Rangers appeal over sanctions to be heard

16 May 2012 07:17

Rangers' appeal against sanctions imposed by the Scottish Football Association will be heard on Wednesday as the Glasgow giants attempt to see a year-long ban on signing players overturned.

Mr Richard Keen QC - described on the club's official website as "one of the leading legal brains in the UK" - has been hired to represent the Ibrox side.

Administration-hit Rangers were fined £160,000 and handed a 12-month transfer embargo on players over the age of 17 by an SFA judicial panel last month.

They were found guilty of five charges in relation to their financial affairs and appointment of Craig Whyte as chairman.

Rangers received the ban and the bulk of their fine mainly because of a disrepute charge borne from their non-payment of more than £13million in taxes since Whyte took over Sir David Murray's shareholding in May last year.

Whyte, who made no representation at the three-day hearing, was given a lifetime ban from Scottish football and fined £200,000 but has told the SFA the punishment will have no impact on his life.

The SFA also published the judicial panel's rationale for their punishment in a lengthy document last Friday.

The appeal panel will be chaired by Lord Carloway with Spartans chairman Craig Graham and former Partick Thistle chairman Allan Cowan also sitting at the hearing.

Source: PA