Statement FC hit out with summer special over Ambassador Brown

Four weeks on from the last match of season 24/25 and five weeks before the 25/26 opener and it is Statement O’Clock at Ibrox. On the Sabbath of all days. For Ambassador Brown.

Finally the SFA have got round to charging their newest member club for the comments of club ambassador John Brown.

His main commentator, Tom Miller butted in to say ‘you can’t say that’ but the defiant Bomber Brown repeated his claim about a decision made by Nick Walsh.

Monday to Friday Walsh works on the education and fitness of the Murray Park starlets at Boclair Secondary School.

While club publications and broadcasts are naturally partisan there are clear boundaries over what can’t be said.

Brown crossed that line during the 2-2 draw with Hibs, his employers have now been served with a Notice of Complaint.

Rather than post a statement on their own website the Ibrox club prefer to issue comments from a club official to their favoured messengers.

The Daily Record reports:

Rangers FC has submitted a full response to the Scottish FA’s Notice of Complaint concerning a remark made during commentary of the Hibernian v Rangers match at the end of last season. The club firmly denies any breach of Scottish FA rules.

We are surprised that a complaint has been raised at all, given the context of the comment and the Scottish FA’s prior treatment of similar incidents.

Our response highlights that the Scottish FA’s own KMI Panel judged that the referee’s decision on the day was incorrect, with four out of five panel members agreeing that a goal should have been awarded to Rangers.

There is a world of difference between a mistake or error and using the term used by Ambassador Brown.

The statement to the Record added:

That finding helps explain the nature of a spontaneous emotional comment, delivered during a highly charged moment and immediately challenged live on air.

Our response also sets out serious concerns about the Scottish FA’s selective enforcement and inconsistency.

Here comes the paranoia bit:

We have highlighted multiple examples of similar or stronger remarks made elsewhere in Scottish football that have led to no charges or sanctions.

While we remain committed to maintaining high standards, we will continue to challenge any action we consider to be unfair or disproportionate.

For many supporters, this charge only adds to the wider frustration surrounding regulatory oversight in recent months when there are more serious issues in the game to tackle, including improving officiating standards for the benefit of Scottish football.

The club is likely to be severely censured about warned about their future conduct with no meaningful action taken by Ian Maxwell and the SFA.