Rangers ‘lifetime bans’ expected as controversy takes new twist
Rangers fans are facing severe punishments after a section of supporters displayed a controversial banner during their game against Fenerbahce.
Barry Ferguson’s side beat the Turkish club on penalties to progress through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League earlier this month.
The Glasgow giants will now face Athletic Bilbao next month for a place in the semi-finals of the competition.
However, Rangers were charged by Uefa after a handful of supporters displayed what it described as a “racist and/or discriminatory banner” against Fenerbahce.
The Ibrox club have confirmed they are in the process of issuing lifetime bans for those responsible for the banner after it was confirmed the Copland Stand will be shut for one game if there is a repeat offence in a European game within the next two years.
Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider Uefa viewed the incident as a “serious” offence by the supporters in question.
Rangers have also been fined £25,000 for the banner, while further fines of £5,000 and £3,755 have been handed out for the blocking of passageways inside the stadium and the throwing of objects at the same game.
Rangers fans set for ‘harsh’ blow
Borson believes the lifetime bans being handed out to Rangers fans are “harsh” following the incident against Fenerbahce.
He told Football Insider: “The clubs have got a lot of leeway in terms of who they can refuse entry to.
“Actually, what I’ve seen in the past is that there are some scenarios where even people that have been charged by the police for disorder have then not been found guilty but have then still been banned.
“The clubs take it very seriously. There will usually be an appeal process within the club, but they’ll have no recourse outside of the club. If the club says you’re banned, you just have to see it out.
“If you’ve got a lifetime ban, then you are banned unless you can smuggle yourself in somehow on somebody else’s ticket. But of course, those other people risk losing their ticket.
“If it’s in another name, those other people then risk being banned or having their season tickets cancelled, so you’ve got to be quite careful about that.
“There is not a lot you can do except appeal to the club. This particular one does feel quite harsh to be banned for a banner. If that’s what the allegation is, it seems very harsh.
“Ultimately, it was seen by Uefa as a serious offence, but Uefa has historically had some odd views on what a serious offence is in this context and has taken fairly lenient approaches to other things like racism.
“It seems to have its priorities slightly mixed up.”
| Position | Team | Played | Points | GD |
| 1 | Celtic | 31 | 78 | +72 |
| 2 | Rangers | 31 | 65 | +35 |
Rangers ready stunning Marco Rose move
Football Insider revealed on 27 March Rangers are plotting a stunning move for Marco Rose to become the club’s next manager as he’s under pressure at RB Leipzig.
Prospective Rangers owner 49ers Enterprises has strong connections with Red Bull, which also has a significant investment in Leeds United.
Rose has spent the past three years with RB Leipzig, who currently sit sixth in the Bundesliga table after finishing fourth last season.
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