Rangers have a point about the SFA and their 'nothing to do with us mate' stance on SPFL row - Hugh Keevins

The clue is always in the title for me. The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of the game in this country. “Nothing to do with us, mate,” is not a satisfactory degree of governance in my estimation.

But that was the rough outline of what the SFA’s chief executive Ian Maxwell had to say at their AGM on Tuesday about the ongoing and long-running row between the SPFL and Rangers over the contentious league sponsorship deal with used car sales firm cinch. Rangers want the SFA to launch an investigation into what they say is the reputational damage and financial losses they have incurred throughout the legal process that has led to the terms of that deal being redrawn.

Rangers are like that – but they do have a point about the SFA. On the one hand the governing body’s public face said: “Disputes can’t be good for the public’s perception of the game. You need to get round the table and sort things out.” On the other hand? The verbal equivalent of “Nothing to do with us, mate”.

There has to be a contradiction in terms there somewhere. If Ian’s concerned about the optics then how will it look if, hypothetically, Rangers win the league title in the season that lies ahead? They’ll get their sponsorship money in full, as per the terms of the redrafted agreement.

But on the day of the league flag presentation there would be no visible sign of the league sponsors’ name anywhere inside Ibrox. It’ll be a DIY presentation like the season before last, all home-made flag and choreography from B&Q. But Maxwell ruled out any chance of arbitration involving the top organisation within our game by saying: “If there’s a breach of regulations we get involved. We would not get involved in anything outside of that. You would