THE SFA have dropped charges against Rangers concerning their application for a licence to play in Europe in 2011/12.

The Scottish football governing body were considering taking the Ibrox club to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but in a statement today they revealed that the case has been closed. 

Former SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennon issued Rangers with two charges in June 2018 after sworn statements made in court during the trial of former owner Craig Whyte revealed that the board at Ibrox had been made aware in January, 2011, of money owed to HMRC regarding what became known as the Wee Tax Case, when payments were made to several players under the Discounted Option Scheme in an attempt to avoid paying tax.

UEFA insists that all clubs taking part in their competitions must declare overdue tax payable. However, Rangers claimed in their submission for a licence in 2011 that they had no overdue payables and that they were “in discussions” over a disputed tax bill.

However, the Ibrox legal team successfully argued that the case would need to be dealt with by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

After almost two years of deliberations and legal advice, the SFA board has unanimously decided not to pursue the case in the Swiss-based court.

A statement from the SFA read: "A Judicial Panel convened to consider a Notice of Complaint raised against Rangers FC in 2018 - in relation to alleged new evidence regarding representations received prior to the awarding of a European licence for season 2011/12 - determined at a preliminary hearing that it did not have jurisdiction to determine the matter.

"Instead, it concluded that jurisdiction lay with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"Following consideration of the implications of such a referral, including legal opinion, it was the board’s unanimous position that this matter should not be referred to CAS.

"The Scottish FA now considers the matter to be closed."