Robert Sarver – the Phoenix Suns owner who once harboured ambitions of buying Rangers – has been banned by the NBA for one year and fined £8.6m ($10m).
The American businessman also owns the female basketball side the Phoenix Mercury with the news coming after an investigation by NBA authorities amid accusations of unacceptable workplace practices.
Specifically, the ban relates to “workplace misconduct and organizational deficiencies” which covers what the NBA found to be a range of offensive and unacceptable workplace practices and language.
These cover a range of hostile, racist and sexist incidents and whilst we don’t want to go too far into that for obvious reasons, you can read more about the NBA’s findings HERE.
Obviously this comes with a disclaimer that some people may find the details in the NBA report offensive.
Robert Sarver accepted the decision as per comments quoted in the Guardian and apologised for any offence caused to employees.
“I take full responsibility for what I have done,” Sarver said.
“I am sorry for causing this pain, and these errors in judgment are not consistent with my personal philosophy or my values.
“This moment is an opportunity for me to demonstrate a capacity to learn and grow as we continue to build a working culture where every employee feels comfortable and valued.”
Robert Sarver once bid for control of Rangers
Robert Sarver was linked with a takeover at Rangers in 2015 with a very public £20m pursuit eventually collapsing.
The businessman even went as far to make two different bids for the club but spoke in the aftermath of the takeover collapse claiming he struggled to get the Rangers boardroom around the table.
“I never could get them to engage meaningfully in any discussion, at the end of the day that’s why I formally withdrew my bid because I couldn’t get them to the table,” said Sarver [Sky Sports].
“I never received a counter offer or any discussion of substance. I knew their issues were short-term funding and they didn’t want to delude current shareholders, but those two things are really hard to do at the same time because the club, as most people know, needs funding.”
Robert Sarver also claimed his interest came after a conversation with ex-Rangers left-back Davie Robertson, who coached football to his kids.
Rangers would eventually be taken over by Dave King and Three Bears and the rest is history but as things get rocky on the pitch at Ibrox, fingers are being pointed off it.
Dave King remains the single largest shareholder at Ibrox and he’s been expressing disappointment in how the club is being run in recent weeks.