Rangers fans are furious with the Scottish Football Association after it was confirmed that Andrew Phillips will be the new compliance officer.
In a statement on their official website, the SFA announced on Wednesday that Phillips replaces Clare Whyte as compliance officer and will take up his new role on March 1.
Phillips has a big role on his hands as Whyte found herself criticised for almost every single decision she made at Hampden Park.
There have been a lot of controversies just this season alone when it comes to retrospective action being taken against Rangers players, which is why Phillips’ appointment is such big news among the Ibrox faithful.
Many appear to be concerned about a perceived lack of football knowledge from the new compliance officer, whose background is mainly in law. However, SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell suggests that is not the case.
βThe Compliance Officer position plays a vital role within our game,” said Maxwell. “Andrewβs work within the legal profession as well as his knowledge and understanding of football made him the right candidate.β
Still, that hasn’t stopped a lot of fans from showing their anger over the appointment, with one saying that the SFA are “an absolute joke“.
Here is a selection of their tweets:
The @ScottishFA are an absolute joke!!! I doubt this guy has had any football experience apart from being a fan of a club!!! You have basically appointed a fan to this position who does not know the game!!!
— James248602 (@james248602) February 17, 2021
Job description – You will be required to watch Sportscene on a regular basis, listen to the advice of various clueless pundits and act accordingly.
You will be required to perform to a high level of inconsistency.
You will need a degree in Biomechanics
— Alan π¬π§π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ (@Tedii69) February 17, 2021
Which stand is his Celtc season ticket in?
— The Railway Bears ππ»π (@TheRailwayBears) February 17, 2021
Plenty football refereeing knowledge then ?
— Matt π¬π§π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ (@N88VAE) February 17, 2021
Consider me confused. Should this role not go to someone with a background in football? I mean there's millions of people in Scotland with a passion for football too.
— Billy Ferguson (@bferguson4) February 17, 2021
We don’t see the issue with getting in someone who has spent his career practising law.
It means that Phillips will be able to know about the laws of the game in great details and apply what is written down in black and white to what happens in matches.
We’ll see how he goes but there’s no doubt there’ll be cries of bias from all sorts of fans in Scottish football.
In other Rangers news, Charlie Adam hints there’ll be government action after the latest COVID scandal at Ibrox.
