Rangers: Derek Clark reacts to ‘incredibly lenient’ SPFL update amid Dens Park controversy

Derek Clark believes the SPFL must compensate Rangers fans who were affected by the controversy surrounding Dundee’s pitch at Dens Park.

As confirmed via the official SPFL website, Dundee have been fined £186,000 after admitting to five breaches of rules relating to their pitch at Dens Park, though £120,000 is suspended until the end of the 2024/25 season and will be triggered in the event of further offences relating to the league’s rules on pitch conditions.

The original fixture was meant to take place on 17 March, though two postponements meant the game finally kicked off on Wednesday 17 April, with many fans out of pocket as a result of the fiasco.

Taking to X on Thursday (18 April), following the news, Clarke wrote: “A £66,000 fine seems incredibly lenient. The SPFL must do the right thing and compensate every single Rangers fan left out of pocket.”

Rangers fans must be compensated for the Dundee controversy

Any football fan who follows their team home and away will understand the frustration surrounding postponed matches, especially when it happens hours before kick-off.

A one-off can probably be forgiven, even despite the long travel for Rangers fans, but for it to be postponed twice is unacceptable, and a solution should have been found much sooner.

The biggest gripe, especially from the first postponement, is that officials should have surely known much further in advance that the game was not going to go ahead.

It is highly unlikely that the SPFL will repay any fans who were left out of pocket, though the request is not entirely out of the question.

The match turned out to be a rather frustrating one in Rangers’ Scottish Premiership campaign, as Philippe Clement’s side handed another blow in their quest to pip Celtic to the title.

A 0-0 draw saw Dundee enter the top-six spots, while a point meant Rangers entered the split three points adrift of their rivals with only five games to play.

In other Rangers news, Tam McManus mocked the club on social media after the draw.

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