McCoist given suspended ban, Green censured

Friday 31 August 2012

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has been handed a suspended three-match touchline ban for comments made about the Scottish Football Association judicial panel.

McCoist was found guilty of two of three charges by an SFA fast track tribunal today but his punishment is suspended for 12 months.

Chief executive Charles Green escaped with a censure for comments he made in the media claiming "bigotry" was one of the reasons his newco club were denied entry to the SPL.

McCoist was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute and not acting in the best interests of football for questioning the independence of the panel that handed Rangers a 12-month transfer embargo in April, before they were consigned to liquidation.A third charge relating to his demands that the three-man panel's identities were made public was dismissed.Rangers were censured for Green's comments, made before his newco club made their first appearance on the pitch, in a Ramsdens Cup clash in Brechin last month, since being denied entry to the SPL and voted into the Irn-Bru Third Division.In response to the transfer ban, which applies after Friday night, McCoist had asked: "Who are these people? I want to know who these people are."I'm a Rangers supporter and the Rangers supporters and the Scottish public deserve to know who these people are, people who are working for the SFA."Make no mistake about it, this is an SFA decision. They have appointed the panel, so therefore they are working for the SFA, but who are they?"I think we have a right to know who is handing out this punishment to us, I really do."The three panel members were later given security advice by police following alleged threats. McCoist condemned such behaviour but stood by his calls for transparency.McCoist said: "I can assure everyone that at no time did I intend to bring the game into disrepute when I made my feelings known about the decision by a judicial panel, set up under the auspices of the SFA, to impose a transfer embargo on Rangers."I felt the decision was wrong and my concern was that everyone must have full confidence in a system that has the capacity to impose such severe sanctions."I wanted full transparency on a decision which had far reaching implications for our club."At no time did I wish any individual subjected to intimidation as a result of my comments and I am pleased that this aspect of the complaint was dismissed by the judicial panel today."Green's offending comments came as he discussed decisions made over his club's league status."Some of it has been driven by bigotry, some of its been driven by jealousy and some of its been driven by all the wrong motives," Green said.Green said tonight: "The decision of the judicial panel was disappointing as they accepted there was no intention on my part to bring the game into disrepute and this is reflected in the sanction imposed."I explained to the SFA previously and have said publicly what I meant by my remarks and it is time to move on."

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McCoist given suspended ban, Green censured

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