Aberdeen fans stage Hampden protest against SPL’s Nimmo Smith report
On route to Hamilton to watch Derek McInnes’ side in action they unfurled a banner outside the National Stadium which read: ‘YOU MAY HAVE DUPED LNS BUT NOT US. NEW ENQUIRY.’
Earlier this month the Court of Session returned a 3-0 verdict in favour of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in The Big Tax case against Rangers (IL).
HMRC had pursued the matter in respect of £47m of payments given to players, management and officials of the Ibrox club.
In March 2012 the SPL appointed William Nimmo Smith to hold an enquiry into all payments made by Rangers since July 1998- when the SPL started.
For unknown reasons the report by Nimmo Smith covered a period starting in November 2000 overlooking the Wee Tax Case involving payments made to Tore Andre Flo and Ronald de Boer who joined the club before that date.
Despite finding the club guilty of not disclosing all contractual payments to players Nimmo Smith concluded that a £250,000 fine was sufficient for a decade of financial doping. Nimmo Smith based much of his conclusion on a First Tier Tax Tribunal that ruled against HMRC on a 2-1 verdict.
With the Court of Session deeming the payments taxable with the club gaining an unfair sporting advantage pressure is now on clubs to demand that the Nimmo Smith enquiry is revisited.
BDO has until December 2 to appeal against the Court of Session decision, Aberdeen will hold their shareholders Annual General Meeting on December 7.
CLICK HERE for more details on Nimmo Smith report.