BEARGER

https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/a-thank-you-from-rangers/2K7yKztN0NQowde3inMDXv RANGERS would today like to put on record their sincere thanks to the club’s supporters, with over 45,000 season tickets renewed by today’s deadline. It is another incredible show of strength from our fans, who have cemented Ibrox as one of Europe’s most iconic sporting venues with a series of atmospheres that undoubtedly assisted in carrying Gio van Bronckhorst’s side all the way to the UEFA Europa League final. That figure of over 45,000 represents a new record at the renewal date, with the manager and his players once again able to count on your unmatched backing when the new season gets underway. Subject to availability, supporters who have requested a seat transfer will have their request reviewed from Monday 13 June. New sales of any remaining season tickets to supporters on the MyGers waiting list will then begin from Monday 27 June. In both instances, successful supporters will be contacted by email.

Murdoch MacLennan is chairman of CMA of the Office for Internal Market Panel.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-provisionally-finds-illegal-price-fixing-of-rangers-fc-merchandise Press release CMA provisionally finds illegal price-fixing of Rangers FC merchandise The CMA has provisionally found that Elite Sports, JD Sports and Rangers Football Club broke competition law by fixing the retail prices of certain Rangers-branded clothing products. From: Competition and Markets Authority Published 7 June 2022 If confirmed, the companies involved can expect to face fines. The provisional findings are: Elite Sports and JD Sports fixed the retail prices of a number of Rangers-branded replica kits and other clothing products from September 2018 until at least July 2019. Rangers FC also took part in the alleged collusion but only to the extent of fixing the retail price of adult home short-sleeved replica shirts from September 2018 to at least mid-November 2018. All 3 parties allegedly colluded to stop JD Sports undercutting the retail price of the shirt on Elite’s Gers Online store. At the time, Elite was the manufacturer of Rangers-branded clothing and also sold Rangers-branded products directly through Gers Online Store and later in bricks-and-mortar shops in Glasgow and Belfast. The only UK-wide major retailer selling those products at the time was JD Sports. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) alleges that Rangers FC became concerned about the fact that, at the start of the 2018-19 football season, JD Sports was selling the Rangers replica top at a lower price than Elite, which was seen at the time as the club’s ‘retail partner’. This resulted in an understanding between the 3 parties that JD Sports would increase its retail price of the Rangers adult short-sleeved home replica shirt by nearly 10%, from £55 to £60, to bring it in line with the prices being charged by Elite on Gers Online. The CMA is also concerned that Elite and JD Sports – without involvement from Rangers –colluded to fix the retail prices of Rangers-branded clothing, including training wear and replica kit, over a longer period. This included aligning the level and timing of discounts towards the end of the football season in 2019, to avoid competition between them and protect their profit margins at the expense of fans. Elite and JD Sports applied for leniency during the CMA’s investigation and confessed to cartel activity. Provided they continue to cooperate with the investigation, each will receive a reduction on any financial penalties the CMA may decide to impose. Any business found to have infringed the prohibitions in the Competition Act 1998 can be fined up to 10% of its annual worldwide group turnover. Michael Grenfell, Executive Director of Enforcement at the CMA, said: We don’t hesitate to take action when we have concerns that companies may be working together to keep costs up. Football fans are well-known for their loyalty towards their teams. We are concerned that, in this case, Elite, JD Sports and, to some extent, Rangers, may have colluded to keep prices high, so that the 2 retailers could pocket more money for themselves at the expense of fans. These are the CMA’s provisional findings and the companies involved now have the chance to make representations to the CMA before it reaches a final decision. More information can be found on the case page: Suspected anti-competitive behaviour in relation to the pricing of Rangers FC-branded replica football kit. Notes to editors: For media enquiries, contact the CMA press office on 020 3738 6460 or press@cma.gov.uk. The Chapter I prohibition in the Competition Act 1998 prohibits agreements and concerted practices between businesses which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the UK. The statement of objections is addressed to the following parties: Elite Sports Group Limited and its parent company Elite Corporation Limited; JD Sports Fashion Plc; and The Rangers Football Club Limited and its parent company Rangers International Football Club Plc. A statement of objections gives parties notice of a proposed infringement decision under the Competition Act 1998. It is a provisional decision only and does not necessarily lead to an infringement decision. Parties have the opportunity to make written and oral representations on the matters set out in the statement of objections. Any such representations will be considered by the CMA before a final decision is made. The final decision will be taken by a case decision group, which is separate from the investigation team and was not involved in the decision to issue the statement of objections. The statement of objections will not be published. However, any person who in the CMA’s view is directly and materially affected by the outcome of the CMA’s investigation and is likely materially to assist the CMA in its investigation may request a non-confidential version of the statement of objections by contacting the CMA. Under the CMA’s leniency policy, a business that has been involved in a cartel may be granted immunity from penalties or a significant reduction in penalty in return for reporting cartel activity and assisting the CMA with its investigation. Individuals involved in cartel activity may also in certain defined circumstances be granted immunity from criminal prosecution for the cartel offence under the Enterprise Act 2002 and from competition disqualification proceedings. The CMA also operates a rewards policy under which it may pay a financial reward of up to £100,000 in return for information which helps it to identify and take action against cartels. For more information on the CMA’s leniency and informant reward policies, go to leniency and rewards. Anyone who has information about a cartel is encouraged to call the CMA cartels hotline on 020 3738 6888 or email cartelshotline@cma.gov.uk.

I see Scott Allan has been released by Hibs, oh well.

Must be plans well in advance to bring in 1or 2 CD. We cannot rely on Helander.

Rangers midfielder, Joe Aribo says he is focused on staying at the club despite rumours linking him with a move away from Ibrox. Aribo’s contract with the Gers will expire in 2023 and the Nigerian is yet to pen a new deal fuelling speculations he could be set for a move elsewhere. The versatile midfielder has also been linked with a move to the Premier League, with the likes of Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and West Ham United said to be interested in his services. The 25-year-old has, however, debunked the reports and stated that he is focused on continuing at the club. “I don’t know. I never knew about anything to be honest, I just focused on football. I’m happy at Rangers, I’ve been happy since I got here and I’ve loved every single minute of it,” Aribo told Brila FM. “So I’ve just been focused on here and I just want to stay focused because at the end of the day, I’m a Rangers player and I’m not thinking about leaving, because I’m really happy here,” he said. Aribo scored nine goals and provided 10 assists in 56 appearances across all competitions for Rangers in the 2021/22 season

If anyones interested. PREMIERSHIP referee Craig Napier says the 'culture in Scottish football must change' after revealing he is gay. The Category One whistler was followed by fellow Scottish ref Lloyd Wilson in coming out this morning. Napier admitted it wasn't ever something he imagined opening up on but was inspired by recent stories. Napier becomes the first figure within Scottish football to come out in a hugely significant step forward. He admits it has been a difficult journey to reach this point and says while the topic shouldn't be a news story, it remains important that others see prominent figures having the conversation. Speaking with the Scottish FA, he said: “It’s something that I never thought I would be sitting here doing. It’s something I have lived with for a long time. “It’s been a difficult journey to get to this point but over the past couple of years it has become easier. “I think it is really important that people like me are willing to sit here and do this. I don’t think this needs to be a news story but I think at this moment it really does. “We need to see the climate change so that people feel they can be their true self and live happily and comfortably in their own skin. That then needs to transcend into football. “I think it’s been really inspiring to see what has happened recently. Josh Cavallo first of all then Jake Daniels more recently. Jake at just 17 announcing to everyone his sexuality and I think many people would take inspiration from that “But they might also think ‘I am not brave enough to take this step, what if my friends don’t accept me or my family rejects my sexuality?’ “So what I wanted to add to the conversation was I have never had a bad experience when having these conversations. “I have always felt so much lighter having spoken about it. “This isn’t a conversation about me. It’s one about trying to change the culture in Scottish football. I can’t go back and change decisions I have made to get here but I feel I can pass on to others to not make the same mistakes. "Don’t waste time you could spend with other people. Live your life as it is not something you can change. “It’s a lot of wasted energy worrying about whether you will lose friends over it, whether you won’t get promoted in refereeing because of it or whether you won’t get selected for the first team because of it. “I think people would be better served enjoying their life as their true self and that is the message I want people to take away." Wilson followed Napier in revealing his sexuality and said he no longer wanted to 'live a lie'. Wilson has had games in the lower leagues and cups and also served as a fourth official in the Premiership. He told Back Onside: "This has been a horrific journey to be honest. A journey of maybe about 17 years of living a life that I didn't want to live, living a lie. "Living the way that other people wanted me to live, or that I thought other people wanted me to live. Probably directed and dictated in many ways by football. "The biggest worry for me was being judged differently from my colleagues who are not gay. "I suppose being judged by fans for who I am off the field rather than who I am on it. "At the end of the day I am a referee. I will get things right and I will get many things wrong, we all do because it's the nature of the job. "But I want to be judged for the decisions I make on the pitch and not those that I make off. "I feel doing this interview, that I must say I am petrified about, is absolutely crucial for not just my colleagues

Ryan Porteous on Sportscene!

Aye, why not just give them the trophy. https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/other-football/graeme-souness-wants-scotland-lose-24096167.amp SPFL Graeme Souness wants Scotland to lose against Ukraine in World Cup playoff as emotions run high The legendary midfielder believes it would be best for the world if Ukraine qualify for the World Cup BY MARK MCDOUGALL 09:12, 30 MAY 2022UPDATED15:51, 30 MAY 2022 SCOTLAND IN TRAINING AHEAD OF UKRAINE WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL Emotional Graeme Souness admits he will be roaring on Ukraine when they face Scotland on Wednesday night. The ex-national team captain is putting his football loyalties to one side by backing the war-torn Ukrainians qualify for the World Cup. Rangers legend Souness also wants them to go on and lift the trophy in Qatar because he reckons it will send a message from football that what is happening is unacceptable. The game was initially due to be played in March but was postponed due to the Russian invasion and will now take place at Hampden this week. The winners will then book a playoff final on Sunday against Wales in Cardiff. But he admits he feel sorry for Scotland players who have to play the game because he doesn't know how he'd deal with it if he was in that position. Graeme Souness wants Scotland to lose against Ukraine(Image: Reach PLC) He told The Times: “When I have thought about this game in my quieter moments, I’ve thought, ‘How would I deal with this?’ “Part of me keeps coming back to the fact that it’s just a game of football, and do I really want to beat them? Whether it’s sport, politics, the arts, whatever it is, we must send a message to Russia that it’s not acceptable what they are doing. “I’m going to find myself in a really difficult situation. I’ll be emotional. I don’t just want Ukraine to qualify, I want them to go there (Qatar) and win it. "How far do you have to bury your head in the sand not to realise the situation the world’s in right now? Will it be when someone presses the button on a nuclear weapon? “I’d not want to be one of the Scottish players playing that night. I don’t know where my emotions would be. My emotions when I think about it deeply are that it’s more important than football to send a message that Russia’s behaviour is unacceptable. "The world has to unite and tell them that — you can hear the emotion in my voice. That’s my over-riding feeling on the situation. "I’m doing it for television and I’m not sure how I’ll cope with that. I know the majority of our supporters who go there will feel the same — there you are. It’s going to be a really strange night.”

I was in Athens and witnessed people getting in with bus tickets etc. But that has nothing to do with last night, 2.5 hours is ridiculous amount of time to gain access to a stadium.

Obviously not. If there was any fault on the fans the videos would be all over the media. To arrive at a ground over 2 hours before KO and not get in till 30 minutes after the original KO time is unacceptable. EUFA said last night it was fans turning up late, then changed it to fans with counterfeit tickets both lies. Just heard Andy Robertson on the news saying his mate was told his ticket was a forgery, a ticket Robertson got from the club.

From Daily Recoord. Cedric Itten is on the brink of completing a £1.55 million move back home to Switzerland with the Rangers flop set to to sign for YB Bern. The 25-year-old is expected to sign a four-year deal with Young Boys, who could only finish third in the Swiss League this season. And he will be the first departure from the Ibrox club this summer to yield a transfer fee, although Rangers will have made a loss on the international striker, who cost £2.7 million when he signed a four-year deal two years ago. Young Boys' sports director Christoph Spycher refused to deny interest in the former St Gallen striker when he was quizzed about him last week and they are set to get their man, with reports in Sweitzerland insisting the deal is done. Itten is keen to return home after a largely unsuccessful two years in Scottish football. He was recalled to Ibrox from a loan spell to Germany with relegated Greuther Furth in January, but he revealed he was laid low with a mystery bug that prevented him from playing. Even when fully fit, the 25-year-old barely featured although he did score against Hearts in the final game of the season - his first goal for the club for 15 months. Itten revealed recently that he had not played on his initial return from the Bundesliga because of a mystery bug. And his time at Rangers now appears to be over after six league goals in 33 appearances, although he only started eight league matches.

Just had text, he’s in after 2.5 hours. Sounds horrendous outside. Thanks. Sorry about the language to that person.

Your a fucking arsehole, my sons in the crush. You can fuck right off.

Now 2 hour wait for Liverpool end. Gates not open, this will not end well.

Shambles outside stadium, fans queuing for over an hour and have not passed first barrier yet.

Got sent this, don't know anything about the FSE. FSE 2021/22 AWAY FANS SURVEY (surveymonkey.co.uk)

2023 I believe.

Looks like Juve have had enough, talk about terminating his contract. Would not take him, never fit, never will be.

3 day extension.

The problem is money as always. Young guys can be instantly wealthy by leaving and going south. They may not make it football wise, they may not have made it with us but have the money.

We gave them far too much respect, especially the first half. Some players did not perform as acknowledged by Lundstram post match. We beat better teams than EF to get to the final. I think we blew it, just my opinion.

Aye bring them on for the penalties.

Ramsey not fit? Would have liked Lowry to start.