Here are the Scottish FA rules on multi-club ownership that Rangers and the San Franciso 49ers must meet.
The owners of the NFL franchise are in advanced talks to secure a controlling stake in the Scottish Premiership outfit.
49ers Enterprises became the majority shareholders of Leeds United in 2023, with the company's President, Paraag Marathe, the current chairman.
The multi-million-pound deal is edging closer to the agreement stage.
However, there are still some hurdles to overcome, such as the SFA's rules on dual ownership.
This has recently become more prominent in Scottish football after Bournemouth owner Bill Foley invested £6m into Hibs, and Brighton's Tony Bloom pumped money into Hearts.
Article 13 of the SFA's legalisation states that any individual involved in another club must have the consent of the SFA board before any deal can be passed.
Article 13 from the Scottish FA rulebook in full:
13.1
Except with the prior written consent of the Board:
(a) no club or nominee of a club; and
(b) no person, whether absolutely or as a trustee, either alone or in conjunction with one or more associates or solely through an associate or associates (even where such person has no formal interest), who:
(i) is a member of a club; or
(ii) is involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of a club; or
(iii) has any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration of a club
may at the same time either directly or indirectly
(A) be a member of another club; or
(B) be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of another club; or
(C) have any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration of another club.
13.2
Except with the prior written consent of the Board, any person who:
(a) is a member of a club;
(b) is involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of a club; or
(c) has any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration of a club,
may not take up any such role with another club until such time as the Scottish FA is reasonably satisfied that such person has ceased to hold such role in the first club.
If this would require the relevant person to transfer his shares in the first club, the Scottish FA must be reasonably satisfied that the share transfer has been completed and that the shares have not been transferred to an associate.
The criteria for assessing whether the position is satisfactory or not shall include provision to the Scottish FA of:
(i) a certified true copy of the register of members of the first club (or such other evidence as the Board, acting reasonably, shall accept) showing that the relevant person is no longer a member and that the shares have not been transferred to a person who is an associate; and
(ii) a certificate from the secretary of the first club confirming that the procedures applied in the transfer of the shares by the person to whom this Article 13.2 applies complies with such club’s constitution in all respects.
The Scottish FA must be reasonably satisfied about the transfer of his shares in the first club before such person can take up any such role at another club.
The relevant person shall only be entitled to take up any of the aforementioned roles at another club prior to the transfer of his shares in the first club if the Scottish FA is reasonably satisfied that the shares have been placed into an irrevocable trust of which neither he nor any of his associates is a beneficiary and that he cannot exercise any rights or be entitled to any privileges in respect of such shares or such other arrangement is entered into in respect of the shares which the Scottish FA is satisfied (acting reasonably) achieves the same outcome.
