SFA delivers not proven verdict to Charles Green over disrepute charges

THE Scottish Football Association’s judicial panel has delivered a verdict of not proven after Rangers chief executive Charles Green was accused of bringing the game into disrepute and failing to act in the best interests of football.

Green faced the two charges after allegedly questioning the integrity of an independent commission appointed by the Scottish Premier League, which will determine whether “oldco” Rangers broke rules in relation to alleged undisclosed payments to players.

He welcomed the outcome of yesterday’s meeting at Hampden, saying: “I am pleased the judicial panel accepted today that I had not brought the game into disrepute.”

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Green declared his club would take no part in the “fundamentally misconceived” process days before the commission was due to hold procedural hearings. The Ibrox chief questioned the independence of the three-man panel, chaired by Lord Nimmo Smith and including two QCs, and threatened legal action if Rangers are stripped of SPL titles.

The commission, which will reconvene on 13 November, was appointed after initial assessment of Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) transactions to Rangers players from 2000 to 2011, which could breach SPL rules over declaring payments in contracts. Green said at the time: “Although the SPL goes to great lengths to emphasise the independence of its commission, the commission is not independent of the SPL. It has been appointed by the SPL. It follows SPL rules and its process is managed by SPL staff.

“I don’t question the impartiality of the individual panel members but whatever decision they reach is a decision of the SPL.”

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