NafisaRangers have submitted a comprehensive reply to the Scottish FA following a Notice of Complaint issued over John Brown’s “corrupt” outburst during commentary.
Hampden authorities lodged the complaint regarding statements made by the former Ibrox player on Rangers TV during the Scottish Premiership clash with Hibernian last month.
Brown had challenged the decision not to grant Rangers a second goal at Easter Road after Nico Raskin appeared to have pushed the ball over the line.
Rocky Bushiri cleared the ball, and Hibs then advanced up the field to level the score, leaving Brown enraged as VAR failed to step in to award Rangers a goal.
It’s understood that VAR did not intervene due to lacking a definitive angle.
Frustrated by the ruling, Brown said: “I would say it is corrupt.”
Commentator Tom Miller warned: “Well, I’m not sure we can actually say that,” before Brown continued: “Well, I am saying it.”
A Notice of Complaint was raised by the Scottish FA over the remarks. Rangers have addressed the accusation and assert no regulation was violated, pointing out “selective enforcement and inconsistency” in similar cases.
A Rangers spokesperson said: “Rangers FC has submitted a full response to the Scottish FA’s Notice of Complaint concerning a remark made during commentary of the Hibernian v Rangers match at the end of last season. The club firmly denies any breach of Scottish FA rules.
“We are surprised that a complaint has been raised at all, given the context of the comment and the Scottish FA’s prior treatment of similar incidents.
“Our response highlights that the Scottish FA’s own Key Match Incident Panel judged that the referee’s decision on the day was incorrect, with four out of five panel members agreeing that a goal should have been awarded to Rangers. That finding helps explain the nature of a spontaneous emotional comment, delivered during a highly charged moment and immediately challenged live on air.
“Our response also sets out serious concerns about the Scottish FA’s selective enforcement and inconsistency. We have highlighted multiple examples of similar or stronger remarks made elsewhere in Scottish football that have led to no charges or sanctions.
“While we remain committed to maintaining high standards, we will continue to contest any action we consider to be unfair or disproportionate. For many supporters, this charge only adds to the wider frustration surrounding regulatory oversight in recent months when there are more serious issues in the game to tackle, including improving officiating standards for the benefit of Scottish football.”
The relevant rule reads: “A club or recognised football body which publishes, distributes, issues, sells or authorises a third party to publish, distribute, issue or sell a match programme or any other publication or audio/visual material of any description in any media now existing or hereinafter invented, including but not limited to the Internet, social networking or micro-blogging sites, shall ensure that any such publications or audio/visual material does not contain any criticism of any match official calculated to indicate bias or incompetence on the part of such match official or to impinge upon his character.”
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