SPORT NEWS

Rangers face SFA inquiry

by Setanta staff , 17 February 2012

The Scottish Football Association has confirmed that it is to launch its own independent inquiry into the activities of Rangers.


The Scottish Premier League giants were this week forced into administration as HMRC chases an unpaid tax bill of £9million, a bill the club have accrued since Craig Whyte seized control at Ibrox last May.

Whyte came under investigation from the SFA at the end of last year when he admitted that he had been disqualified as a company director, and he is now set to again be at the focal point as the governing body look into ‘potential breaches of the SFA's articles of association" at the tormented Glasgow club.

"We are concerned by the developing situation," an SFA statement read.

"New information has come to light since the appointment of the club administrators, Duff and Phelps. The chairman and his panel will be briefed by the chief executive, Stewart Regan, next week and will consult further with the administrators, Duff and Phelps, as part of their inquiry.

"We have been guaranteed full co-operation by Paul Clark, representing the company.

"The Scottish FA's previous efforts in obtaining information, relevant to the Fit and Proper Person requirement, has been restricted by the club's solicitors' continued failure to share information in a timely or detailed manner.

"We now feel there is no option but to undertake an independent inquiry to establish the clear facts and to determine the extent of any possible rules breaches."

Chief-executive Regan added: "Since we have been unable to receive any detailed information requested in relation to Article 10, we feel we have no option but to appoint an independent committee to investigate a number of concerns we have raised.

"We expect the investigation to be concluded as quickly as possible and will confirm the outcome in due course. We will be making no further comment on the investigation in the meantime.

"Finally, I would like to reiterate the need to learn the lessons from this unedifying episode. It is essential that we work together to improve the overall sustainability and competitiveness of the game in this country.

“This is a matter that the Scottish FA is already in discussions with the relevant league bodies to address."

Whyte said on Friday that he would not be attending Saturday’s SPL game against Kilmarnock at Ibrox, as he takes a step back, all the while insisting that he has nothing to fear from any investigation and that ‘every penny’  which moved  in or out of Rangers during his tenure as owner  has been ‘properly accounted for’.


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