Rangers Scottish Cup fifth-round opponents had been confirmed as Scottish League 2 side Stranraer, with the League Two side set to visit Ibrox on Sunday, February 8, in a 2pm kick-off.
However, the Stair Park club’s place in the competition remains under review following an appeal to the Scottish FA regarding the eligibility of on-loan goalkeeper Lyndon Tas.
Stranraer progressed from their rearranged fourth-round tie against Queen’s Park after a dramatic 5–4 penalty shoot-out victory, following a 1–1 draw.
Tas, who joined on loan from Hearts, played a decisive role by saving Queen’s Park’s ninth penalty before Lewis Hunter converted the winning spot-kick.
Questions were quickly raised over whether the goalkeeper was eligible to feature in the tie, having been signed after the original scheduled match date of Saturday, January 17.
Under Scottish Cup competition rules, players must be registered by the date of the original fixture to play in a rearranged tie – unless signed on an emergency loan.
Stranraer have now confirmed that the issue has been formally referred to the Scottish FA.
“We can confirm that an appeal has been made to the Scottish FA regarding the eligibility of goalkeeper Lyndon Tas,” the club said in a statement.
“Agreement had been reached with Hamilton Academical for Josh Lane to feature in the Scottish Cup 4th Round on Saturday, but this was refused for the rearranged fixture on Tuesday night.
“With only one goalkeeper in our playing squad, we acted quickly in good faith to recruit a goalkeeper on loan with help from Heart of Midlothian.
“Scottish Cup competition rules state that where fixtures are rearranged, any new player must be registered by the date of the original tie, unless signed on an emergency loan.
“The question was raised as to whether the signing of Lyndon qualifies as an emergency loan, and we are deemed to have breached that regulation.
“We will have the opportunity to present our case and provide mitigation to the panel in due course.”
At present, there has been no public comment from Queen’s Park, while the Scottish FA have issued a notice confirming the matter is being reviewed.
It read: “Disciplinary Rule 303. Eligibility — clubs shall observe the terms of Competition Rule 12 (Specifically 12.5). The charge against Stranraer is that they have failed to observe the terms of Competition Rule 12, and in particular 12.5, and did not on their Official Team Line at the date fixed for originally playing the match, a player, namely Lyndon Tas, who was not eligible to be listed on their Official Team Line at the date fixed for originally playing the match, and who was not a recognised goalkeeper pursuant to an emergency temporary transfer approved by the Scottish FA Board.”
Rangers have also declined to comment, instead proceeding with preparations for the fixture and advertising the match as a home tie against Stranraer.
For Danny Rohl’s side, the focus remains firmly on progressing in the competition after a convincing 5–0 victory over Annan Athletic in the previous round.
A meeting with Stranraer would offer Rangers a familiar opponent, having last faced the League Two outfit in the Scottish Cup in January 2020, when Steven Gerrard’s side ran out 2–0 winners at Ibrox.
However, the eligibility dispute has raised the possibility – however remote – of the result being revisited. There is precedent for the Scottish FA taking action in such cases.
In 2023, Queen’s Park were removed from the Scottish Cup after fielding Euan Henderson in a tie against Inverness Caledonian Thistle while he was ineligible.
The Highland club were subsequently reinstated in the competition, demonstrating the governing body’s willingness to enforce the regulations strictly when breaches are confirmed.
For Rangers, any change to the outcome would mean a switch in opponents, with Queen’s Park instead making the trip to Ibrox – a fixture that would carry its own narrative after last season’s shock 1–0 defeat at the same stage of the competition.
Until a final ruling is issued, Stranraer remain the officially listed opponents, and Rangers continue to prepare accordingly. The club’s decision to press ahead with match promotion suggests confidence that the situation will be resolved in time for the tie – with the hearing scheduled for Wednesday.