Rangers duo Carlos Bocanegra and Alejandro Bedoya will miss today’s match at Motherwell after failing to get a working visa.
The Ibrox side announced the signings of both players in midweek with Bocanegra making his debut in the Europa League defeat from Maribor.
Despite being able to play against the Slovenian champions Bocanegra has been ruled out of today’s match at Fir Park.
The absence of the American pair greatly reduces Ally McCoist’s options with Maurice Edu suspended and Davie Weir, Sasa Papac and Kyle Bartley all missing through injury.
The trip to Fir Park should be the first major domestic test of the season for Rangers with McCoist aware of the importance of the coming week.
Following the match with Maribor Rangers have to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Maribor at Ibrox before hosting Aberdeen at Ibrox next Sunday.
Following Walter Smith into the managers chair was never going to be easy but McCoist insists that he’s not been overwhelmed by his new job.
“Criticism is part and parcel of the game, nothing shocks me,” he claimed. “I won’t be pressing any panic buttons.”
“The honeymoon period hasn’t lasted long but I’m not surprised by that.
“Nothing has shocked me – well maybe apart from our second-half performance against Maribor – and in terms of this job it’s certainly hands-on. I knew what I was getting into.”
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Why is it Bocanegra played in the Europa League without a working visa?
It seems unusual for a player to be able to play in one competition and not the other. Anyone?
This I believe is the rules pertaining to the Europa League.
For the three qualifying rounds and the play-offs, a club may register a maximum of one new eligible player on List A after the above-mentioned deadlines, provided the quota of locally trained players is respected.
Such registration must be completed by 24.00 CET on the day before the relevant first-leg match and the club’s association must confirm in writing that the new player is eligible to play at domestic level at this time Bocanegra was not eligible to play in the SPL ‘at this time’
NOW!…if Bocanegra doesn’t have a working visa to play in the SPL this weekend (as is being reported) how could he be eligible to play against Maribor if the rules outlined above are correct?
Anyone?
Someone should inform Maribor lol
yep someone should and its quite remarkable why the scottish press have not picked up on this yet, the rules are there for a reason and should be adhered to. UEFA already can’t stand rangers football club so I have no doubt in my mind that they wouldn’t hesitate to pap them out.
That is the only way Maribor will qualify because they are a poor poor team, IMO us and Sion would batter them home and away.
There are rules for some and rules for others. Hun rules are dependent upon handshakes.