FOOTBALL
RANGERS LET OFF HOOK BY UEFA
Rangers Chairman Alistair Johnston (centre)
By Daily Express Reporter
CHAIRMAN Alastair Johnston last night warned Rangers thug fans to start behaving or risk the entire future of their crisis-hit club.
The Ibrox outfit have escaped with an £18,000 fine from UEFA for the trouble that scarred their 1-1 Champions League draw with Unirea Urziceni in Bucharest.
They have also been told to pay for damage to the Steaua Stadium while Unirea were hit with a £7300 rap for a lack of organisation.
Rangers, having already been punished twice for recent fan problems, feared being told to play behind closed-doors or thrown out of Europe altogether.
And the news must have come as some relief after a nightmare day that saw them announce £31.1m in debts as well as see any hopes of entering the English Premier League with Celtic killed stone-dead.
Johnston says involvement in European football is central to getting Rangers back off the canvas as he searches for someone to buy out Sir David Murray.
The Light Blues lost £12.7m last season and saw turnover plummet by almost £25m because they didn't make the Champions League nor UEFA Cup after losing to Lithuanians FBK Kaunas.
And although UEFA have steered clear of hardline action this time, Johnston knows past problems in Villarreal, Osasuna and Manchester at the 2008 UEFA Cup final could still haunt them should violence continue at away games.
Asked if Rangers now have a huge red light above their name at UEFA HQ, Johnston said: "It would be difficult to deny that.
"There would be nothing more disheartening than to work on these new business plans and then find, through something from within the club, that we were denied the opportunity to generate revenue by participating in European competition.
"It would be so difficult.
"Our cost structure is built around the club preparing to play in Europe.
"What happened in Kaunas last year showed what can happen with one kick of the ball."
There has been talk within Ibrox of refusing to take tickets for the final Champions League away game with Sevilla on December 9, but nothing has been made public.
