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‘Corruption’ Storm Lands Rangers in £3k SFA Fine as Club Warns Governing Body Will Be ‘Watched Closely’ Over Inconsistencies
Rangers have lashed out at the Scottish FA after being fined £3,000 due to explosive comments made by club legend John Brown during live match commentary, where he referred to a controversial refereeing decision as “corrupt.”
The remarks were made during the Ibrox side’s final Premiership fixture of last season against Hibernian, when a goal by Nicolas Raskin was not awarded despite appearing to have crossed the line before being cleared by Hibs defender Rocky Bushiri. With no VAR intervention—citing inconclusive angles—Hibs soon drew level, sparking fury from Brown, who exclaimed, “I would say it is corrupt,” during his appearance on Rangers TV. Co-commentator Tom Miller attempted to defuse the moment, but Brown doubled down: “Well, I am saying it.”
Following a post-match review, the SFA’s incident panel determined the goal should have stood. However, instead of addressing the refereeing failure, the SFA opted to penalise Rangers for breaching Disciplinary Rule 38 due to Brown’s remarks—despite them being unscripted and not part of the club’s official communication.
In response, Rangers issued a stinging statement, rejecting any wrongdoing and highlighting what they believe to be a growing pattern of inconsistency in the governing body’s disciplinary process. They defended Brown’s emotional reaction as that of a lifelong supporter, not an official spokesperson, and condemned the ruling as disproportionate.
The club also noted multiple cases where rival teams have made similarly strong, even harsher, statements through official channels without facing sanctions. These examples, Rangers argue, expose a double standard in how the SFA enforces its rules.
Rangers now demand full transparency from the Scottish FA and are seeking direct answers from the organisation’s leadership. The club has vowed to scrutinise how disciplinary procedures are applied across all member clubs, warning that any rule lacking consistent enforcement is at risk of losing credibility.
Furthermore, Rangers renewed their call for the urgent implementation of goal-line technology in Scottish football, citing the Raskin incident as a glaring example of the system’s necessity.
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