Scottish Championship side Rangers said that it will continue to fight a £250,000 ($380,600) fine "imposed by the Scottish Professional Football League despite failing in an appeal against the judgment to the Scottish FA," according to Grant Russell of STV. A panel of the governing body ruled on Wednesday that "they were unable to hear the club's appeal against the punishment, which was imposed by the league after the club breached rules of their use of employee benefit trusts for players." The club believed that it had a right of appeal under rule 14.4 of the SFA's judicial panel protocol, which deals with disputes arising from "determinations made by a football body." Although the case was against the Rangers oldco, the SPFL insist the newco "signed an agreement" to be liable for the fine, with club Chair David Somers and former CEO Graham Wallace recently "acknowledging the liability and suggesting ways of paying the sums due." The club has the option to either utilize the SFA's own local arbitration process "or refer the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland." Money "is not directly payable out of Rangers' bank accounts, with the league instead intending to withhold the sums due from cash due to be paid out in prize money to the club" (STV, 1/14). In Glasgow, Gary Ralston wrote British and Scottish Olympic athlete Lynsey Sharp "joined the Rangers Supporters Trust
because it breaks her heart to see her favourites in the doldrums." The former European 800m champion "has joined forces with mum, Carol, to back the influential fan organisation." Sharp said, “Rangers is in my blood and it’s heart-breaking to see the
most successful club in the world like this. The fans have so much
passion and we need to use that passion to bring the club back to its
best” (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 1/14).
