Rangers to Monitor Club Broadcasts Following Fine Over Comment

Rangers have announced they will be scrutinizing the club’s TV broadcasts of rival teams after being fined £3,000 due to remarks made by former player John Brown. Brown made a spontaneous comment during a live broadcast, claiming that a decision by referees was “corrupt.”

The incident occurred during a match at Easter Road on May 17, where Brown was visibly upset after Rangers’ goal was disallowed. The goal was denied after Hibs defender Rocky Bushiri cleared what appeared to be a legitimate attempt on goal, with officials unable to determine if the ball had fully crossed the line. Brown expressed frustration, saying on air: “I would say it is corrupt,” in reference to the refereeing decision.

Despite the commentator’s controversial remark, other clubs had made similar comments without repercussions. Rangers, who were penalized for Brown’s words, argued that this sets a concerning precedent, especially since their internal guidelines for live coverage could serve as a model for others.

The club released a statement criticizing the inconsistency of disciplinary actions by the Scottish Football Association (SFA). They questioned whether the rules are applied fairly and consistently across all clubs, noting that many other comments, some more provocative, have gone unpunished. Rangers expressed intentions to contact the SFA’s leadership to clarify the policies and emphasize the need for equitable enforcement.

They highlighted the importance of transparent guidelines, especially given the passionate nature of live club broadcasts. Rangers maintained they did not breach SFA rules and believed the penalty was unjust, citing previous incidents where officials were criticized but no sanctions were applied.

The Scottish FA defended the referees involved, with Hampden’s head of referees endorsing their decision in this case, despite some evidence suggesting a goal might have been incorrectly disallowed. Recent reviews by officials acknowledged the difficulty in conclusively determining whether the ball crossed the line, emphasizing the challenges faced by VAR decisions.

Overall, Rangers expressed concern about inconsistent enforcement and vowed to monitor broadcasts more closely, advocating for fairness and clarity in disciplinary procedures across Scottish football.