Owners to register with SFA

MARTIN GREIG

The Scottish Football Association have closed a loophole in their rules to ensure that club owners such as Hearts' Vladimir Romanov now fall under their jurisdiction.

The change will mean that individuals who exert a controlling influence in a club must be formally registered with the SFA. Previously, figures such as Romanov had carte blanche to influence the direction of their clubs without being subject to the same rules as other club officials.

David Taylor, the SFA chief executive, refused to comment on any individual or club, but admitted that the move sought to address an issue of concern.

"By going to lengths we have gone to here, we're recognising that there is a problem and we feel that this largely closes the loophole," he said. "There's a basic principle in company law that you cannot sit behind the scenes and manage a company without formally taking a role as a director.

"In order for the association to exercise a jurisdiction over individuals, in terms of any infringements of the constitution of the SFA, then these individuals have to be directors of the company, and notified to us in terms of an official return [submitted by the club].

"The concept of a shadow director is now simply translated to: if you do exercise control and influence over a football club, then you will not escape our jurisdiction."

Taylor also confirmed that clubs will now have to get permission from the majority of member clubs before transferring membership to another association. The new rule was prompted by FIFA and is pertinent to the Old Firm's long-held ambition to switch to the English Premiership.

"If a football club wants to move, it needs the approval of the association it is currently in, and it needs the approval of FIFA. The concern for FIFA would have been that, in the absence of any provision, it may be more likely to be exploited."

The Scottish Football Association have closed a loophole in their rules to ensure that club owners such as Hearts' Vladimir Romanov now fall under their jurisdiction.

The change will mean that individuals who exert a controlling influence in a club must be formally registered with the SFA. Previously, figures such as Romanov had carte blanche to influence the direction of their clubs without being subject to the same rules as other club officials.

David Taylor, the SFA chief executive, refused to comment on any individual or club, but admitted that the move sought to address an issue of concern.

"By going to lengths we have gone to here, we're recognising that there is a problem and we feel that this largely closes the loophole," he said. "There's a basic principle in company law that you cannot sit behind the scenes and manage a company without formally taking a role as a director.

"In order for the association to exercise a jurisdiction over individuals, in terms of any infringements of the constitution of the SFA, then these individuals have to be directors of the company, and notified to us in terms of an official return [submitted by the club].

"The concept of a shadow director is now simply translated to: if you do exercise control and influence over a football club, then you will not escape our jurisdiction."

Taylor also confirmed that clubs will now have to get permission from the majority of member clubs before transferring membership to another association. The new rule was prompted by FIFA and is pertinent to the Old Firm's long-held ambition to switch to the English Premiership.

"If a football club wants to move, it needs the approval of the association it is currently in, and it needs the approval of FIFA. The concern for FIFA would have been that, in the absence of any provision, it may be more likely to be exploited."

Taken from the Herald