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SFA official plans to boycott Paul Gascoigne's induction into Scottish Football Hall of Fame

Gazza
Image: Paul Gascoigne played for Rangers between 1995 and 1998

At least one SFA board member will boycott a dinner where Paul Gascoigne is to be inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame, Sky sources understand.

Nominees for the Scottish Football Hall of Fame are put forward by members of the public, and an independent committee of ex-players and journalists then consider the nominations before selecting who will be inducted. The Scottish Football Association has nothing to do with the process.

Former Rangers star Gascoigne and Scotland Women's record scorer Julie Fleeting are among the five inductees at the Hampden Park awards dinner, with the other three set to be revealed on the night.

But at least one SFA board member is not planning to attend the annual event because he believes Gascoigne's Hall of Fame berth is inappropriate from a moral perspective given his history of misdemeanours and background of offences.

Paul Gascoigne bursts into tears during the World Cup 1990 semi-final with Germany.
Image: Gaaza was inducted into England's National Football Museum in 2002

It is thought the growth of women's football, and recent anti-racism and anti-sectarianism campaigns, are all factors in the board member's decision to boycott the Hall of Fame showpiece event.

A spokesman for the committee refused to comment when approached by Sky, but we understand that any potential review of Gascoigne's suitability for the nomination would be unprecedented, and there are no plans to do so at this time.

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Ahead of England's game with Croatia, Ross Barkley says he wants to follow in the footsteps of Gascoigne when playing for the Three Lions.

Gascoigne joined Rangers in a club-record deal from Lazio in 1995, and immediately won a place in the hearts of the club's supporters with a goal in an early-season 2-0 away win at Celtic.

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Rangers would go on to claim the title that season but Gascoigne's three-year spell at Ibrox was blighted by on and off-field controversy.

17 Mar 1996:  Paul Gascoigne of Rangers blows a kiss to Jackie Mcnamara of Celtic after a foul during the Rangers v Celtic Scottish Premiership match at Ib
Image: Gazza blows a kiss at Celtic's Jackie McNamara in a 1996 Old Firm derby

In an alleged drunken rage at a Gleneagles hotel in 1996, Gascoigne attacked then-wife Sheryl, leaving her with injuries including a black eye.

During his final season at Rangers, Gascoigne celebrated a goal against Celtic with a controversial loyalist flute celebration, something he later claimed resulted in death threats made against him.

Gascoigne, who has suffered from alcohol and drug addiction, was convicted of racially aggravated abuse in 2016 after admitting making a racist joke at his Evening with Gazza show in 2016.

Paul Gascoigne arrives at Dudley Magistrates Court where he is set to face trial accused of a racially aggravated public order
Image: Paul Gascoigne was fined £1,000 after being found guilty of a racially aggravated offence

Sky Sports News understands that these misdemeanours are among the reasons why at least one SFA board member would feel uncomfortable attending a dinner where Gascoigne is to be honoured.

The board member is not understood to have anything against Gascoigne personally but it is thought he would not be surprised if other SFA board members also boycotted the dinner, which will feature a special tribute to Scotland boss Alex McLeish.

Other famous names who have already been inducted into the Hall of Fame include Matt Busby, Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish, Bill Shankly, Brian Laudrup, Henrik Larsson and Graeme Souness.

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