Rangers crisis: No response from Craig Whyte on SFA hearing invite

The SFA’s Compliance Officer, Vincent Lunny, issued notices of complaint against both Rangers and Whyte two weeks ago over a wide range of alleged rule breaches relating to the controversial venture capitalist’s takeover of the Ibrox club last May and its subsequent slide into administration.

Rangers have indicated they will be represented at today’s principal hearing by administrators Duff & Phelps and their lawyers. But the SFA have had no response from Whyte, who has been conspicuous only by his absence from Glasgow since taking Rangers into administration on 14 February. Whyte is entitled to make a written submission to the hearing and be represented by a third party.

There are two individual charges against Whyte. He is accused of breaching SFA rules 66, on bringing the game into disrepute, and 71, which demands club officials act in the best interests of football at all times and not in any manner which is improper. If Whyte is found guilty, he could face a maximum fine of £50,000 on both counts.

Five of the seven charges against Rangers as a club date from the period from 6 May last year, when Whyte completed his takeover from Sir David Murray, to 6 March this year when Lord William Nimmo Smith concluded his independent inquiry into Whyte’s stewardship at Ibrox. It found that Whyte was not a “fit and proper person” to hold a position within football.

Rangers are alleged to have breached SFA rules 1(b) and 2 covering a club’s obligation to comply with the SFA’s Articles of Association, which include the listing of directors on their Official Return. Whyte was named as chairman and a director ofRangers, despite having been disqualified as a company director for seven years by the UK Insolvency Service in 2000. Rangers have already been fined £50,000 by the PLUS Stock Exchange, and had trading in their shares suspended, for failing to declare Whyte’s disqualification.

They are also accused of breaching SFA rule 14(g), which allows for suspension or termination of SFA membership if a club suffers an insolvency event. In addition, Rangers must also answer charges of breaching the previously mentioned SFA rules 66 and 71, separately from Whyte.

There are a wide range of possible punishments for the first five charges against Rangers, from fines of £500 to £100,000 and suspension or termination of their SFA membership.

The two other charges facing Rangers, which were issued separately by the Compliance Officer, relate to their William Hill Scottish Cup fifth round tie against Dundee United at Ibrox on 5 February.

Rangers face action for failing to pay either Dundee United or the SFA their share of the revenue from the tie. Under Scottish Cup rules, Dundee United should have received their slice of admission money, believed to be around £100,000, on the day of the tie. The SFA should have received a five per cent levy on gate money within three days of the game.

Sanctions open to the independent three-man Judicial Panel include a fine of the prize money Rangers would have received for reaching the fifth round or even being banned from next season’s Scottish Cup.

Co-administrator Paul Clark is expected to head the Rangers delegation at today’s 10am hearing. Clark has already claimed there are “mitigating factors” for the charges levelled against Rangers and stated his intention to “demonstrate the distinction between the club and the actions of any individuals”.