Rangers blast SFA over cup call-off

Rangers have criticised the Scottish Football Association for postponing their Homecoming Scottish Cup tie against Forfar just hours before kick-off.

The fifth round tie at Station Park failed a 8.30am pitch inspection this morning – less than fours before the 12.15pm kick-off – and will now take place on Wednesday, February 18 instead.

The match was initially given the go-ahead after coming through a pitch inspection on Saturday morning.

But Ibrox chiefs claim a forecast of more severe weather over the weekend meant the tie was always in danger of falling victim to the conditions and are furious that supporters have been inconvenienced by the late call-off.

Chief executive Martin Bain said: “We wrote to the SFA on Thursday afternoon highlighting the long-range weather forecast and we sent them a copy of it which indicated that temperatures on Saturday night would drop to minus seven.

“We asked for a pitch inspection as early as possible in order that no fans would be inconvenienced by travelling to Forfar on a Sunday morning only to be sent home again.

“All the SFA said was that the earliest a pitch inspection could take place was 24 hours before kick off but that they would take cognisance of our comments.

“Clearly they have not taken cognisance our comments.”

Irn-Bru Third Division side Forfar had the pitch double covered and even requested the assistance of local fans over the weekend in a bid to ensure the tie went ahead as planned.

Bain told the club’s official website, www.rangers.co.uk: “It’s all very well having a cover over the pitch but when the temperature drops to the level it did last night it simply freezes the moisture underneath the covers.

“We have made the point to the football authorities on numerous occasions that our fans come from far and wide, especially those who go to away matches.

“So to call the game off just three or four hours before kick-off is hugely disruptive for them.

“The very reason we wrote to the SFA on Thursday was to avoid this exact scenario.

“The point is that the whole nation is in the midst of a cold snap right now and there was no indication that the weather was going to clear.

“We are really disappointed by all of this and we feel sorry for those fans who had already set out on their journeys only to learn that the match was off.”