Scottish Third Division club Rangers former Chair Alastair Johnston has "rebuffed accusations that paying players through the club's controversial tax scheme was akin to 'financial doping,'" according to the PA. Rangers face having titles stripped "amid an inquiry by a Scottish Premier League-appointed commission," which engaged in procedural hearings on Wednesday. Johnston struck back against the process, claiming the probe into alleged undisclosed payments was being driven by "vested interests" in the SPL, and "questioning why the Scottish Football Association had not taken action" when they were furnished with information on Rangers' use of Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs) in April '11. Johnston also "launched a detailed defence against those who have accused the Ibrox club of effectively cheating by cutting their wage bill through EBTs," which are the subject of an ongoing tax tribunal (PA, 9/12). STV reported that an inquiry will "continue later this year." The SPL confirmed its independent commission would hear evidence in the case beginning Nov. 13. The SPL also confirmed that oldco and newco Rangers CEO Charles Green "would have the opportunity to be represented throughout the process (STV.tv, 9/12).
