Rangers demanded goalline technology after Nicolas Raskin was denied a goal Rangers say the Scottish FA "will be watched closely" after a fine of £3,000 was imposed following a remark made by former player John Brown on club media. The Ibrox club said they would "firmly deny any breach of Scottish FA rules" after former Ibrox defender Brown called a refereeing decision "corrupt" on Rangers TV. In the final match of Rangers' league season, Nicolas Raskin appeared to bundle the ball over the line, with the SFA's key match incident panellater rulingthe goal should have stood. Citing being found in breach of SFA disciplinary rule 38, Rangers said: "If this is now the standard, they will be watched closely to ensure it is applied across the board, consistently, without exception and without favour." The club explained they had "flagged numerous examples of similar incidents on club channels" as part of their defence. "These incidents raise legitimate questions about Scottish FA rules and how consistently they are enforced," Rangers said in a statement. "To our knowledge, none of these cases appear to have resulted in charges against the respective clubs. "The lack of consistency with the Scottish FA's policing of similar incidents leaves more questions than answers. That is why we will be contacting the Scottish FA chief executive and president to seek clarity on what policies and processes the compliance officer has in place, if any, to ensure a consistent and proportionate approach to enforcement and the equal treatment of member clubs. "We shall also be asking the Scottish FA whether they accept that a rule that cannot be applied consistently across all clubs and all platforms risks losing credibility as a fair and enforceable regulation." Referee Nick Walsh and his on-field officials thought the ball had been kept out by Hibernian defender Rocky Bushiri, and VAR Andrew Dallas ruled that there was no camera angle that proved Raskin's effort had gone in. Hibs equalised through Kieron Bowie moments later, with the match finishing 2-2. Brown said on the club's in-house TV channel: "I would say it is corrupt." Commentator Tom Miller replied: "Well, I'm not sure we can actually say that." However, Brown added: "Well, I am saying it." Rangers subsequently demanded the introduction of goal-line technology. "John Brown spoke emotionally and spontaneously as someone who cares deeply about the club. His words were not scripted, and they were not an official club comment," Rangers said. "The ruling however sets a precedent where even spontaneous, corrected remarks made during live coverage of a clear refereeing error are enough to trigger a formal sanction. That is neither proportionate nor consistent, especially when other clubs have made stronger comments on official platforms without consequence. "To be clear, we referenced these other examples not to suggest they should have resulted in sanctions, but to highlight the clear inconsistency in how similar incidents have been handled. "Club media channels are, by nature, passionate and partisan. Informal, tongue-in-cheek and emotional commentary comes with the territory, especially in live settings. "But, in choosing to pursue this case, the Scottish FA has opened the door to closer scrutiny of how similar situations are handled going forward." The SFA declined to comment when approached by BBC Scotland.
Rangers give SFA warning after 'corrupt' remark fine
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Rangers Criticize SFA Fine for 'Corrupt' Comment and Demand Consistency in Disciplinary Actions"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Rangers Football Club has issued a warning to the Scottish Football Association (SFA) following a £3,000 fine imposed due to a remark made by former player John Brown on the club's media platform. Brown, during a broadcast, described a refereeing decision as 'corrupt' after a controversial incident in which Nicolas Raskin's apparent goal was disallowed. The SFA's key match incident panel later determined that the goal should have stood. In response to the fine, Rangers firmly denied any breach of SFA rules and expressed concern over the inconsistency in how disciplinary actions are enforced. The club emphasized that they had previously highlighted multiple similar incidents without any repercussions for the involved clubs, raising questions about the fairness and credibility of the SFA's regulations.
In their statement, Rangers stressed the need for consistent application of rules across all clubs and platforms. They announced plans to reach out to the SFA’s chief executive and president for clarity on the enforcement policies. The club criticized the SFA for what they perceive as disproportionate action against Brown's comments, which they argue were made spontaneously and not as an official club stance. Rangers pointed out that other clubs have made more severe remarks without facing consequences, highlighting further inconsistencies in disciplinary measures. Additionally, the club has called for the introduction of goal-line technology to prevent future controversies. The SFA has not commented on the matter when approached by media outlets, leaving the situation open to further scrutiny and debate regarding the governance of officiating in Scottish football.
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