Rangers hit out at 'negligent' and 'unprofessional' Dundee

Published 10th Apr 2024
Last updated 10th Apr 2024

Rangers have called on the SPFL to take action against Dundee - labeling the club 'negligent' and 'unprofessional' after their Premiership clash was postponed.

The game has been rescheduled for next Wednesday night - April 17, with an 8pm kick-off - after referee Don Robertson deemed the waterlogged pitch unplayable following a second inspection of the day at 3.30pm.

It is the second time the game has been postponed - the first came last month, 90 minutes before the scheduled kick-off.

It is also the fifth time Dundee's pitch has fallen foul of the weather this season and Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell claimed his side's game on Saturday should not have gone ahead after the pitch passed a 1pm inspection.

Rangers have written to the Scottish Professional Football League, who may have to delay the publication of the post-split fixtures with Dundee, Motherwell and Hibernian all in the running for the final top-six place.

A club statement read: "Rangers has written to the SPFL outlining its position following today’s further postponement of the Dundee Scottish Premiership fixture.

"The negligence and unprofessionalism demonstrated by Dundee Football Club, where they have repeatedly breached SPFL rules, continues to have a damaging effect on the top professional league in the country.

"In a week where record TV viewing figures were recorded for a match in the same competition, and this evening’s game due to be televised again by Sky Sports, this episode is deeply embarrassing and has also been eminently avoidable.

"Rangers expects the SPFL to take proportionate and decisive action in accordance with its rules, and the club will continue to make representations to them in the strongest possible manner.

"The club has been repeatedly putting forward solutions to the SPFL, which have not been taken up. It has again proposed a solution to the preparation and execution of this rescheduled fixture and is awaiting a response from the SPFL. As things stand, the rescheduled match will be on Wednesday, April 17 at 8pm. The club considers that this matter has been handled incorrectly throughout by both Dundee and the SPFL.

"At this time, we sympathise fully once again with our supporters, approximately 4000 of whom were looking forward to attending tonight’s game. Having already been left hugely inconvenienced and out of pocket by the first postponement last month, it is entirely unacceptable and disrespectful on the part of Dundee FC to have allowed this situation to have developed again."