SFA verdict on Rangers and Craig Whyte delayed until next week

THE outcome of the Scottish Football Association’s disciplinary action against Rangers and majority shareholder Craig Whyte will not be known until next week.

Rangers faced five charges and Whyte two, with the SFA’s judicial panel hearing the third and final day of evidence and submissions yesterday.

The SFA said: “The judicial panel have advised that, due to the schedule of evidence and final submissions in respect of the tribunal involving Rangers FC and Craig Whyte, there will be no announcement of determination today.

“The panel chairman has advised that a period of deliberation will follow today’s hearing, with an announcement anticipated in early course next week.”

The charges followed an SFA-led independent inquiry, led by Lord Nimmo Smith, which ruled Whyte not fit and proper to hold an official position within football.

The SFA adjourned the original hearing on 29 March after Whyte’s lawyers asked for more time to prepare a case, but the businessman failed to attend a procedural hearing on 6 April which was set for him to “lodge a substantive response and for representations to be made as to state of preparation”.

Earlier this week, Whyte insisted he would not attend the hearing, saying: “The SFA is a farcical organisation. The whole thing is a farce. I will absolutely play no part in it and I will have no representation at Hampden.”