Rangers to boycott Scottish Cup tie with Dundee Utd

Rangers have revealed that they will not be accepting their ticket allocation for February’s fifth-round Scottish Cup clash with Dundee United.

Supporters’ groups have been demanding a stay-away protest for the first match away to SPL opposition since they were relaunched as a new company and denied entry to the top flight.

A club statement quoting chief executive Charles Green read: “Rangers Football Club will not be taking its allocation of tickets for the forthcoming Scottish Cup match against Dundee United at Tannadice.

“This is a unanimous decision by the board, senior management and staff at Ibrox.

“Everyone at this club is dismayed at the actions of certain SPL clubs, which were actively engaged in trying to harm Rangers when we were in a perilous situation and we are acutely aware of their attitude to us.”

This is the first away match Rangers have played against SPL opposition since the 10 of the other clubs voted against their application, while Kilmarnock abstained.

Green added: “Not all clubs who voted against Rangers returning to the SPL fall into this category and indeed we made Motherwell very welcome when we played them at Ibrox in the League Cup competition recently.

Some Ibrox fans have been particularly angry with Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson as being one of the most outspoken figures on the subject of relaunched Rangers seeking membership of the top flight in the summer.

The revenue generated in Scottish Cup matches is split evenly between clubs but the statement from Green makes no mention of whether Rangers would expect their cut.

The Scottish FA will discuss the matter at a board meeting on Thursday.

Former Rangers captain Richard Gough, who also played for Dundee United, said he was “disappointed” by the decision.

“I’m of the opinion that we should just get on with it,”

“Enough of the bitterness and hatred between teams and the ‘they did this and they did that’.

“We are where we are. We’re in the Third Division; let’s move on.

“If Rangers could win the Scottish Cup this season it would be a great achievement but it’s going to be very difficult going up to Dundee United with no supporters at all.

“If supporters want to support their team, they should have the right. I don’t think the head of the club should come out and say we’re not taking tickets.”

A statement from the Rangers Supporters’ Assembly read: “The Rangers support has waited patiently for the opportunity to send a clear message to those that tried to destroy our club – starve them of their much-needed cash by boycotting this game.

“It must also be remembered the disregard this club had for Rangers supporters when it unashamedly refused to offer refunds to supporters for a game abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch in 2009.

“We also understand the desire to support the team – the fans have demonstrated this to unbelievable lengths of loyalty – but we ask that on this occasion in a one-off display of fan power we show that we have not been beaten or broken.”