FIFA set to step into Sevco dispute

FIFA are set to step into the Sevco crisis after the SFA refused to issue international clearance for five former Rangers players.

Steven Davis, Steven Whittaker, Steven Naismith, Steven Ness and Steven Lafferty have all had their transfers to new clubs blocked.

To no-one’s surprise the SFA have backed out of making a decision on the international clearance despite having one of the sharpest administrators in the game on board in the form of President Campbell Ogilvie.

Following the decision to liquidate Rangers on June 12 Charles Green bought the assets for his Sevco club and announced that he’d be applying TUPE regulations to transfer over the contracts of employees of the old club.

Players Union chief Fraser Wishart highlighted the fact that no-one was obliged to transfer over to Sevco with Davis, Whittaker, Naismith, Ness and Lafferty announcing their intention to move on.

Last month Wishart revealed: “Should the Players wish to transfer across to the newco, TUPE ensures that they do so on their existing contractual terms.

“Equally TUPE affords every employee the statutory right to object to the transfer; employers cannot select which parts of TUPE they wish to apply.

“If a Player wishes to object to being transferred his contract of employment would immediately come to an end leaving him with no contract, no dismissal and no right to compensation from either oldco or newco.

“Both the Club and the Player are then free from their contractual obligations.”

It would be a major surprise if the PFA, Everton, Southampton, Norwich, Sion and Stoke City has misinterpreted the TUPE regulations.

FIFA’s involvement in this dispute may bring some unwelcome attention to the way that the SFA have acted over the last few months and their desire to shoe-horn Sevco into Division One of the SFL going against almost all rules of the game for liquidated clubs.

CLICK HERE for SFL clubs to be denied Sevco vote

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