Celtic ‘surprised’ Rangers allowed to keep league titles

Celtic have declared their “surprise” at the official conclusion that Rangers gained no competitive advantage from years of making undisclosed payments to players.

Oldco Rangers were fined for breaching rules from 2000 to 2011 but a three-man panel led by Lord Nimmo Smith ruled the affected players were not ineligible and so ruled out stripping the Ibrox club of five Scottish Premier League titles won during the period.

Celtic made an official statement last night after saying they had been “inundated” with requests to make their position clear.