Livingston director Neil Rankine has been found guilty by the SFA of holding an interest in East Fife.
Despite a lengthy enquiry no punishment has yet been decided for Rankine or Livingston who are in bottom place in the Championship.
With Mike Ashley and Sevco up on a similar charge later this month the scale of the punishment for Livingston will be viewed as a marker for the Sevco charges.
A statement from the SFA read: “Rule 1 – By failing to act towards the Scottish FA with the utmost good faith by not disclosing to the Scottish FA that Neil Rankine, shareholder of Livingston 5 Ltd, the parent company of Livingston FC, also holds interests in East Fife FC.
“Rule 7 – By providing false, misleading and/or inaccurate information in respect of Neil Rankine’s eligibility as a fit and proper person by declaring in an Amendment to Official Return form, dated 11th November 2013, that there were no matters to be brought to the attention of the Scottish FA in terms of Article 10, nor any interest in any other club in membership of the Scottish FA in terms of Article 13, the truth being that Neil Rankine then held and continues to hold interests in East Fife FC in addition to his shareholding in Livingston FC through Livingston 5 Ltd;
“Rule 21 – By holding interests in East Fife FC, through Neil Rankine, shareholder of Livingston 5 Ltd, whereby Livingston FC holds power to influence the management or administration of East Fife FC.
“Rule 86 – Not acting in the best interests of Association Football by not disclosing to the Scottish FA that Neil Rankine, shareholder of Livingston 5 Ltd, also holds interests in East Fife FC.
“Outcome: All breaches established. The panel have continued the hearing until Friday, 13th February 2015, pending further submissions from the club.”
The West Lothian club are expected to raise the fact that Campbell Ogilvie’s wife was a major shareholder in Rangers (IL) while her husband was a director of Hearts and SFA office bearer as part of their submission.
