ian1964 10,486 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 Former SFA chief executive Gordon Smith Thursday May 31,2012 By Scott Burns GORDON SMITH fears that FIFA could give Scotlandâ??s World Cup hopes the boot if the Scottish Football Association buckle to Rangers and the courts. The gameâ??s governing body issued a statement yesterday that it was unhappy that Rangers had successfully appealed against their year-long transfer ban, imposed by an SFA judicial panel, in the Court of Session. The court has told the SFAâ??s judicial panel to look at other punishments because a block on signings wasnâ??t part of their remit. FIFA have been angered that Rangers have gone outside of football and have now told the SFA they will be watching with interest to see what happens because Scotlandâ??s national and club teams could suffer over if Rangers are not brought back into line. Former SFA chief executive Smith, who was also director of football at Rangers under Craig Whyte, warned: â??The SFA have been put in a very difficult position by FIFA. They always like football issues to be dealt with by their respective authorities. ì The SFA have been put in a very difficult position by FIFA. They always like football issues to be dealt with by their respective authorities î Former SFA chief executive Gordon Smith â??When I was at the SFA I was very much aware that FIFA didnâ??t like people going against their respective associations. That was always something that irked them and I think they have also thrown teams out of the World Cup because some countries had even tried to take FIFA on through the courts. â??I think they will be talking to the SFA and warning them that what happens with this case could have a real impact on the Scottish national teams. That is where FIFA could really use their force. We are about to start a World Cup campaign and FIFA could quite easily place sanctions against us if the SFA take on board the opinion of a court rather than just rejecting the ruling and dealing with Rangers through football channels. SEARCH FOOTBALL for: â??That was why I thought it might have been better for Rangers and Scotland to try and thrash something out rather than go down the legal route. There will certainly be ramifications if the SFA sit back and accept what the court has ruled.â? Former SFA chief executive Smith believes the SFA must now take advice from FIFA and not the courts or there could be serious repercussions for our game â?? which could see our domestic and international teams banned from the major tournaments. Swiss football faced a similar headache last season when Sion took on FIFA in the courts over their transfer ban and FIFAâ??s decision to kick them out of last seasonâ??s Europa League, handing Celtic their place in the group stages. â??I know the people at the SFA wouldnâ??t have wanted things to turn out this way because they also have the interests of Scottish football at heart to,â? Smith insisted. â??But because there has been a court ruling they will need to base their stance on what FIFA say. If it means taking strong action against Rangers to alleviate any sanctions on themselves then they are going to have to do that.â? Smith believes that the SFA would lose face if they were to remove the 12 month signing block. He believes the best way round it would be to keep the ban in place but to tinker with it slightly and allow Rangers only to bring in free transfers. â??The SFA now have to look at the sanction and put some other options in it,â? Smith admitted. â??The sanctions are fine but there should, maybe, have been conditions on them. â??Maybe keep the ban in place but only allow Rangers to sign free transfers. Also if Rangers were able to clear their football debts then the ban should be lifted all together. â??Other than that I would have only allowed Rangers to sign free transfers. To me that is still a major restriction to Rangers. Let us all remember that everybody at Rangers would still be punished and suffer. You also have to remember that there are a lot of innocent people there as well, like the current players and fans. I know other people will still see that Rangers would be getting off with it but that wouldnâ??t be the case. They are not being able to sign who they want and their signing options would be limited.â? http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/323491 Reply With Quote 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 the sfa brought this on themselves. I hope it destroys the sfa. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 FIFA didnt bring this on the SFA, the SFA did. Also, FIFA should be careful too because those in glass houses shouldnt throw stones. Just the other week one of their very own Vice Presidents was found to have used $15 million of FIFA's cash to create a "football academy" in his home nation (Trinidad & Tobago) and that the centre of excellence was put in the name of..... yep, the FIFA VP personally. Jack Warner has always been suspected of being a crook.... and it is now pretty blatant. Rangers are not the issue here and everyone would do well to remember that. We simply wanted to right a wrong. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aweebluesoandso 290 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 Why is Smith taking this line, is he speaking for Green or D&P? are the support being softened up for a major climdown by the club. Good god please let that not be true. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig 5,199 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 Why is Smith taking this line, is he speaking for Green or D&P? are the support being softened up for a major climdown by the club. Good god please let that not be true. It would actually make sense from a Green perspective. Prove that it was wrong but then accept the punishment - they get away without having to spend any money in the transfer market. You can just see it coming.... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovanAllan 0 Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Has everyone in the media became f#*king stupid overnight? The SFA broke their own rules the ban was illegal what is it about that, that they can't get their heads around. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
foggy dewhurst 0 Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 we as a club did the right and proper thing we looked after our club let the sfa deal with the corrupt fifa . 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 2,499 Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 I hope Rangers stand fast on this one as we are in our rights. Fuck the world cup we never qualify anyway and we are banned from Europe so no pain there. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aweebluesoandso 290 Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 It would actually make sense from a Green perspective. Prove that it was wrong but then accept the punishment - they get away without having to spend any money in the transfer market. You can just see it coming.... The Jury is still out on Green for most of the support, if one of the first things he does is lie down to the SFA on the verdict, when the club is in the right. Then he will have serious trouble getting their trust back, when he needs our cash. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovanAllan 0 Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 The Jury is still out on Green for most of the support, if one of the first things he does is lie down to the SFA on the verdict, when the club is in the right. Then he will have serious trouble getting their trust back, when he needs our cash. The rest of the Green deal I can live with, but I'm with you on this one mate he has to stand firm and tell the powers that be we won't take it anymore. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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