Football News: SFA charge for Ashley and Rangers

Newcastle owner and Rangers shareholder Mike Ashley is facing two charges from the SFA over his involvement in the running of Rangers.

The first charge is a breach of disciplinary rule 19, which states that "except with the prior written consent of the board no person [who] has any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration or a club, may at the same time either directly or indirectly (a) be a member of another club; or (b) be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of another club; or (c) have any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration of another club."

A second charge accuses Ashley of breaching disciplinary rule 77, which states, "A recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall, at all times, act in the best interests of Association Football".

With Ashley having been able to influence events at the Glasgow club in recent months, it is difficult to see how he can argue he is not in breach of rule 19.

The question remains though, what exactly can the SFA do to punish him, what powers do they possess to force him to sell his stake in one of the clubs, if necessary?

With Rangers already in financial turmoil, relying on loans from Ashley to see the season out, the manager Ally McCoist having handed in his notice (and received a significant pay rise in the process for doing so), this is a worrying time for fans of the fallen Scottish giant.

Written by Tris Burke December 17 2014 05:39:20