Raith Rovers have asked the SFA to look into a rule breach that will see Sevco starlet Ryan Hardie flown home early from international duty while they go without Craig Wighton for Saturday’s visit to Ibrox.
Hardie and Wighton are with the Scotland u-19 squad in Bulgaria where an international match will take place tomorrow night.
Many lower division sides are prepared to go without a player in order to help the international side but Davie Weir, who walked out on Scotland in 2002, demanded the release of Hardy which they SFA complied with.
Raith have requested that SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan investigates the incident claiming that rules have been broken to assist the Ibrox side.
Raith Rovers have requested that the SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan investigates whether Rangers broke the governing body’s rules by bringing Ryan Hardie back early from Scotland Under-19 duty ahead of Saturday’s clash between the two Championship sides at Ibrox.
A statement from the Kirkcaldy side said: “Ahead of Saturday’s Ladbrokes Championship match versus Rangers at Ibrox, Raith Rovers FC has today asked the Scottish FA’s Compliance Officer to consider whether he agrees that Rangers FC, through David Weir, have breached SFA Articles and Rules by requesting and securing the early release of its player Ryan Hardie from international duty with Scotland Under-19s in Bulgaria, for the sole reason that he is then available to play against Raith Rovers.
“Raith Rovers FC also has an important player in the same Under-19 squad, 1st team regular Craig Wighton. Craig remains in Bulgaria and available for selection for Friday evening’s national representative match.
“He will fly home with the rest of the squad on Saturday afternoon. We are delighted that Craig is receiving international recognition, and whilst we are without his services for the crucial match with Rangers, our loss is Scotland’s gain.
“Naturally we are concerned that if there is any breach of Article 82.1 and Rules 56 & 57, this would – in these circumstances – result in an unfairness in terms of players available for selection for Saturday’s match, which is to our disadvantage.”
Scottish FA Article 82.1 states: “If any player selected to attend any international or other match arranged by the Scottish FA refuses without good and sufficient cause to comply with the arrangements for playing in such match or fails to attend such match, the Judicial Panel may find him to have been in breach of this Article 82.1, and any club or official or Team Official or other member of Team Staff who may be found to have encouraged or instigated or caused such player so to refuse shall likewise be deemed to be in breach of this Article 82.1 and the provisions of Article 95 shall apply.”
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The rules are the rules, oops it’s sevco on this occasion, the lad can play.
WATP
We aren’t tax payers !
HH
Well Done Raith Rovers,nice to see another club standing up to SLAVECO and our Rotten SFA
Raith Rovers play by the rules and expect others to do the same as well.
Nothing has changed here. A club playing out of Ibrox demands the release of a player from International duty once again and, guess what, the SFA comply. Nobody at the SF A has any balls. They, along with the club playing out of Ibrox are displaying disgusting contempt for other member teams. Sevco and Rangers before them do not understand the principles of sporting endeavour. They have cheated their way to any success they have had. How embarrassing that they have to use these measures to gain advantage in the lower division. They and the SFA deserve nothing but contempt from the rest of us.
Raith Rovers.
Drawkcab salutes you.
here we have a clear breaking of the rules, anybody fancy a wee wager on the outcome
It’s been reported that Raith were offered to have their player similarly released. Is this untrue?
It doesn’t matter if Raith rovers were offered their player released sevco through davie weir weren’t allowed to ask for the player to be released and the sfa were not allowed to permit his release
Raith carrying on the legacy of Turnbull Hutton, fighting the good fight….
Halliday had started every league game for them, so he has to be classed as a first team player. They are therefore allowed to withdraw him as there’s a match. Raith could have done the same thing. Your starting to sound like Huns. Perhaps we should concentrate on how bad our own team are and ignore the teAm that we don’t care about! (I bet this doesn’t get past the moderators)
It’s got past the mods, me, who mentioned Halliday, isn’t he still mourning his bestie joining a club that will be paying players and HMRC in the new year?
HH
Sevco breaking/bending the rules? Surely some mistake!