Rangers have branded the Scottish FA "powerless" to take appropriate action after they were charged over fan disorder at the Scottish Cup final.

Fans took to the field in the wake of Hibernian's dramatic 3-2 victory, with the capital club facing four charges from the governing body's compliance officer Tony McGlennan.

Damage to the pitch, goalposts and advertising boards form the case against the Easter Road side, who have until September 6 to submit a formal response with a hearing set for October 4.

Rangers face two charges of fans damaging advertising hoardings, with the Ibrox side facing a hearing at the national stadium on October 5.

The Ibrox club released a statement on Wednesday in response to the charges branding the governing body "unwilling or is powerless when it comes to taking the appropriate punitive action against the offenders".

The club also said it was "impossible" for the Scottish FA to "guarantee the safety of footballers at the country's showpiece event".

It said: "Rangers' directors are shocked at the charges issued by the Scottish FA's compliance officer in the wake of the pitch invasion at the end of the Scottish Cup final last May.

"It is alarming that the governance of Scottish football is so lacking that it is impossible for the Scottish FA to guarantee the safety of footballers at the country's showpiece event.

"The SFA is either unwilling or is powerless when it comes to taking the appropriate punitive action against the offenders."

It added: "A number of Rangers players were assaulted by Hibernian supporters in broad daylight on the Hampden surface and a repeat of this must be avoided at all costs.

"That should have been the priority of the SFA. Yet the governing body insists it is not within its remit to issue any charges let alone punishments for such violent and dangerous misconduct.

"Instead of player and supporter safety they have placed all their emphasis and importance on the monetary value of a set of goalposts, pieces of turf, and advertising boards.

"Rangers directors will take time to consider an appropriate and more comprehensive response to redress our grievances but for the moment the board fully endorses the incredulity and anger of all Rangers supporters."

An earlier report commissioned by the Scottish FA and led by sheriff principal Edward Bowen QC found a minority of fans of both clubs were behind violent clashes.

A total of 12 mounted police officers were among the many deployed in a bid to break up the pockets of fighting among fans.

The total number of fans arrested following the match currently stands at 64.