Mike Ashley to pay half the SFA's legal bill
Mike Ashley will have to pay half the SFA's legal bill for his failed attempt to reverse their decision to fine him for breaching dual ownership rules.
Mike Ashley will have to pay half the SFA's legal bill for his failed attempt to reverse their decision to fine him for breaching dual ownership rules.
Judge Lord Brodie ruled at Court of Session that the businessman needs to pay 50 per cent of the footballing watchdog's costs.
The judge made the decision following a short hearing at the Edinburgh based court on Friday morning.
Lord Brodie said the exact circumstances of the case meant that Mr Ashley shouldn't have to pay all of the costs incurred in the case.
He said that it wasn't appropriate for the Sports Direct supremo to meet all of the SFA's legal costs.
The judge also ruled that Mr Ashley should have to pay an additional fee to SFA to meet the cost of specialist legal advice which they had to take from a solicitor who specialised in sports law.
Lawyers for entrepreneur had gone to Scotland's highest civil court earlier this year in a bid to overturn a decision to fine him £1,000 for his involvement with both Newcastle United and Rangers.
The SFA issued the fine against the world's 318th richest man in June 2015 for what happened at Rangers after he took an 8.92 per cent shareholding stake in the Glasgow team.
They concluded that Mr Ashley broke their rules about how an individual should not be involved with two football clubs at the same time.
Lord Brodie rejected arguments made by Mr Ashley's representatives that it was Mr Ashley's company - MASH Holdings- that controlled the Rangers shares. He told the court that there was a legal difference between Mr Ashley as a person and MASH Holdings.
Consequently, Mr Sandison said that the SFA should have appreciated the differences and not have fined Mr Ashley.
In his judgement Lord Brodie wrote: "I shall uphold the second plea in law for the respondent. The petition is dismissed."
At proceedings earlier this year, it emerged that in October 2014 MASH Holdings Limited, of which Ashley is the 100 per cent shareholder, entered a credit facility with Rangers.
As part of the loan, Mr Ashley's business associate Derek Llambias was nominated and then appointed a director of Rangers.
A panel ruled he had breached dual ownership rules as a result of MASH loaning Rangers money and through the appointment of Mr Llambias.
Advocate Craig Sandison QC claimed that the Scottish Football Association acted wrongly when they concluded that Mr Ashley broke the organisation's dual ownership rules.
Mr Sandison told the club that it was Mr Ashley's company ~ MASH Holdings- that controlled the Rangers shares.
He told the court that there was a legal difference between Mr Ashley as a person and MASH Holdings. Consequently, Mr Sandison said that the SFA should have appreciated the differences and not have fined Mr Ashley.
He told the court: "The panel did not apply the principles of natural justice in relation to the factual matters that were put before them.
"Their reaction was unjustified and we seek a reduction of their decision."
However, Lord Brodie disagreed with Mr Sandison's arguments.
He wrote: "The appeal tribunal considered that the disciplinary tribunal was entitled to make the finding it did about nomination. I agree."
An independent assessor will now study the work carried out by each legal team in the case and make a final determination about what the costs should be.