2016 Scottish Cup Final - Hibernian FC v Rangers

[scoobles]

FOLLOWING yesterday’s Judicial Panel decision Rangers will be demanding urgent clarification from the Scottish FA over how they intend ensuring the safety of players and officials participating in this season’s Scottish Cup. The Club has been left shocked by the SFA’s approach to this vital safety issue and by the decision not to seek sanctions in respect of the assaults by Hibernian supporters on Rangers players and officials at the end of the Cup Final last May.

The Scottish FA must have a basic duty of care to ensure the safety of players and officials in matches played in their competitions and at Hampden.

Rangers were surprised and disappointed by the nature of the charges brought by the association believing them fundamentally flawed from the outset and cannot understand why the focus seemed to be on compensating the association for damage to Hampden Stadium and items such as advertising hoardings and LED panels rather than ensuring the safety of players and officials. Rangers are concerned that adopting this approach will not dissuade supporters of other Clubs from coming onto the field of play and/or assaulting players and officials.

Rangers were also astonished by the fact Hibernian, whose Chairman Rod Petrie is Vice-president of the Scottish FA, were permitted to engage the SPFL’s solicitor to fight the charges being brought by the SFA. Using the legal adviser to one of Scottish Football’s two governing bodies to defend charges brought by the other is worrying enough for those concerned with the good governance and integrity of Scottish Football, but it is even more disturbing when the party at the centre of the conflict also has a foot in both camps and is scheduled to become the SFA’s President. Rangers are also extremely disappointed at Mr Petrie’s continued failure to issue an apology in respect of the assaults on our players and officials.

At the time of the Cup Final Rangers shared the outrage and concern expressed by the Scottish FA Chief Executive Stewart Regan. He was very clear: ‘It was appalling. In the UK this is one of the worst incidents of its kind I’ve seen.’

However, four months on from the Final, the Scottish FA have still not held a formal de-brief. Sheriff Bowen has prepared and issued a report. Rangers were pleased to provide evidence to Sheriff Bowen and offered guidance from our own very experienced security team on the failings in policing and stewarding at the match. Rangers remain disappointed and concerned that the report did not address many of the issues raised by our security team. The concerns were raised not to attack individuals for what had happened but with a view to avoiding any repetition of these issues. Rangers would hope all of Scottish Football would be united in agreeing this is paramount.

The continued failure to deal properly and promptly with issues surrounding the Cup Final is alarming and a stain on Scottish football. The SFA must confront and learn from the issues that arose. Rangers owe it to our players and supporters to ensure that the Scottish FA’s duty of care is upheld and that those with authority in Scottish Football create a safe environment for the game.

It should be understood Rangers will not tolerate any of their employees being attacked with impunity.

[scoobles]

No edit on phone so all I can say is 'ah diddums '

[Dudu Dahan pal]

Imagine they put as much effort into saving their club as they do their statements. Then maybe they wouldn't be in this mess. Shame. Real shame.

[marty_j]

10 hours ago, Dunning1874 said:

Utterly stunned that Stranger Dangers are unable to grasp the very simple point that Hibs simply can't be punished for the actions of their fans because we don't have Strict Liability, something the SFA or SPFL can only introduce with the consent of the clubs. They put it to a vote in 2013 and what club was among the many who voted against it? That'll be Rangers then.

^^^ This

[Monkey Tennis]

13 hours ago, Zing. said:

IBROX fan chiefs have blasted the Scottish FA for failing to provide a deterrent against future pitch invasions after they closed the case on the Hampden riots.

Rangers and Hibernian were last night cleared by a Judicial Panel that was reviewing the aftermath of May’s Scottish Cup final that saw thousands of supporters storm the park at the full-time whistle.

More than 70 arrests have been made in recent months after damage was caused to goalposts, advertising boards and the pitch and fights broke out before mounted Police were able to restore order.

Several Rangers players and staff were caught up in the ugly scenes and the Gers board have been highly critical of the SFA for their handling of the situation.

Both clubs were charged under Disciplinary Rule 311 but the case against Rangers was thrown out after it was determined that Hibs would face no further action.

A vote three years ago ruled out the prospect of ‘strict liability’ legislation being introduced but the Light Blue legions have hit out at the SFA’s stance.

Club 1872 spokesman Craig Houston told SportTimes: “The fact that none of the charges mentioned attacking Rangers supporters and players is odd because that would suggest that the SFA don’t see that to be an issue. That is unbelievable.

“The fact that the Vice President of the SFA, Mr Rod Petrie, who is also the chairman of Hibs, commented after the game that it was no more than ‘over-exuberance’ seems to be backed up by these findings.

“Basically the SFA have stated that the behaviour at Hampden that day is unpunishable and the fear is that the floodgates have now opened in terms of what is actually acceptable at a football match.

“There is absolutely nothing to make fans think twice now about running onto the park during a game that the SFA are governing. If there is no punishment to their club, there is nothing to prevent repeats of this going forward.

“Nobody would think that what happened after the cup final is acceptable but the SFA have put nothing in place to prevent it and to deter people going forward.

“People across the world will find it quite astonishing that the investigation found nothing wrong with the reactions of the Hibernian supporters."
 

People across the world  

 

Craig Houston, Chris Graham.

All the biggest wallopers are at their best over this.

[williemillersmoustache]

This one is right up there with the time they complained about a financial punishment being unfair, then it turns out they asked for it specifically. 

Just fluffing the spiky and damaged pride of the puddle drinkers that go. Shameful stuff and a shame for all the reasonable bears out there. It's embarrassing how much they don't like it up them and when they don't just get their own way.

Oh well, they'll be nearly 5 soon and at school next year. Hopefully that'll sort them out.

[chazas_]

After providing so much hilarity in the past I'm starting to find Sevco painfully boring now. Wish they'd just f**k off and die for good this time. I would be interested in seeing evidence of their players being attacked though.

[GordonD]

Have Rangers actually come out and named the players and officials they claim were assaulted? In the immediate aftermath of the incident they said it was every single one of them, but had to backtrack from that when a couple of players made it clear they hadn't been touched. I suppose that as long as they don't name names they don't have to supply proof and can keep on making accusations that they don't have to substantiate.

[Monkey Tennis]

The statement is just joyous.

It's been established that these mass assaults on players and officials, quite simply did not take place.  The players themselves and even their family members have basically put the record straight and yet the club peddles the big lie.

It's staggering really.

[mjw]

It should be understood Rangers will not tolerate any of their employees being attacked with impunity.

Jim Traynor going all Football Factory.

[Dudu Dahan pal]

I'm very surprised hibs haven't asked both rangers and The daily record for CLARIFICATION over which players were attacked and proof that they were. I'm surprised we are letting them run their mouth off with unsubstantiated claims that simply aren't true. If I was Rod Petrie I'd be fizzing and looking to take legal action about their false allegations. I can't work out if we are playing it really well staying quiet and watching them self implode or whether I want us to take them to task and publicly humiliate them yet again.

[GordonD]

Hibs doing the right thing by keeping a dignified silence.

[mizfit]

Who'd have thought Hibs winning the cup would've caused such scenes? 

[mjw]

Who'd have thought Hibs winning the cup would've caused such scenes? 

It's probably a good thing they don't make a habit of it.
They've left the berrs in tatters.

[Dunning1874]

Now that the SFA charges have been dropped surely it's time for Hibs to start speaking up? Obviously it's a difficult one as they don't want to give the impression that they're defending the Hibs fans who did actually get in fights, but a carefully worded statement challenging the Daily Record to provide evidence of assaults or stop slandering them would be reasonable.

Rangers do have a point about the debrief, but otherwise it's the usual blinkered seethe we've come to expect from them, refusing to acknowledge the transgressions of their own fans.

[WILLIEA]

1 hour ago, GordonD said:

Hibs doing the right thing by keeping a dignified silence.

Agreed.

It's weird how  of all the clubs in the country there is only one who is addicted to issuing statements.

I'm glad they do 'though! It's Monty Pythonesque in it's absurdity

[King_Of_Kings]

[resk]

"Formal debrief" FFS. It wasn't fkin Hillsborough. Nobody died ya d*cks.

[Hammer Jag]

Will Rangers be able to give us assurances that none of their fans will enter the field of play and attack jubilant fans in this season's Scottish Cup?

[WILLIEA]

10 minutes ago, Hammer Jag said:

Will Rangers be able to give us assurances that none of their fans will enter the field of play and attack jubilant fans in this season's Scottish Cup?

And! In one sentence we have an accurate summation of what actually happened that day