The SFA has said it will not appeal against the Court of Session's verdict in the Rangers case because it would damage the principle of sporting associations conducting their own disciplinary matters.

The Ibrox club won their case to have a registration embargo imposed for bringing the game into disrepute overturned on the grounds that it was was unlawful.

The SFA said it had chosen not to exercise its right to appeal the verdict, adding it was "regrettable" that Rangers had sought recourse to the courts.

The statement said: "Football must always operate within the law of the land. Nonetheless, it is regrettable that a member club has sought recourse for a football disciplinary matter through increasingly costly civil court action.

"The right of appeal is now open to the Scottish FA through the Court of Session. However, by so doing, the very principles on which the Scottish FA - and, for that matter, UEFA and FIFA – are founded, namely football disciplinary matters being dealt with within its own jurisdiction, would be fundamentally compromised.

"Therefore, it is our intention to accede to Lord Glennie’s request and refer the matter back to the Appellate Tribunal, which will consider the remaining sanctions open to it. Details of a new hearing date will be confirmed in early course."

FIFA rules state that clubs should not challenge sporting sanctions in court and there are fears that the world governing body may now take collective action against Scottish football.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle chairman Kenny Cameron said Rangers ought to have taken their case to the Court for Arbitration in Sport, adding: "The potential repercussions are something we certainly don't need at what is already a difficult time for Scottish football."

The SFA had argued that the Court of Session had no jurisdiction in its disciplinary affairs, but that argument was rejected by Lord Glennie, who said the court was competent to deal with the dispute.

The governing body must now decide whether to impose one or more of the sanctions for disrepute specified in article 94.1, which are a fine, suspension, expulsion from the SFA or ejection from the Scottish Cup.

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