Furious Rangers demand apology from Raith for rule breach allegation
Friday 4 September 2015 12:31, UK
Rangers have demanded an apology from Raith Rovers for their allegation that the Ibrox club breached SFA rules by asking for and securing the early release of a player from international duty.
Rangers made a request on Monday for Ryan Hardie to return to Glasgow after the first of two U19 friendlies in Bulgaria so he would be available for Saturday's Championship game with Raith.
He was consequently given permission to leave the Scotland squad early and will look to add to his one substitute appearance for his club this season.
Sky sources understand Raith's grievance stems from the fact they are unwilling to pay the money required for their own player in the touring pool, Craig Wighton, to come home too.
With Rangers having financed Hardie's return flights to Scotland, Raith think their opponents have been given an unfair advantage.
But a statement on the Rangers website insists "there are no grounds for Raith Rovers' allegation that a rule breach may have been committed.
"Rangers also consider that Raith Rovers' spurious claim could have besmirched the honour of assistant manager David Weir by making specific reference to him.
"Neither Rangers nor David Weir acted wrongly in requesting the return from Under-19 Scotland duty of Ryan Hardie. This was done with the approval of the SFA, within the rules and in the full knowledge that Raith Rovers would be offered the same opportunity to bring Craig Wighton, their loan player from Dundee, home.
The very thought that David Weir, who served his country with great distinction winning 69 caps, might have been trying to undermine an international side is preposterous.
"They declined but then issued a statement alleging Rangers has somehow broken the rules. This action is baffling.
"Rangers, as many other clubs have done in the past, acted within the rules and the very thought that David Weir, who served his country with great distinction winning 69 caps, might have been trying to undermine an international side is preposterous.
"Rangers has also written directly to Raith Rovers chief executive Eric Drysdale seeking to understand his club's motive behind such vexatious action and an apology to David is the very least Raith Rovers should be offering."
