A Scottish FA judicial panel investigating the crowd trouble following last season’s Scottish Cup Final between Hibernian and Rangers have dismissed the charges levelled at both clubs.
The Scottish FA compliance officer Tony McGlennan charged both sides, with damage to the pitch, goalposts and advertising boards, but the case against both sides were dismissed as they could not find any provision in the current rules to punish the clubs.
Over 70 fans have been arrested since the Cup Final, but the clubs were not charged with fan disorder as ‘strict liability’ has not been adopted by Scottish clubs, who refuse to take responsibility for the actions of their own supporters.
Despite seeing charges dropped against them, Hibernian announced that they had paid the Scottish FA for the damage caused.
Leeann Dempster, chief executive of Hibernian, said: “We hope that this now brings an end to the matter and the Scottish FA can concentrate on implementing the recommendations made by the Independent Commissioner, Sheriff Principal Bowen.”
Rangers have yet to comment but had previously attacked the Scottish FA over their handling in t he aftermath of their cup final defeat.
