Chris Sutton insists there'd be no Rangers crusade against the SPFL if they hadn't "made a rip-roaring a**e" of the title race.
The Ibrox club's call for an independent investigation into the league governing body was voted down by their fellow clubs on Tuesday.
The resolution was roundly defeated by 27 to 12 at a long-awaited EGM, with two clubs abstaining.
Rangers wanted chief-executive Neil Doncaster suspended while the SPFL was put on trial for its handling of the controversial vote to end the season.
Steven Gerrard's side entered the shutdown 13 points behind Celtic following a dramatic post-winter break collapse, and Sutton believes that's the root of their anger.
Speaking on our Record Celtic podcast, the Parkhead legend said: "The bottom line is, if I was a player and Rangers were 13 points clear at this time, you'd just have to accept it.
"They've made a rip-roaring a**e of things since the turn of the year, that's the bottom line.
"They only have themselves to blame. They can look around, point fingers and say 'well, it's the SPFL's fault' - but Neil Doncaster didn't switch off from a corner.
"Neil Doncaster didn't miss chance after chance. Neil Doncaster didn't defend badly.
"It's more about problems on the pitch and they're trying to apportion blame elsewhere.
"I'm not sticking up for the SPFL at all here, but the bottom line is would there be this whole hurrah if Rangers were 13 points clear at the top?
"We know the answer, let's not kid ourselves."
