
SFA hit back at Rangers over John Brown 'corrupt' fine row
Appearing on Rangers TV that day, he said: "I would say it's corrupt."
Tom Miller quickly responded: "I'm not sure we can actually say that."
"Well I am saying it," Brown added. "That's a disgrace and it's the worst decision I've seen in all the years I've been in football."
The SFA handed out a £3,000 fine to the Ibrox club after they were found to be in breach of the rules following the incident.
Rangers issued a strongly worded statement on Thursday evening in response, as they insisted they would be watching proceedings closely relating to content produced by club TV channels of other Scottish clubs.
Now, the SFA has maintained the charge was rightly passed down in line with the rulebook, as they reminded clubs of 'their responsibilities'
"We note Rangers' response to the determination of a recent independent Judicial Panel Tribunal," an SFA spokesperson said. "In the interests of accuracy, we wish to address some of the misleading comments contained therein:
"The sanction imposed by an independent panel was entirely in keeping with the application of the rules.
"The most recent and relevant example of a similar breach, the sanction imposed on Richard Foster of Motherwell FC for comments of a similar nature in the media, attests to that.
Read more:
"Furthermore, to address the comments regarding 'rationale behind differing outcomes', we wish to point to the fact that investigations were undertaken in previous cases outlined and that the Compliance Officers of the time saw fit to issue a censure by way of warning letter for potential breaches deemed insufficiently serious to be progressed to a Notice of Complaint.
"This system of proportionality has been adopted since the inception of the Judicial Panel Protocol in 2011.
"Indeed, such discretion was exercised last season when the Compliance Officer wrote to the club to warn of the future conduct of players following matters involving Vaclav Cerny, Dujon Sterling and Mohamed Diomande.
"We also note that Rangers intend to contact the association to seek clarity on the Judicial Panel Protocol and its application.
"The club is, in fact, already represented on the JPP Working Group.
"We have requested written reasons from the panel chair involved in the tribunal and in the interests of transparency, will publish in due course.
"JPP Rule 38 was introduced in response to the referee strike of 2010, when match officials campaigned for greater protection after enduring sustained personal criticism from clubs and fans.
"Ahead of a new season, we remind clubs of their responsibilities in this regard."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Herald Scotland
21 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Joanna Cherry could be called in Moira Salmond legal case
The former First Minister raised a compensation claim of £3million against SNP ministers almost two years ago over a flawed sexual misconduct investigation by the Scottish Government. A Holyrood committee investigated the mishandling of the complaints and also found that there were serious shortcomings. The legal case concerns possible "misfeasance" - a civil law term meaning the wrongful exercise of lawful authority - by officials while Nicola Sturgeon was First Minister and was paused following Mr Salmond's sudden death in October last year. READ MORE: On Sunday, it emerged that Mrs Salmond's resolve to proceed with the case was strengthened by attacks on her late husband in Ms Sturgeon's memoirs, Frankly, published last week. Writing on X, Ms Cherry, who was a close ally of Mr Salmond and is a prominent critic of Ms Sturgeon, welcomed the report that the case is to resume. "It's important that this action continues," wrote the former SNP MP on X. "Misfeasance in public office is a very serious matter. The Scottish Parliament inquiry was hamstrung and partisan politicians had the wool pulled over their eyes. A court of law will be very different." Ms Cherry revealed last week that she is writing a book about her time in frontline politics when Ms Sturgeon was First Minister. The manuscript is due to be completed this autumn with the book due to be published next year. Referring to Ms Sturgeon's government's policies on gender self-declaration, which she opposed, she wrote: "I have a lot more to say about this in the book I'm currently writing although my take is slightly different." She later continued: "In her political afterlife as in her political life Nicola evades scrutiny. For those hoping to understand better what was really going on behind the scenes during her leadership, this memoir will disappoint. It will be left to others to spill the beans." A family friend told the Sunday Mail that Mrs Salmond was "upset and angered by the continued attempts to smear Alex in the book" with "ridiculous and inaccurate" allegations. "It has only strengthened her resolve to make sure the full truth comes out and Alex's name is cleared," they told the paper. Now executor of Mr Salmond's estate, his widow has assembled a legal team including a KC and two junior counsel and has raised money to fund the case. The friend added: "Her case against the government is now live, the legal team is in place, the finance in place and this will be going ahead, no question of that. "Alex may not be here to defend himself but his family are determined to stand up to those who continue to attack him." Ms Sturgeon's book includes strongly disputed claims Mr Salmond opposed gay marriage, failed to read the 650-page independence white paper and that he or an aide acting on his behalf may have been responsible for the leak to the Daily Record about the Scottish Government investigation into complaints against him. She also denied there had been any "conspiracy" to ruin Mr Salmond's reputation - a claim the former Alba Party leader maintained until his death at the age of 69. Ms Sturgeon said her former mentor "would have rather destroyed the SNP than see it succeed without him". She also claimed he "impugned the integrity of the institutions at the heart of Scottish democracy - government, police, Crown Office", adding: "He was prepared to traumatise, time and again, the women at the centre of it all." Ms Sturgeon and Mr Salmond fell out dramatically in 2018 after it emerged her government had investigated misconduct complaints made against him by two female civil servants. Mr Salmond had the probe struck down at the Court of Session as unfair, unlawful and "tainted by apparent bias", and was awarded £512,000 in legal costs. He was later cleared of 13 sexual assault charges at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2020. He launched the Alba Party as a rival to the SNP a year later. The former First Minister, who admitted he could have behaved better towards women on occasions, had always denied any criminality. He sued the Scottish Government in November 2023 alleging there had been misfeasance by various civil servants under Ms Sturgeon and sought damages of around £3million. Promising a "day of reckoning", he said at the time: "Not one person has been held accountable. With this court action that evasion of responsibility ends." In a Court of Session hearing last August, Mr Salmond's lawyer said the police were probing whether one senior civil servant "gave a false statement under oath" to a Holyrood inquiry that was probing how the sexual harassment claims were handled. The civil action was frozen when Mr Salmond suffered a fatal heart attack in North Macedonia. But Mrs Salmond's legal team is now reactivating proceedings. A spokesman for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service told The Herald that the case had been "sisted" until 19 September. He added: "Following this date the parties would advise the court, if they are ready to proceed or if they are requesting a further sist to the case." The Scottish Government has previously vowed to defend itself "robustly" in court. Last night a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'It would not be appropriate to comment on live litigation.' The SNP was approached for comment.

Leader Live
29 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Rangers facing Champions League exit after early collapse against Club Brugge
In a nightmare beginning to the first leg, Gers defender Nasser Djiga inexplicably allowed a long ball past him in the third minute and grateful visiting striker Romeo Vermant coolly lofted the ball over stranded goalkeeper Jack Butland. And further strikes from Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele had the visitors 3-0 up after just 20 minutes. A disastrous start for Rangers 😫 A huge mix-up between the back line, gives Romeo Vermant a chance and he takes full advantage finishing brilliantly 💥 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 19, 2025 Brazilian striker Danilo pulled a goal back four minutes after the break and the home side rallied, but the Belgian outfit stood firm. The return game against Nicky Hayen's men in Belgium next Wednesday will require a huge turnaround, albeit the Govan club are assured Europa League group phase football at least. Wins over Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen in previous qualifiers revealed flaws in Russell Martin's new-look Gers side and raised concerns in the stands, as did back-to-back draws to start the William Hill Premiership campaign. And once again the former Southampton boss incurred the ire of the Light Blue legions. Martin made 10 changes for Saturday's 4-2 Premier Sports Cup victory over Alloa and seven for the visit of the Belgian outfit. The news that elicited the most surprise was that 19-year-old England youth international Jayden Meghoma, who signed on loan from Brentford on Sunday, went straight in at left-back with Max Aarons preferred to experienced club captain James Tavernier at right-back. Jack Butland, John Souttar, Mohamed Diomande, Oliver Antman, Djeidi Gassama, and Nicolas Raskin all returned. Greece international Christos Tzolis, who scored for Greece against Scotland at Hampden Park in March and who has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace, started for the visitors, while former Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet was in goal. All eyes were on Meghoma, who spent last season on loan at Preston, and he started positively. But a horror mistake by Djiga allowed Tzolis' pass to give Vermant an easy finish which stunned everyone inside the ground. The Gers fans were coming to terms with the needless loss of a goal when Tzolis' corner from the right was knocked past Butland by the unmarked Spileers from 12 yards. The boos that rang round the ground intensified when Mechele, making his 500th appearance for Brugge, stepped all too easily in front of Danilo just outside the Rangers box and gave Butland no chance with an arrowed right-footed drive. Light Blues midfielder Joe Rothwell clipped the outside of a post with a free-kick from 25 yards in the 26th minute. But it was not the signal for a comeback as Butland brilliantly beat away a drive from Carlos Forbes, with the home defence again split open. A three-goal deficit at the break left the Gers support in a state of shock but they got a lifeline when Danilo slid in to convert an enticing cross from Meghoma. Brugge stepped up the pace and amid a flurry of corners, Butland made a fine from Joel Ordonez. Gassama's angled-drive skipped inches past the far post before Mohamed Diomande and Danilo were replaced by Hamza Igamane and Thelo Aasgaard. Gassama had the ball in the Brugge net in the 78th minute but French referee Francois Letexier was asked by VAR to check his pitchside monitor and quickly decided that Mignolet had the ball in his hand before it was bundled into the net. The Light Blues second-half display was heartening but it was a chastening first 20 minutes which keeps the spotlight on Martin.


The Herald Scotland
30 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Wednesday's briefing: Alexander Isak goes public and Rangers suffer big setback
On the pitch, Rangers' hopes of reaching the Champions League took a major hit. Isak: 'The relationship can't continue' Eddie Howe's chances of a reconciliation with Alexander Isak look very bleak after the striker's statement (John Walton/PA) Isak made clear his determination to leave Newcastle this summer as he issued a statement on Instagram that concluded: 'When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue.' But Newcastle quickly responded with a statement saying no commitment was ever made by a club official that the Sweden striker could leave this summer and that they 'have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired'. However, the club left the door open for Isak to 'be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his teammates'. Salah and Caldentey named PFA players of the year Mohamed Salah won a record third PFA men's player of the year award (Martin Rickett/PA) Liverpool star Mohamed Salah collected his record third PFA men's player of the year award, with Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey collecting the women's accolade at a ceremony in Manchester on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Egypt international scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists as Arne Slot's Reds stormed to last season's Premier League title. 'I look at myself now, a guy coming from Egypt and making it to the top level, making history today, it's something that makes me so proud,' Salah said. The women's award went to Caldentey, who joined Arsenal from Barcelona last summer and scored 19 goals in all competitions, helping the Gunners lift the Champions League. 'Everyone at the club has made it so easy for me and they helped me from the start and it just feels like home and I'm happy to be here,' she said. Rangers have it all to do Rangers had a night to forget (Steve Welsh/PA) Rangers suffered a nightmare start to the first leg of their Champions League play-off against Club Brugge. Gers defender Nasser Djiga inexplicably allowed a long ball past him in the third minute and grateful visiting striker Romeo Vermant coolly lofted over stranded goalkeeper Jack Butland, before further strikes from Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele had the visitors 3-0 up after just 20 minutes. Brazilian striker Danilo pulled a goal back four minutes after the break but the Belgian side will have a two-goal cushion for next week's return leg. Gers boss Russell Martin insisted: 'The tie is still open and the players feel that.' Agyemang heads back to Brighton on loan England's Michelle Agyemang will spend a second season on loan at Brighton (Nick Potts/PA) England forward Michelle Agyemang has returned to Brighton for a second season-long loan spell from Arsenal, having scored five goals in 22 games for the club last term. The 19-year-old scored two vital equalisers in the knock-out rounds at Euro 2025 to propel the Lionesses into the Basel final, where they successfully defended their title in a penalty shootout victory over Spain. Agyemang was named young player of the tournament after her breakthrough campaign, and has been nominated for the women's Kopa trophy at this year's Ballon d'Or awards. What's on today? Celtic are up against Kazakh side Kairat in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying play-off in Glasgow. Oliver Glasner will hold a preview press conference for a game Crystal Palace hoped they would not be playing – their Conference League play-off first leg against Fredrikstad – and will be sure to face questions on the future of Eberechi Eze. Bolton host Reading among a handful of EFL and National League matches.