it, the SFA/ and we are still to hear from the SPFL would rather sink the game than apply their rules and punish cheating from deceased Ibrox entity.This would be a matter of adjusting the historical records of success while also recognising that as of now Rangers 1872-2012 is dead and what plays there now has existed for 5 years, the continuity myth has caused a lot of this turmoil, I think Celtic know this,what a position to be in if we have no where else to go and play, for that is our business, football, not cheating, not conning the exchequer and paying supporters
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 7TH JULY 2017 9:57 AM
MACJAY,ASTORMHACHROI,DAVIDOPOULOS
You mean that they indulged in self euthanasia the same way as some indulged in euronasia earlier this week.
daily record july 2004
novo a massive end recipient i think. celtic offered dundee a bigger fee!
Byline: By Neil Cameron
NACHO NOVO last night was closer than ever to becoming a Rangers player after Celtic pulled out of the race to sign the Spaniard.
Record Sport revealed yesterday that the Ibrox club remained favourites to land the player,despite Novo and his agent meeting with Martin O’Neill.
Celtic confirmed yesterday they were no longer interested in the Dundee man, leaving the way clear for Alex McLeish. The Rangers boss said: ‘Celtic made a bigger offer than us and that gave them permission to speak with Novo.
‘It will come down to where he wants to go. I can’t say I’m 100 per cent confident his choice will be Rangers but I would hope that is the wayhe leans. …
Morning all
First off best wishes to Chris and Helen today and for their life together. Two smashing people.
Can somebody enlighten me as to how the figure 14 has been arrived at re title stripping. In the years 2001 to 2009 Rangers as was won 3 league titles and 4 each of the two cups – if you include season 2009/10 it is still only 13. I know I am thick ( and in my biased state think it should start in 1998)
Jimbo67
BRTH
Unlike every other club in the league, HMRC stated, in writing, that Rangers Football Club repeatedly and deliberately, submitted false PAYE and NIC returns to the revenue in the knowledge that they were paying undeclared sums to players and others as part of their remuneration package.
It is in writing that HMRC considers this deliberate and fraudulent.
—–
Can anyone answer, why, if fraud was committed why there has been no criminal charges?
Fill yer boots….
neildoncaster@spfl.co.uk
Celtic are gambling again to make CL group stage by not having squad ready. We need to improve and have the money.. We got very lucky last year in every tie. Red Imps should have won 2-0 over there. A late penalty against Astana and dreadful finishing by Israeli team got us through. We need a decent centre half and centre forward support. We don’t nee another midfielder to sit on bench.
Congratulations and best wishes to HT and the Minx.
Two lovely people who deserve the very best in life together..
HH
Well done Aberdeen support in their game v Arbroath last night
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/aberdeen/aberdeen-fans-fly-protest-banner-after-rangers-verdict-1-4497375
Hopefully their support can pressure their club into a response.
QUONNO
Indulging in euthanasia is never a good idea.
It damned Gary Glitter for all eternity.
(Except,curiously,for a reference at THE home EL tie for Sevco…)
TTR
That would require Police Scotland to charge people then take the cases to The Fiscal and proceed to court, I agree with you however cant see it happening. I keep going back to the guy in the borders who got 5 years for 500k in PAYE and NIC he spent , the sums here are much more, if I were him I would be getting a combative lawyer to take this case and demand answers about why he ended up in jail and others have not been charged for sums much more. Of course who would want to take on the mob.
JIMBO67
Their treble in 2000.
And btw,14 is a conservative estimate. As you know,I think it goes back to their signings of Francis,Wilkins,Hateley. Or about the time we were going for our Centenary Double-coincidentally!!!!
THETIMREAPER on 7TH JULY 2017 10:04 AM
BRTH
Unlike every other club in the league, HMRC stated, in writing, that Rangers Football Club repeatedly and deliberately, submitted false PAYE and NIC returns to the revenue in the knowledge that they were paying undeclared sums to players and others as part of their remuneration package.
It is in writing that HMRC considers this deliberate and fraudulent.
—–
Can anyone answer, why, if fraud was committed why there has been no criminal charges?
I will have a go.
Regardless of what HMRC think, it has to be proved that THEY set out to deliberately commit an act of fraud.
Proving intent is extremely difficult.
For example. Although we all had a good laugh at the verdict, how many of us deep down thought that wee Craigie was the clean tottie.
MARADOMINIC
Do you ever read or listen to the interviews with Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers??
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 7TH JULY 2017 10:13 AM
JIMBO67
Their treble in 2000.
And btw,14 is a conservative estimate. As you know,I think it goes back to their signings of Francis,Wilkins,Hateley. Or about the time we were going for our Centenary Double-coincidentally!!!!
Talking about Mark the Mouth. Has anyone in MSM sought his current views on tainted trophies?
QUONNO
Do you have to prove intent to defraud?
Surely if fraud was committed,intent is irrelevant.
“I didnae mean it,but…” is,admittedly,a valid defence in Scotland,depending on who you know.
Good morning friends and a Big Happy Friday to all, but especially too oor Helen and Chris. May you have years of endless dunshine together.
D’oh!!!
FatFingersSmallPhoneCSC
BMCUWP/QUONNO..
Thanks . I know I thought things were odd as far back as 1993 when they were beating EPL teams to sign Drunken Duncan but the 14 fugure just seems random
Jimbo67
QUONNO on 7TH JULY 2017 10:14 AM
Thanks for the reply. I would assume that deliberately concealing the side letters and paying the EBT funds into an offshore trust would amount to an attempt to deliberately deceive the revenue. Remember the side letters were only discovered when the City of London police raided Ibrox and handed them to HMRC. Apparently the legal advice RFC took was from a struck off solicitor. Murray should be in the dock for what he has done, it wont happen but it should.
DAVIDOPOULOS on 7TH JULY 2017 9:40 AM
Late `60s
Marshall Mc Luhan
” The media is the message. ”
Never a truer word spoken.
thetimreaper
I think that would come down to the SMSM’s new favourite word “appetite”.
SDM ranks too highly to be in the dock…
DAVIDOPOULOS on 7TH JULY 2017 10:29 AM
Interesting, we can only wonder if, for example a Mr Abramovic had engaged in a similar scheme down south, how the English hacks would have reacted. I think we know the answer.