This link will take you to a fascinating feature on Scottish football club badges....
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/call-to-arms-over-threat-to-scottish-club-badges-1-3746851
If you have a few hours to spare then researching the Kilmarnock FC badge might grab your attention. In 1993 Killie were told "by law" to update their club badge which was deemed to break "heraldic rules".
Since Killie is the oldest professional club in Scotland and took part in the first ever Scottish Cup match v Renton (now defunct) in 1873, you would think they could do what they like!
The club was formed by cricketers wanting to keep busy in the winter (1869) and their game was more like rugby in the early days.
Here is Killie's club badge motto "We Trust", as you will note-not controversial, unless you reckon the squirrels are not quite anatomically correct!
and here is the 150th anniversary badge
Lord Lyon, the King of Arms, was first put into action in 1592 when an Act announced rules that would prevent the misuse of certain features on crests that would offend or break Heraldic Law! The Lyon Court, the oldest in the country, still handles the granting of new arms and clans too. A number of present clubs have run into trouble by breaking these conditions and are actually "breaking the law"; for example
clubs using the Saltaire (Scottish flag), no crowns allowed, lion rampant is a Queen's standard and not appropriate for a common crest, no features such as turrets, bricks, no repeating of town coast of arms, no letters or numbers, limit choice of colours.
There is a Register of all Arms and Bearings and 25 clubs have run into trouble:-
Airdrieonians (Airdrie) have employed an heraldic devise-not allowed so they improvised!
Ayr United uses the Saltaire-which is not allowed because the club is not a national institution, however there is some leeway.
Rangers and Dundee Utd-rampant lion.
St Mirren-a turret above a shield; note subtle change from 1996 to 1997.
Other Scottish groups such as a golf club or school are similarly affected.
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