THE SPFL was remaining tight lipped last night after its board met by conference call to consider the ramifications of this week's decision of the Court of Session in relation to the use of Employee Benefit Trusts at Rangers. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs won its appeal on Wednesday morning against the Ibrox club's former parent company's use of a controversial tax scheme between 2001 and 2010, raising a number of questions as to whether the scheme gave the Ibrox side an unfair sporting advantage during those years.
While a previous investigation by the football governing bodies ruled that it did not, that commission focused mainly on the club’s use of undisclosed side letters to the players in question rather than the tax legality of the payments themselves. It was, of course, also before this week's Court of Session determination that the EBTs were in fact taxable. Sir David Murray, whose Murray International Holdings (MIH) formerly owned Rangers, could yet appeal that verdict if permission is sought before December 2. In a related matter, there remains an outstanding fine of £250,000 which was imposed on Rangers for the non-disclosure of player payments from 2001 to 2010. While newco Rangers assumed liability for the liquidated company’s football debts when the club’s SFA membership was transferred in July 2012, Rangers and the SPFL have differing opinions as to whether the fine should affect the current Ibrox regime. With associated legal costs, that figure is now thought to be closer to £400,000.
The SPFL board will reconvene at the end of the month but until then they are keeping their cards close to their chest. The board comprises chief executive Neil Doncaster, chairman Ralph Topping, Aberdeen's Duncan Fraser, Celtic's Eric Riley and Dundee United's Stephen Thompson, along with Eric Drysdale or Raith Rovers, Mike Mulraney of Alloa Athletic and Ken Ferguson of Brechin City. "The SPFL can confirm that its Board held a short conference call this afternoon to allow for a factual update on the recent decision of the Inner House of the Court of Session," a statement read.
Rangers won a total of 15 major titles during those years, including no fewer than five Premier League titles, but the club are adamant that they will be unaffected. "There is no question of any liability impacting on our Club, its history or any member of the Rangers International Football Club plc Group," they said in a statement.
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