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SFA Fires Back at Rangers Over John Brown Sanction, Blasts ‘Misleading’ Claims in Fiery Rebuttal
The Scottish FA has issued a firm response to Rangers’ outspoken criticism of their recent disciplinary action, accusing the Ibrox club of spreading “misleading” narratives around the governing body’s judicial process.
Rangers were hit with a £3,000 fine by an independent tribunal after former player John Brown, providing live commentary on a Rangers TV broadcast during a match against Hibernian, labelled a controversial officiating call as “corrupt.” Despite a co-commentator’s attempt to temper his wording, Brown doubled down on his accusation during the broadcast.
Rangers reacted furiously to the punishment, calling it unjust and selective. In a lengthy statement, the club argued that similar remarks by individuals at other clubs had not resulted in disciplinary charges and suggested the decision undermined trust and transparency in the disciplinary process. They further claimed Brown’s outburst was spontaneous and part of the natural emotion of live punditry.
In a strongly worded reply, the Scottish FA defended the ruling, stressing that it followed the established rules and procedures agreed upon by all member clubs. The association noted that the independent panel’s written explanation will be made public soon but felt compelled to immediately address what it described as “inaccurate” and “misleading” commentary from Rangers.
To counter the claim of selective punishment, the SFA cited the recent case of Motherwell assistant manager Richard Foster, who received a six-game touchline ban for similarly inappropriate comments about officials.
Responding to Rangers’ complaints about inconsistent disciplinary outcomes, the SFA pointed out that the Compliance Officer has the authority to resolve less serious matters without escalating to formal disciplinary action. As an example, it referenced prior warnings issued to Rangers over the conduct of players Vaclav Cerny, Dujon Sterling, and Mohamed Diomande, noting that proportionality and discretion have been fundamental to the system since 2011.
The SFA also highlighted that Rangers are already represented on the Judicial Panel Protocol Working Group—a body aimed at improving understanding and application of disciplinary procedures.
The statement closed with a pointed reminder that the rule breached by Brown was introduced by clubs themselves in the aftermath of the referees’ strike in 2010, to safeguard the integrity of match officials and maintain respect for the role they play in the game.
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