Rangers braced for Uefa verdict on sectarian chanting charges

[ian1964 10,720]

Published Date: 28 April 2011

By Stephen Halliday

RANGERS are bracing themselves for the verdict of Uefa's Control and Disciplinary Body today when it rules on two charges of "discriminatory behaviour" by supporters of the Scottish champions.

The Ibrox club were reported to Uefa by independent organisation Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) for alleged sectarian chanting by fans at both legs of their Europa League round of 16 tie against PSV Eindhoven in March.

 

Rangers are vigorously defending the charges, although they are not entitled to appear at the hearing, which will take place at Uefa headquarters in Nyon. Chief executive Martin Bain has compiled a written submission, which will be considered.

 

Rangers have pointed out that Uefa's own match delegates, Iceland's Geir Thorsteinsson and William Campbell of Northern Ireland, who attended the fixtures, in Eindhoven on 10 March and at Ibrox seven days later, respectively, did not call for any charges to be brought.

 

If found guilty, Rangers could face a sanction ranging from a substantial fine to the closure of Ibrox for a number of their European games next season or even a suspension from European competition. Previous Uefa charges brought over the behaviour of Rangers supporters in recent years have increased the club's fears of a more severe punishment on this occasion.

 

In 2006, the Ibrox club were fined �£13,300 for discriminatory chanting by fans in a Champions League round of 16 tie against Villarreal and a further �£9,000 for an attack on the Spanish team's bus. A year later, they were fined �£8,280 because of crowd disorder at a Uefa Cup tie against Osasuna in Spain. Then in 2009, they received an �£18,000 fine for crowd trouble during a Champions League match against Unirea Urziceni in Bucharest.

 

The nine men of Uefa's Control and Disciplinary Body will decide Rangers' fate, which they expect to learn late this afternoon. The committee is chaired by Dr Thomas Partl of the Austrian FA. There are three vice-chairman in Danish FA chief executive Jim Stjerne Hansen, Jacques Anternen of Switzerland and Hungary's Sandor Berzi.

 

The remaining members are Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney, Dr Rainer Koch of the German FA, Romania's Ioan Angelo Lupesco, Joel Wolff of Luxembourg and Spain's Emilio Garcia Silvero.

 

http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Rangers-braced-for-Uefa-verdict.6759011.jp

[ian1964 10,720]

RANGERS will fight sectarian charges at UEFA today - knowing a defeat could see Ibrox closed for MORE than two games.

 

The SPL champs have been targeted over fans' chants at two Europa League clashes with PSV.

 

Anti-racism group FARE lodged a damning report with European football's governing body. If Gers hadn't launched the

 

challenge, led by chief executive Martin Bain, Ibrox would have been closed for two home Euro ties next season.

 

If they lose today's hearing in Switzerland, UEFA could even increase the punishment.

 

And that could cost hard-up Gers in excess of �£3million next term.

 

But senior sources last night insisted they had to launch a robust defence.

 

An insider said: "Rangers are challenging the way UEFA's gone about this and challenging the prosecution case. The basis is that both are based largely on FARE reports.

 

"The integrity of the evidence must be challenged as Rangers' legal team had no access to the person who wrote the report. FARE's assertion that the 'majority' of Gers fans were singing these songs had to be challenged.

 

"No one at Rangers has ever said that sectarian singing is not a problem but the claims must be put into perspective as the singing was not widespread or sustained."

 

The club is NOT allowed to attend the hearing and expect a verdict around 6pm. If UEFA hammer Gers, they will launch an appeal which would be heard within three weeks.

 

Meanwhile, the Rangers Supporters Trust has hit back at their Dundee United counterparts after they reported fans for alleged sectarian singing at Tannadice last week.

 

The RST issued a statement accusing United fans of using the term 'Hun' on Arabtrust websites.

 

It said: "There's no doubt it is an offensive sectarian insult."

 

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3551369/UEFA-fan-ban-D-Day.html#ixzz1KlqKgXqk

[Gers4Life 0]

I'm sure uefa will use us as the scape goat and I'm positive that we will more than likely get hit by a big fine, Rangers have also submitted a 20 page dossier on the clubs fight against trying to eradicate sectarianism at the club.

[ian1964 10,720]

RANGERS will fight sectarian charges at UEFA today - knowing a defeat could see Ibrox closed for MORE than two games.

 

The SPL champs have been targeted over fans' chants at two Europa League clashes with PSV.

 

Anti-racism group FARE lodged a damning report with European football's governing body. If Gers hadn't launched the

 

challenge, led by chief executive Martin Bain, Ibrox would have been closed for two home Euro ties next season.

 

If they lose today's hearing in Switzerland, UEFA could even increase the punishment.

 

And that could cost hard-up Gers in excess of �£3million next term.

 

But senior sources last night insisted they had to launch a robust defence.

 

An insider said: "Rangers are challenging the way UEFA's gone about this and challenging the prosecution case. The basis is that both are based largely on FARE reports.

 

"The integrity of the evidence must be challenged as Rangers' legal team had no access to the person who wrote the report. FARE's assertion that the 'majority' of Gers fans were singing these songs had to be challenged.

 

"No one at Rangers has ever said that sectarian singing is not a problem but the claims must be put into perspective as the singing was not widespread or sustained."

The club is NOT allowed to attend the hearing and expect a verdict around 6pm. If UEFA hammer Gers, they will launch an appeal which would be heard within three weeks.

 

Meanwhile, the Rangers Supporters Trust has hit back at their Dundee United counterparts after they reported fans for alleged sectarian singing at Tannadice last week.

 

The RST issued a statement accusing United fans of using the term 'Hun' on Arabtrust websites.

 

It said: "There's no doubt it is an offensive sectarian insult."

 

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3551369/UEFA-fan-ban-D-Day.html#ixzz1KlqKgXqk

 

Crazy not being allowed to represent yourself when allegations are made against you

[Super_Ally 0]

Crazy not being allowed to represent yourself when allegations are made against you

 

Or to know your accuser!

[Tannochsidebear 2,405]

Seems to me that anything less than them throwing the case out will result in us appealing so that we can pursue who it was that has reported us. The Sports court in Switzerland will not allow such pathetic accusations to go without seeing the credentials of the accuser, it is a basic right in law, just not UEFA's kind of law.

[bluebear54 0]

Seems to me that anything less than them throwing the case out will result in us appealing so that we can pursue who it was that has reported us. The Sports court in Switzerland will not allow such pathetic accusations to go without seeing the credentials of the accuser, it is a basic right in law, just not UEFA's kind of law.

 

I totally agree here. It may be that we will find some friends along the way to an appeal. UEFA are an extraordinarilly arrogant organisation, and should be brought to heel a wee bit. Too much of the tail wagging the dog for my liking.

Their laws, regulations and procedures should be more compliant with what exists for other businesses throughout Europe. Can you imagine a regulatory body turning round to - say Lloyds - and saying "Somebody told us that you've infringed our equality regulations, so you're now not allowed to open on Tuesdays?"

No? well, neither can I.

UEFA should start living in the real world. At the end of the day, our money keeps them in a job.

Edited April 28, 2011 by bluebear54

[metlika 0]

UEFA's appeal process in all matters is a total sham. You can't appeal red cards unless its mistaken identity even if person dived to get the person sent off, laughable process. The SFA aren't far behind especially after the McGregor case.