Gers probe Whyte and Green links

Gers probe Whyte and Green links

Published Apr. 23, 2013 7:15 a.m. ET

Catania players Mariano Andujar and Giuseppe Bellusci have been banned for three Serie A matches after fighting broke out at the end of yesterday's Sicilian derby.

Moments after Palermo midfielder Josip Ilicic scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw, following Pablo Barrientos' opener, goalkeeper Andujar and defender Bellusci became involved in a group scuffle on the Stadio Angelo Massimino pitch.

A statement published on legaseriea.it read: "Mariano Andujar is banned for three games for grabbing an opponent by the neck before hitting him with punches to the stomach with the ball out of play.

"Giuseppe Bellusci is banned for three games for tugging and pulling at an opponent's neck repeatedly at the end of the game."

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The duo will miss Serie A games against AC Milan, Siena and Sampdoria.

The Lega also issued Catania with a fine of 6,000 euros after fans threw a flare towards visiting fans.

No Palermo players were sanctioned for their involvement but defender Andrea Dossena activated a one-match ban by earning his fifth yellow card of the season.

The Minstermen, unbeaten in their last fives games, winning three of those, climbed two points clear of the relegation zone by beating Southend 2-1 in their final home game on Saturday in front of their biggest crowd of the season, 5,975.

"I've been amazed by York City's supporters since day one when we were playing at Wimbledon and 500 were in the away end," Worthington told the York Press.

"The support home and away is phenomenal and we just want to give them something to smile and shout about."

York travel to Dagenham & Redbridge in their final game on Saturday without having to rely on other results to ensure another season in League Two.

"We've got one game left and it's in our hands," Worthington added.

"We're in a good position because we know what we need to do and are only focused on that game now."

Green tendered his resignation as chief executive on Friday following a number of claims surrounding his dealings with former owner Whyte before his consortium took control at Ibrox in June last year.

International law firm Pinsent Masons, based in London, will work in conjunction with financial experts from Deloitte.

A club statement read: "Rangers International Football Club plc ("Rangers") has instructed the law firm Pinsent Masons, supported by forensic investigators from Deloitte, to investigate the connections between Craig Whyte and former and current personnel of Rangers and its subsidiaries."

Rangers earlier issued a separate statement to the London Stock Exchange announcing that Sevco 5088 - the company at the centre of a dispute between Green and Whyte - was a subsidiary of the club at the time of their flotation on the stock exchange.

The statement added that Green was a director of Sevco 5088, which was used to buy the assets and business of the liquidation-bound club in May last year.

Whyte claims he was behind the firm and has threatened legal action arguing he is the rightful owner of Ibrox and other club assets.

The assets were transferred to another new company, Sevco Scotland, days after the ?5.5million purchase in June last year, when the club was consigned to liquidation over tax debts accrued during Whyte's tenure.

This new company became The Rangers football Club Ltd, which is owned by holding company Rangers International Football Club PLC, which was floated on the AIM division of the London Stock Exchange in December.

Green tendered his resignation on Friday days after the club board announced an independent report into the allegations over the extent of his association with Whyte.

In a statement released by the club on April 5, Green said: "In a discussion with Mr Whyte, who taped some conversations, I am alleged to have said: 'You are Sevco, that's what we are saying'.

"This is correct but at that point I had signed a resignation letter and a stock transfer form because it was decided that a Scottish company should buy a Scottish institution. Sevco 5088 wasn't required."

There was no announcement today over the appointment of an interim replacement for Green, who stepped down with immediate effect.

Reports have claimed that Craig Mather, a major investor who was brought on board by Green in the early stages of the new company, is favoured by some directors to take over on an interim basis.

Another director, Phil Cartmell, who is chairman of Slough-based engineering firm Corac, is said to be close to leaving the board.

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