Rangers tangled in £1.6m legal battle over Sydney Cup withdrawal after breach of contract accusations

Rangers are set to enter a legal battle with the Sydney Cup organisers after they put forward a £1.6million case over the club's withdrawal.

Rangers were set to jet out to Australia over the winter break but instead pulled out of the proposed Sydney Super Cup back in April. [Sky Sports]

The tournament organisers - TEG and Left Field - then filed documents in Australian court for a £1.6million case on Friday, suggesting that Rangers "backed out of competing simply due to the negative reaction from their fans on social media." [The Athletic]

The social media uproar in question came from Rangers fans after it was revealed that they'd be facing Celtic in a friendly match during the tournament.

However, The Athletic have also revealed that Rangers are taking action over what they believe is alleged to constitute numerous breaches of contract relating to the communications around the launch of the event, marketing and scheduled payments.

Everton eventually took Rangers' place in the tournament and beat Celtic on 20 November.

Disaster

Rangers' decision to sign up for the Sydney Cup in the first place was a disastrous decision from the board.

Gers fans were never going to be pleased about an Old Firm meeting on foreign soil - in a 'friendly' match at that. Regardless of whether it was the social media uproar or the breach of contracts that forced the club to pull out, it's another example of the board's lack of connection with the fans.

The board have made some questionable decisions over the last year, with fans also left fuming after the club put a framed memento from the 7-1 Liverpool thrashing in the club store. [Scottish Sun]

The gulf between the board and fans has expanded considerably in the last year, with the lack of transfer activity and terrible decision-making leaving supporters with no faith in the club's leadership.

Michael Beale's appointment will hopefully start to mend the frosty relationship between the board and fans, but the club need to avoid making any more blunders, and this ongoing court case doesn't help.

In other Rangers news, Douglas Park needs to rip up the Rangers transfer rule book in January or leave the club