THE Scottish Premier League last night told Charles Green , Rangers' chief executive, to come up with the evidence to support his accusation that other clubs in Scotland paid players using Employee Benefit Trusts.
Green claimed earlier this week that "more than two" SPL clubs had employed EBTs but declined to name them. Only the Ibrox club's use of the tax-avoidance scheme is the subject of an SPL investigation, with the club accused of paying players for a decade without disclosing the full sums to the SPL and Scottish Football Association.
Rangers could be stripped of titles won between 2001 and 2010 if the charges against them are upheld. But the SPL has no evidence of any other club that may have broken its rules and exonerated Celtic, who had paid money to Juninho via an EBT in 2005 but did not breach any of the football authorities' rules.
"The Scottish Premier League notes the recent statement by Charles Green suggesting that a number of other clubs may have used EBTs," a statement issued by the league read last night. "If anyone has any evidence that any SPL rule has been broken by any club in relation to the use of EBTs they should pass that evidence to the SPL or to the Scottish FA so that their claims may be investigated.
"Separately, we have seen reports regarding an EBT in relation to a former player of Celtic FC. The SPL has investigated the arrangements and documentation in that case and has determined there is no evidence of any breach of SPL rules. The SPL has therefore decided that no further action should be taken."
The SPL also announced a date for the inquiry into alleged undisclosed payments by Rangers. It will begin on Tuesday, November 13, and is scheduled to sit for four days with a further two, from Tuesday, November 21, also set aside if required.
The hearing will take place without any representation from oldco or newco Rangers. Green revealed earlier this week that no-one from the club would attend because, in his view, the SPL had no legal power or authority over Rangers while the club is in the Scottish Football League.
The administrators of the oldco, Duff & Phelps, also issued a statement saying they would not appear at any hearings because the football club facing the accusations had been sold to Green.
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