The deflection campaign around Resolution 12 has continued with STV obtaining a statement from UEFA regarding it’s impact on Rangers.
Although Rangers (IL) were the beneficiaries of the matter the questions posed by a group of Celtic shareholders relate to how the SFA dealt with the process.
To ensure a basic level of fairness, clubs that compete in UEFA competitions have to achieve that status while paying their tax bills like their competitors. Delaying tax payments to ensure success on the park isn’t permitted.
All along the question from the Celtic shareholders has been related to the status of the wee tax bill at 30 June 2011. Nothing else.
When Stewart Regan commented last month he claimed that all was well on March 30. Correct, but not the issue.
Today’s UEFA statement relates to the impact of the 2011 licence to Rangers. Again not an issue.
Evidence has emerged that the final demand from HMRC for £2.8m plus penalties landed at Ibrox on 20 May 2011. On 20 June 2011 it was overdue.
Did the SFA know about this and proceed or was the information withheld by Rangers? When Sheriff Officers visited Ibrox on 10 August 2011 did the SFA follow up with an audit over the licence to play Malmo on to a £15m Champions League windfall.
If the SFA knew of the overdue tax payable but did nothing then every club in Scotland were wronged during the 2010/11 season by keeping upto date with HMRCa payments while another club ignored them in the hope of securing prize money.
If the SFA were unaware of the overdue ta payable and took no action when HMRC marched in the front door there is a serious issue of governance.
Tonight UEFA stated to STV: “As a consequence of decisions taken against Rangers FC in 2012 as well as the administration of the club and the events and measures that followed (including the club being ineligible to apply for a licence to participate in UEFA competitions for three seasons), there is no need for UEFA to investigate this matter any further since the club was not granted a licence to participate in the 2012/13 UEFA club competitions, the club entered the fourth tier of Scottish football and it was not able to play in UEFA competitions for the next three years in any event.”
That statement doesn’t take the matter any further forward. Until the detail of overdue payments on 30 June 2011 is addressed there will be a cloud hanging over Hampden Park over the ability of the SFA to govern the game- and be seen to be governing it fairly.