After making inquiries into progress on Resolution 12 to the Celtic AGM of 2013 there is little doubt in my mind that the SFA made a serious error in the process of UEFA licensing.
Here are some facts:
- UEFA does not issue licences to clubs who have due tax bills outstanding,
- UEFA require the SFA to satisfy themselves of a club’s eligibility for a licence and that clubs have provided proof no overdue tax payable exists,
- UEFA also require a club to tell the SFA and UEFA if, after the issue of a licence there are material changes in their circumstances which would affect their eligibility – including the situation at #1 above,
- UEFA awarded Rangers a licence to play in European competition in March 2011,
- In May 2011 Rangers received a tax bill, which they did not contest or appeal or agree a payment plan. The bill (which remains unpaid) was overdue by 30 June 2011,
- UEFA received no notice of this,
- Rangers did not lose their licence and in fact competed in both the Champions’ League and The Europa League in that season.
None of these facts are disputed (as far as is known) by anyone connected to the saga. What is in doubt, because the SFA won’t answer the question, is whether they received a copy of the tax bill and the May letter that accompanied it from Rangers or not.
If they did send it to the SFA, Rangers could reasonably argue that they did their bit and the SFA fell down on the job by failing to notify UEFA of their new unfavourable tax status.
If Rangers did not send it, then they had broken not only UEFA FFP rules but more importantly the trust amongst SFA members that full disclosure is honestly made in a self-certification process. The SFA in not carrying out their monitoring responsibilities properly and using the powers UEFA FFP gave them also broke that trust.
In either case, there is a systematic failure by the SFA to administer the sport effectively; either through a failure of trust, a failure of administration – or both.
Even worse, in the four years that have elapsed since this incident, it seems that nothing has been done to put matters right. The SFA have been very active in refusing to answer questions on the matter, particularly this one;
“How will you prevent it happening again?”
Incredibly, up to now, no measures have been put in place to add rigour to the licensing process. Are they really saying that they think the process was carried out satisfactorily?
No they are saying nothing. Silence and denial, followed by silence and inaction.
So what is the point of this article? Let’s call out the elephant in the room right away – it is unequivocally not to have a go at Rangers. This is no longer really about Rangers at all, but about the SFA’s mal-governance of the game. Besides, clubs affected by this seeming failure on the part of the authorities (in that year Celtic, Dundee United and Hearts and Kilmarnock) are hardly likely to successfully sue a club now in liquidation (although small shareholders might take a different view with regard to the SFA’s conduct).
Nor am I seeking to find some retrospective punishment for the club (as far as I know sanctions are neither available retrospectively, nor useful in this case ) but to be aware that the question above urgently needs to be addressed if the status of football as a sport is to be maintained.
To the extent that this is about what has happened to Rangers, does anyone – no matter what club they owe their allegiance to – seriously consider that TRFC would NOT be in a better situation today had the SFA acted with propriety and applied their rules correctly in 2011/12?
With the kind of money on offer these days for entry into Europe, and the interdependent nature of the game, it seems fairly self-evident that trust is not enough to allow effective regulation, and that incompetent governance where money is the paramount consideration is unacceptable.
The SFA has long enjoyed a misconceived impression of its function as being that of a quasi-legal body, bestowing upon it a status of independence and aloofness from the partisan interest of the clubs. In the main, fans have largely bought into that myth. However the SFA is nothing of the kind.
It is in fact merely a cartel which is allowed to govern itself for its own benefit and is only accountable to the clubs that make up its membership, and not the fans. Check out the last sentences of almost any rule, where discretionary powers awarded to itself effectively render the rule worthless and unenforceable.
Literally, a nihilistic approach to governance
Maybe it is time the SFA scrapped the get out of jail discretionary clauses, and put some robust regulation in place to ensure the financial transparency of all clubs?
Even better, politicians are never slow to tell us of the importance of football to the social fabric of the country – in that case why not follow their own rhetoric, recognise that it cannot be allowed to self regulate in narrow self interest, and legislate to have football governed independently?
If I was a Rangers fan, I’d be thinking that the SFA’s failure to police the UEFA licencing issue helped accelerate the club’s demise – by making it easier to paper over the cracks.
If I was a Celtic, Hearts, Dundee United or Killie fan, well the consequences for them in terms of lost financial and competitive opportunities are fairly obvious.
Conclusion? The clubs can no longer be trusted to run the affairs of the industry themselves.
A new independent, accountable regulatory body (funded by the clubs) is the minimum we need to save the game in this country. It should comprise representatives of the clubs, the fans and other stakeholders – and it should have a holistic remit as its prime directive, whilst ensuring fair and equitable treatment of all clubs.
It can take decisions on the basis of what is good for the game without the baggage of self-interest, and without any west of Scotland institutionalised bias. Of course Scotland isn’t alone in this. Football is a powerful political force across the world, and as developments at FIFA over the past couple of years have demonstrated, it is institutionally corrupt. The clubs can no longer be allowed to run it as they see fit, and we need to begin a campaign which will ultimately convince the pay-at-the-gate fan of the truth of that.
The UEFA licensing issue is only a pebble in the sand of football incompetence and corruption, but it is a microcosm of what ails the game. The good of the sport, and not individual clubs, is paramount. The SFA cannot and will not deliver that.
The case for a new regulatory body is clear, and the status quo is not an option unless the death of the sport is deemed acceptable.
There is little doubt in my mind that unless regime change is effected, in a few decades there will be no regime .
tamjartmarquez 28th September 2015 at 8:02 pm #
To be fair it is their complete mid field. 1 sub I think.
Until January
when it will be kerching!
I doubt Livi will be bothered.
BP
Interested in your comments re Mclair.
Is it just a load of twaddle because I know Les at ‘Well is or is thinking about putting money this initiatives way.
Will we be just wasting money?
Tjm, over on the Bear’s Den, it’s splitting the commenters – those who are embarrassed at the postponement and those who trust everything MW does….ever, in his whole life etc. When McCoist used to do this all the time, there was pretty much 100% condemnation, so now that the Magic Hat worshippers are changing their tune, the arguments are quite funny.
Btw, are you supposed to be PMing me about Perth?
Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere else, but sitting near the Hearts fans on Saturday we were subjected to sveral renditions of unacceptable songs – particularly the one about Fenian blood!
I realise I wont be Mr popular for broaching this, but it’s 2015 now, it’s just not on!
Most of them quietened down at the illegal bit, but joined back in at the surrender or you’ll die nonsense, but as the game progressed and no police/steward action was taken, more seemed to be heard ‘enjoying’ the whole song.
Strangely, I’ve not heard a peep about this. Is it because ‘Hearts bashing’ is unpopular these days? Each time the other mob are at it, we hear about it. (Well, except fae Pat Nevin of course)
I posted on Saturday morning that I was hoping for a non-toxic atmosphere, sadly it
was much worse than I remembered. Lots of singing and chanting about child abuse, CFC fans being shy of soap, being on the dole, Glasgow being a shithole, Hell is in the ‘Falls’ etc. Lovely day out, eh?
If they would just remember that they were really up to their knees in unpaid bills and were winning on money they couldn’t repay it would maybe build bridges with others.
These are the reasons I stopped attending old firm games many years ago. I’m afraid that Hearts will maybe need to be added to the list now. It seems crazy that the family section has to be subjected to this hatred. Sad stuff.
To top it all, our supporters bus happened upon a dinosaur march on the way home. They didn’t seem to appreciate our presence. Thank God for the one street that seperated us, lol.
Nawlite
You have a PM.
scapaflow 28th September 2015 at 4:51 pm #
‘…Not sure Platini’s, erm, explanation does him any favours’
__________
I think you’re right.
I love his last sentence: ” I wish to use all my energies to ensure that any issue or misunderstandings can be resolved as soon as possible”…. I’ll bet he does!
But, guilty or innocent, he must know he is damaged goods, and as a successor to a man more or less in the dock already, his tea’s definitely oot.
My textual analysis skills are a bit rusty, but the whole thrust of the letter made me expect that his last sentence would have read ” For these reasons,but with a clear conscience, I am tendering my resignation forthwith, and withdrawing my candidacy for the office of President of FIFA.” I was really quite surprised that he didn’t resign.
He may still do so, of course.
FIFA, UEFA, SFA…….are there clean hands anywhere?
yakutsuki 28th September 2015 at 8:33 pm
There seems to be a some Hearts fans who think singing the song you mention is acceptable. A blogger ‘ViewfromGorgie’ sometimes retweeted by Phil Mac raised the issue a few weeks back.
(The sub argument was if the Gorgie BB was deemed acceptable then surely Leigh Griffiths should be allowed to sing his heart out to Rudi Skacel as opposed to being vilified by Hearts fans).
Not a season ticket holder at Tynie but go to a good few matches per season as a ‘pay as you goer’ and only have heard the Gorgie BB sung once in recent years by two or three young dobbers somewhere behind me in the Roseburn end at the recent Partick Thistle game. A quick retort of ‘Are you Sevco in disguise’ from the Jags fans and a Shhh from the home support around them shut them up before they even got onto the offending line. In that part of ground they will not be season ticket holders.
The worrying thing is that these days to get an away ticket for the Hearts you need loyalty points. Therefore while the idiots appear to keep quiet at home games, the folks at Celtic Park must be die-hards and most likely season ticket holders. That being said, while I tend not to go to away games my friends who do say they see some tubes at away games whom they have never seem at Tynie.
Via the ViewfromGorgie Facebook page I did see some of the Gorgie BB supporters that were good enough to argue their case in public. Lets just say they looked like you would expect.
Not very pleasant but many a club has attachments that appear to be more interested in non footballing matters and are only too keen to ram it down our throats when they think they can get away with it.
Had to have a word with some young bammers at the Aberdeen game who thought they were brave having a go at the Dons fans through a large steel shutter!!! 1st game for a while the Police were in numbers so maybe word had gotten out that some folk were looking for trouble.
More than happy if the offenders can be identified and seat numbers give to Ms Budge.
‘Not in my club’s name’ – thank you very much.
zerotolerance1903 28th September 2015 at 4:54 pm # ROSS FORBES reckons the current Rangers squad could challenge Celtic for the Premiership title after they took Morton apart at Cappielow. ================================== Lol.
Because Morton (who so far this season have only managed to beat the bottom two sides in the Championship) are the benchmark for challenging for the Scottish Premiership title
Aye right
=====================================
Erm
They beat us.
We somehow contrived to make RF look like he wasn’t a long forgotten cast off.
Maybe that eras over though. Hopes
wottpi 28th September 2015 at 9:10 pm #
———————————————————-
Thanks WOTTPI, that’s heartening, pun unintended. The ‘Fenian blood’ bit got quite a few airings on Saturday unfortunately.
yakutsuki 28th September 2015 at 8:33 pm #
‘…Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere else, but sitting near the Hearts fans on Saturday .’
__________
On one of the main themes of this blog ( the deficiencies of our MSM football hacks as journalists) can I say that, by the merest coincidence, I have beside me on the kitchen ‘table’ today’s edition of ‘The Scotsman’.
I read your post, and then re-read Alan Patullo’s report of Saturday’s match.
He does not mention any such singing.
He may not have heard it, of course.( I have never sat in the Press boxes at Celtic Park, so I’ve no idea how much they can hear from the ‘away support’ corner. Does anyone know, as a matter of interest?)
But, given that we have dark suspicions about the ‘selectivity’ of perhaps the majority of our SMSM hacks in terms of what they think ought to be reported on in the context of football, I felt prompted to email Patullo to ask him whether he did hear anything, and if so, why he did not mention it.
In so far as there is supposed to be a broad consensus of opinion that some ways of enthusiastically cheering on one’s team are perniciously irrelevant in modern society, trying to hide or ignore the fact that some supporters persist in being pernicious and irrelevant is not being journalistically responsible. For it encourages the ‘authorities’ in their unwillingness really to grasp the poisonous nettle, and renders their utterances meaningless if not altogether hypocritical.
In some other areas of life, the Press can be useful in pushing the authorities to effect change, reflecting the broad public consensus.
It is time that they reflected the views of the vast, the vast, majority of football supporters in the country who would no more kill, maim, demean or insult racially, religiously, genderly, me or you than they would any fellow club supporter.
Let them report incidences, and encourage clubs and the authorities in all that they might properly do to teach the message that sporting rivalry, genuine rivalry, is far removed from pure animal hatred based on half-understood history or irrational prejudice.
I’m very much behind the Share prophet guys.
.
Be it JJ who relentlessly exposes DCK or the lads/Lasses? who dogs Wavetower relentlessly.
If they didn’t do it, Who else would?
Its a reality that if you were without them you would be in the casino without an idea that the wheel was fixed. (To the floor)
Any similarities occour SFM ers
Dear Hearts fans:
Try
” Twist and Shout”
No royalties.
Better beat.
Totally non sectarian.
Ducks
Hearts had just about managed to eradicate all but a hardcore of 20-30 bigots, but with increased away following in the last couple of seasons the numbers seem to have swelled to maybe 50 or so.
I’m sure that other clubs fans may insist that the numbers are bigger than that, but those numbers are the problem ones.
There are threads on the Jambos Kickback forum following every other away game complaining about the behaviour of the neds among our support and the same few posters appear every time defending their actions, while 10 times the number criticise them.
I don’t what it will take to rid the club of the problem, but I’d prefer it to be a concerted SFA/SPFL action, including docking points if necessary.
John Clark 28t0h September 2015 at 9:07 pm # scapaflow 28th September 2015 at 4:51 pm #‘…Not sure Platini’s, erm, explanation does him any favours’__________I think you’re right. I love his last sentence: ” I wish to use all my energies to ensure that any issue or misunderstandings can be resolved as soon as possible”…. I’ll bet he does! But, guilty or innocent, he must know he is damaged goods, and as a successor to a man more or less in the dock already, his tea’s definitely oot. My textual analysis skills are a bit rusty, but the whole thrust of the letter made me expect that his last sentence would have read ” For these reasons,but with a clear conscience, I am tendering my resignation forthwith, and withdrawing my candidacy for the office of President of FIFA.” I was really quite surprised that he didn’t resign. He may still do so, of course. FIFA, UEFA, SFA…….are there clean hands anywhere?
==============================================
JC
As you know where filthy lucre abides the answer is no.
Snoughts troughs.
Hope they all see a court shortly.
If not (as is likely) there is a little known (but understood locally) abeyance which would mean that Blatter or Platini would never be able to maintain a residence in Switzerland (having been simply taken to court). You are banned from owning property in Switzerland (Geneva certainly) if merely prosecuted. Possibly worse than exile for Blatter as he would be forced to live outwith Switzerland and be liable to multiple jurisdictions.
Things may have changed so experts take me down if incorrect. This was certainly true when I was relocating several executives to Geneva in the 90s. (Some couldn’t go).
John Clark 27th September 2015 at 1:42 pm #Cygnus X-1 27th September 2015 at 9:05 am # ‘…A cabal is a group of people united in some close design together, usually to promote their private views or interests in a church, state, or other community, often by intrigue, usually unbeknownst to persons outside their group.’ _______________ An apt description of the villainous rascals who were the signatories to the 5-way agreement, wouldn’t you say?
======================
CABAL is quite appropriate for the 5WA, given the origin of the modern usage of the word as referring to five specific parties, albeit individuals. (We were taught to use the capitals in school history many years ago as it was a proper noun derived acronym.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabal_Ministry
ianagain 28th September 2015 at 11:08 pm #
‘….You are banned from owning property in Switzerland (Geneva certainly) if merely prosecuted. ‘
_______
So, Harry Lime was wrong!
From ‘The Third Man’
“In Switzerland they had brotherly love. And in 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock. So long, Holly.’
From what you say,ianagain, the Swiss have a better, cleaner handle on things than we have!
Astonishingly, I have never, in all my travels, anywhere met anyone from Switzerland, although my wife has a nephew who was based there , in Geneva,for a while. He must have been a clean potato!
The Cat NR1 28th September 2015 at 11:20 pm #
‘…CABAL is quite appropriate for the 5WA, given the origin of the modern usage of the word as referring to five specific parties, albeit individuals. ‘
_________
Donaster, Regan, Longmuir, Green, Whitehouse (or Clark).
Pity there’s not a pronounceable acronym there.It would be rather jolly if there were.
I too heard the songs at Celtic Park on Saturday. I sit next to the press-box and I have to say that when I heard the BB being sung, I assumed they were singing “Gorgie Boys”. I did listen carefully to the line after the word “noise” and I absolutely did not hear anything sectarian being sung – only an indistinct line I couldn’t make out.
That at least gets the MSM guys off the hook. I’ve sat in and around the press box at Parkhead for the last fifteen years, and it is odd how you can hear the away fans more clearly than almost anything else – yet if I did not hear that line sung on Saturday, neither did they.
Not saying that Yakutsuki is hearing things, but at the very worst, the main body of Hearts fans backed out or sung something else. It’s pretty harsh tarring the Hearts fans, who I would find it quite fashionable to bash if they deserved it, with the same brush as a few loonies.
Not that it makes it right, but there is something of the GIRUY about a few teams’ fans singing the BB when Celtic are the opposition (although if the offending line is ever sung the GIRUY defence is no defence at all), but mass sectarianism I absolutely do not buy.
Big Pink 29th September 2015 at 12:03 am #
‘I too heard the songs at Celtic Park on Saturday. I sit next to the press-box and I have to say that when I heard the BB being sung, I assumed they were singing “Gorgie Boys”. I did listen carefully to the line after the word “noise” and I absolutely did not hear anything sectarian being sung – only an indistinct line I couldn’t make out.
That at least gets the MSM guys off the hook.’
___________
I am really pleased to hear that, as I was pleased to read wottpi’s post earlier.
I’ll let you know if Alan Patullo replies to my email.
Big Pink 29th September 2015 at 12:03 am
From what I see in the Aberdeen support on the occasion I still go to games, and what I read on Afc fan forums, there are a small number of idiots who do seem to like to “troll” or just plain offend rival fans. These folk particularly enjoy the reaction if they can cause a degree of outrage.
I’m pretty sure lots of the SPFL clubs have small groups of fans of this ilk.
Its a bit sad really, but there it is.
I also don’t think this is really driven by sectarianism motives as such, but importantly the end the result is all the same.
So as you say its really no excuse for anyone.
The first step would need to be for the atmosphere of aggressively trolling and taunting rival fans to end but I can’t see that happening any time soon.
Morning all.
On the title of this blog, I listened to the SSB podcast this morning while driving my daughter and then walking the pooch around Frederiksborg Castle (being your own boss has its perks). Anyhoo, Derek Johnstone was fairly adamant that there should a be total clear out at FIFA. Every last one of them should go, was more or less his line. I liked his no-nosense attitude. And it brought me back to the title of the blog. A clear out at Hampden. I’m still scratching my head about their most recent addition, Andrew Dickson. It is EBT Dickson?
Apart from the reign of corruption which appears to have stretched back much further than 2012, the SFA could try taking easyJambo’s comment seriously about points deductions for certain chants and singing. We’ve been pushing this point on here for years. I reckon a single points deduction on a team would stop the offensive singing of their fans overnight. If clubs don’t want it then the SFA could use that omnipresent discretionary rule to enforce it 🙂
Keevins (now on twitter: @shinjukushug) made sense at times last night. He even got stuck into fans for saying dishonest things about their clubs. Tut tut. It was later in the show and no one called in to point out the dishonesty of pundits for the past years of the Rangers-Sevco-Newco mess. Keevins has been one of the worst offenders, dishonesty is a bit harsh but he’s certainly been less than candid on this issue, imo.
Have seen the comments from Nr Regan and in fairness he was pretty quick to ask for clarity from M Platini and his deferred remuneration. Nine years does seem an awfully long time to wait for your wages to come through.
Twitter was alight with comments re his approach to thus versus his rather casual, indeed non existent, querying of Mr Sounness’s deferred EBT from RFC (IL).
That such sarcastic remarks can be made, with some justification, surely shows how hopelessly compromised Regan and his SFA cohorts are when it comes to all matters concerning the team(s) from Govan.
Put simply, he has to go.
jimmci 29th September 2015 at 10:26 am #
Despite his so obvious lack of awareness of his duties at Hampden, he is aware that to remain silent on the Platini situation would be a bad move for an ambitious man. Like so many people of his ilk, he has a knack of dismissing his own failings and is, therefor, unable to recognise himself in his piers, so when an opportunity to spout forth about a now vulnerable prominent figure, he will do so without thought to his own past failings. He also knows that he will escape all criticism for this from the SMSM as, they too, are as guilty as he in their hypocrisy.
We can be pretty certain that not one ‘journalist’ will raise the thorny comparison of the Souness EBT with Platini’s belated payment, and that all of their number who like to pontificate on twitter will studiously avoid responding to any questions on the subject.
Yet again, a massive story falls into the laps of the media, this time with an extra twist, a story far bigger, within their territory, than the connected one they choose to run with. Their desperation to avoid opening a can of worms is so conflicted with the true motivation of real journalists. In truth, the journalists themselves are as guilty of hypocrisy as Regan.
To highlight Regan’s failings would be to highlight their own.
ianagain 28th September 2015 at 11:08 pm #
“there is a little known (but understood locally) abeyance which would mean that Blatter or Platini would never be able to maintain a residence in Switzerland (having been simply taken to court). You are banned from owning property in Switzerland (Geneva certainly) if merely prosecuted. Possibly worse than exile for Blatter as he would be forced to live outwith Switzerland and be liable to multiple jurisdictions.Things may have changed so experts take me down if incorrect.”
===============================
That may well apply to Platini, but Blatter was born in Switzerland and has always been a Swiss citizen. I don’t think they can exile someone who was born Swiss and has no other nationality.
I have some confidence that the Swiss courts will deal with Blatter effectively, assuming there is any evidence against him. This whole shambles is reflecting badly on Switzerland, and the Swiss really, really don’t like that.
Just read an interesting article on GersNet about wheelchair access and accommodation at various stadia. In particular the writer discusses The National Stadium. Ramps which are overly steep, negotiating puddles and then pitchside at the south stand – no protection from the elements, water dripping down from the roof on to the wheelchair users. Restricted views.
In this day and age it’s a disgrace. Disabled access is not a new concept.
When all the work was being done at Hampden for the Commonwealth Games could these issues not have been addressed? I don’t know for sure but I guess Hampden got plenty of money for hosting the games.
Apparently his own stadium, Ibrox is much the same. No mention of any other club stadium in Scotland.
Now would that not be a good project for the SFA to get to grips with? It seems Europe is coming up with legislation. I suppose they will do nothing until they are forced to. Too much to expect they might take a lead here.
Allyjambo 29th September 2015 at 11:03 am #
‘….
Their desperation to avoid opening a can of worms is so conflicted with the true motivation of real journalists. In truth, the journalists themselves are as guilty of hypocrisy as Regan.
To highlight Regan’s failings would be to highlight their own.’
_____________
The really puzzling thing is : What mystical power has our editors and journalists and certain parties in the BBC so in thrall to ‘Rangersness’ that they seem either to live in fear of dire retribution if they report the Truth,or are happy as ‘Rangers’ supporters to indulge their ‘fandom’ at the price of selling their journalistic souls?
John Clark 29th September 2015 at 12:56 pm #
Cowards and lickspittles the lot of them.
Edit: I was writing more, then realised that that just sums them all up sufficiently, and so deleted the rest.
Jimbo – re disabled facilities
As far as Fir Park is concerned there is a small shelter for disabled fans in front of the away stand, and a larger, recently extended shelter in part of what used to be the enclosure in front of the main stand. Both these are at ground level and I think there is gate they come through straight into the ground.
I agree with you that clubs need to be more inclusive for all supporters regardless of their age or any disabilities.
As for the SFA, no doubt they will do SFA until their arm is twisted.
Wee alpha, that’s good to hear. Well done Motherwell FC
Re the behaviour of Hearts fans attending away matches, the club has just issued this statement:
http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/4637
Re disabled facilities. Celtic FC deserve huge plaudits for their sterling work in this department. I would advise anyone to pop along and see the facilities here.
The Daily Record is reporting that Leigh Griffiths has been fined £2,500 and given a suspended two game ban for his song about Rudi Skacel.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/sfa-hit-celtic-striker-leigh-6539840#ICID=sharebar_twitter
I’m sure that some will view it as lenient when compared to the ban given to Tonev, but I guess that the SFA tribunal may have viewed an “in your face” racist comment and being more serious than a song about an individual. Equally the argument that both offences are “racism” and should be treated the same is a powerful one.
Was given this with a suggestion that SFM becomes SiM.
Still fresh to me so no firm conclusions either way. Thoughts?
easyJambo 29th September 2015 at 3:53 pm
http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/4637
—————————————————————————————-
Chapeau to any club that recognises cancer can be cured nowadays. It is not the middle ages.
Carfins Finest, again that is good to hear. For all the times I have been in Celtic Park it was not something I took notice of. After I posted earlier I went on the Celtic FC website and noted they have identified areas of improvement and have a programme in place to address these issues. No detail but sounds good.
Was talking to a friend about an hour ago about this. Last time I was in Almondvale shopping centre Livingston, there were – seemed to me – huge amount of differently abled (Pope Francis term at the week-end) shoppers. A generation ago we never saw these people, they were there but invisible. They were ‘housebound’.
For years now public access to everywhere for everyone has been on the agenda, I dare to suggest even when Hampdump was being built. Shameful.
Bizarre tweet from Radio Clyde advertising tonight’s Superscoreboard programme. There is one part that really makes no sense and is in fact embarrassing in the extreme.
Superscoreboard @ClydeSSB
At 6 – Gordon Strachan on Fletcher, Martyn Waghorn on Rangers in Champions League and Dalziel & Hannah on something.
5:25 PM – 29 Sep 2015
Some say that there are two classes of folk disabled and TAB. The latter being temporarily able bodie that is a thought to keep in mind – right enough, it might be from one of those sociologist types
jimbo 29th September 2015 at 5:08 pm #
Click the link to see the facilities now available at Celtic Park. Disabled fans in many grounds (including Celtic Park previously) used to find themselves right down the front. This brings obvious problems with the view and also offers little protection from the elements. I am glad the club has addressed both these issues with the upgraded facilities.
http://scottishdsa.co.uk/?s=celtic
easyJambo 29th September 2015 at 3:53 pm #
‘… Heart of Midlothian Football Club strongly condemns.. ..we will be working very closely with British Transport Police to help identify any individual who is besmirching the good name of Heart of Midlothian Football Club and bring them to justice.”
___________
A good, straightforward statement. Even better, there’s every likelihood that the Hearts’ board really means it!
Big Pink 29th September 2015 at 4:22 pm #
‘…. a suggestion that SFM becomes SiM..’
_________
I think ‘SiM’ is more of a slogan about what SFM is actually about, rather than particularly useful as our name.
I’m happy with SFM- a name which some of us have used when writing to Press and others, and which must already be well known in Scottish football cyber-space.
This latest allegation about Platini receiving $2M – if true – is really disappointing.
Although he is very much part of the political machine at UEFA, and presumably was well placed to transfer into the FIFA top job, I always hoped that he would eventually come good as he was not simply a bureaucrat, but a legend in the game. [I know, not impressed with the CL set up either.]
And even if Platini is ‘cleared’, there remains the question: if you received $2M almost 10 [ten] years after you claim you performed the work for FIFA – then what did you declare on your Tax Returns ?
Think he is finished – along with Blatter.
But then who would be next in line at FIFA / UEFA ? I just can’t imagine a real reformer will be found amongst the senior ranks of either organisation. It will be more of the same, but more discreet, IMO.
If it’s so corrupt at the top, then why would anyone consider that the rest of the organisation is squeaky clean ?
Maybe we have just witnessed our own local contribution to world football corruption, as displayed by the SFA in recent years. And in the great scheme of things, maybe the SFA corruption just disappeared into the noise at FIFA/UEFA – and nobody there was the slightest bit interested either.
Radical outsiders to lead FIFA and UEFA would be a highly encouraging start: and eventually it could prove the catalyst for meaningful change at Hampden.
Well, you have to hope…
“Simon Evans @sgevans 31m31 minutes agoBREAKING – Swiss Attorney General says Michel Platini is “somewhere between being witness and an accused person” in FIFA probe.”
Oh Dear
It is good that Hearts have made a statement, however I would point out that
“We apologise to those individuals who were rightly upset by what seems to have been totally unacceptable behaviour and can assure them that the individuals in question do not represent the club or our values.
This minority of fans claiming to support the club are not welcome at Hearts and we will be working very closely with British Transport Police …”
would suggest to me that the statement relates to the supporters behaviour when they were travelling to or from a ground and does not relate to anything which may or may not have happened inside of one.
Upthehoops, you seem to preclude the possibility that Mr Waghorn is a football historian.
Big Pink, you’re right – I never imagined it! To be fair to the press, it wouldn’t have been so audible there as the away fans tend to chant abuse in the direction of the green brigade. We in the family section just happen to be in the firing line unfortunately.
Thankfully my son is still a bit young to realise they actually hate him without even meeting him! Sadly, he will find out some day.
pthehoops 29th September 2015 at 6:30 pm #jimbo 29th September 2015 at 5:08 pm # Click the link to see the facilities now available at Celtic Park. Disabled fans in many grounds (including Celtic Park previously) used to find themselves right down the front. This brings obvious problems with the view and also offers little protection from the elements. I am glad the club has addressed both these issues with the upgraded facilities. http://scottishdsa.co.uk/?s=ce
===============================
UTH, thanks for posting this. I used to have the pleasure of caring for a wheelchair user
and bringing him to Celtic Park. I got to know lots of the guys down at the front, braving the elements. Brilliant to see them getting a break!
I am not sure if this is what the Hearts statement was referring to, however it seems highly likely.
From the Edinburgh Evening News
http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/police-slam-drunk-hearts-fans-on-train-1-3901684
British Transport Police has condemned the actions of a small number of Hearts fans after their anti-social and offensive behaviour on trains before the team’s match against Celtic on Saturday.
In the first incident, shortly after 10.30am, a group of 8-10 Hearts supporters, who were under the influence of alcohol, boarded the Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street service at Haymarket.
During the journey they shouted and swore continually, which prompted other passengers to complain.
Later in the day – around 1.15pm – a group of around 35 of the team’s supporters boarded the Bristol Temple Meads to Glasgow Central service at Haymarket and are reported to have been shouting, swearing and using religiously offensive language during the journey.
Officers investigating the incidents will be reviewing CCTV and body-worn video footage to identify those involved.
Anyone who on either train and has information which can assist their inquiries is asked to contact BTP as a matter of urgency.
Chief Inspector David Marshall of BTP said: “This sort of behaviour is appalling and absolutely unacceptable and why football supporters feel the need to behave in such a manner is beyond me. There are other passengers on the train who are not attending the matches and should be able to travel, and work without having to be faced with it.”
British Transport Police can be contacted on 0800 40 50 40 or by texting 61016. Information can also be given to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A few of us did a bit of analysis towards the end of last season as to who would need to leave T’Rangers playing sqaud.
Over on the John James site a contributor to the comments pages, Karmaggedon, (previously of this parish?) has saved us the hassle this time round by listing the players and their contract end dates and the end dates of the current loan deals.
Keeping in mind DCK was speaking of 5 additional players and the fans are already talking about needing better central defenders a holding midfielder and a striker at the very least – The summary is as follows:-
“Possibly departing January 2016 (7):
Ball, Law, Zelalem, Oduwa, Clark, McKay & Aird.
Possibly departing July 2016 (4)
Miller, Templeton, Shiels & Walsh.
So by the end of season 2015/2016 the current squad of 23 could be slashed to just 12 players.
There are also two players in the squad but currently out on loan to other teams:
Robbie Crawford – January 2016 (end contract),Andy Murdoch – January 2016 (end contract).
So 9 registered players can leave in January.”
Interesting!!
Upthehoops, thanks for that link, it was heartwarming. I didn’t even know there was such an organisation. I’m not going to say anymore on the matter, who better to know the issues and report on them than the folk involved?
Hope you don’t mind if I repeat the link.
http://scottishdsa.co.uk/?s=celtic
Apologies if the this has been partially posted twice, moved the keyboard and went back to the home page.
First, as a Celtic fan who has lived in a flat just off Gorgie for the last 14 years, the last 3 years have been a breath of fresh air, with no renditions of the Gorgie Boys being sung (that I have heard), in the past I have had to close the window on match days, regardless of who the opposition was.
Thanks UTH for providing the link to the disabled view at Celtic Park, fantastic. Compare that to the tweets from the last International game at Hampden, where the disabled view was not only on the pitch, but obscured for the entire match by sponsor boards.
I have to admit to being a bit upset at the latest coming from UEFA with regards to Platini, and that my first thoughts were that this is the reason that they never got involved in this scandal.
It is worth remembering that despite the Bryson nonsense, 2 players were not eligible to play for RFC due to the “Wee Tax Case”. That they pled guilty to another 3 players with regards the “Big Tax Case”, so that is now 5 players not eligible to play. The last judgement sent an undisclosed number of cases back to the FTT to think again about their decisions.
TheGamesABogey. Is there ANYTHING (sorry for shouting) the SFA is good at? Other than corporate hospitality doos? Oh and visits to Ralph Slaters when they need a change of clothing.
An honest question, what are they good at? Someone earlier today at a school involved in their much lauded (by themselves) football training programmes suggested all is not as well as it should be.
We know they don’t apply the elastic rules when it suits them, create new definitions of rules when it suits them retrospectively. And then allow a conflicted high heid yin to absent himself because, wait for it, he was conflicted!
I am now going to make good use of the fantastic new smileys, indulge me please!
Lastlty, I don’t know what this wee guy about but:
easyJambo 29th September 2015 at 4:20 pm #
‘………..I’m sure that some will view it as lenient when compared to the ban given to Tonev, but I guess that the SFA tribunal ..’
___________
And, of course, the ( to me,anyway) good idea of creating an ‘independent’ ‘judicial’ tribunal in order to remove disciplinary matters from the immediate control of laymen, blazered and brogued, was well and truly and, we fear, deliberately, buggered up by the ‘prosecution’ in the LNS judicial enquiry, who were so desperate to avoid the only proper determination that a Tribunal, faced with ALL the relevant evidence, could arrive at, that they concealed evidence, and wandered into a fantasy land where the benefits accruing from cheating at a certain point in time are allowed to stand because the cheating is not found out about till a later point in time!
Oh, Bryson, Bryson ! How you and your ‘prosecuting’ accomplices have mortally wounded belief in the integrity of the Judicial Panel notion. ( And how I wish I could write a Burnsian-style ode).
( This is not, of course, a criticism of the various people who sit on the Judicial Panel: they can only deal with the case presented by the ‘prosecution’).
Prescinding ( I do love that word!) from the Griffiths case, the point I’m trying to make is that if a Tribunal was once majorly nobbled,trust goes.
Just as , our Football Governance people having once betrayed us, which of us can have any belief in their integrity as governors of our sport, whatever they now do??
Griffiths is a reasonably talented footballer, he is also a ned. I would have been quite happy to see Celtic dispense with his services at the first opportunity.
Its probably fair to say that some footballers have always behaved badly, there was just no 24/7 media to catch them at it. We live in the world we live in, even mediocre footballers get paid quite handsomely. Along with the handsome paycheck comes a responsibility to behave themselves, and not embarrass their employer.
There is far more expected of a footballer today, than simply kicking a ball.
Can we really expect so much from the SFA, when the Big Boys down in Westminster tell porkies on this sort of scale?
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-28/companies-can-breathe-easy-as-u-k-criminal-law-change-abandoned
John C, Where is the faultine in all of this?
I have many times on various forums called out the Scottish media, but for all their faults and bias and FEAR (real personal fear ala Neil Lennon) they are not to blame. They are mere idiots or cowards who are afraid to tell the truth on the big matters in Scottish football. Thank goodness for the likes of Alex Thomson who had guts.
Then there is Regan & Doncaster. Idiots both but mere puppets. They take the shilling from their masters. Who makes up the SFA & SPFL?
There is where the fault line lies. There is not enough Turnbull Huttons (RIP) going about. I can’t wait until Anne Budge & Leann Dempster get on the boards of these two corrupted entities and sort them out!
scapaflow 30th September 2015 at 12:09 am #
‘…Can we really expect so much from the SFA, when the Big Boys down in Westminster tell porkies on this sort of scale?…
_____________
‘In a speech in June, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said that “simply ratcheting up ever-larger fines that just penalize shareholders, erode capital reserves and diminish the lending potential of the economy is not, in the end, a long-term answer.”’
If I may give a personal opinion: there is something about Osborne that reeks of malicious evil.
There is, I would imagine, the smell of sulphur about him.
I have not seen a picture of his feet: I suspect they may be cloven.
A faint Brysonesque/SFA whiff about him, as well:-‘Don’t fine baddies for their wrongdoing because shareholders might suffer’ equals ” Let the most cheating club that ever there was in Scottish Football not be penalised, because we’d all suffer”
Bad cess first to Osborne and then to the junior Justice Minister, Selous.May their political careers end in ruins.
Am I the only one wondering what happened about Charles Green’s court case against his former employer, to try to force them to cover the costs of his defence at his criminal trial? Not a word in the papers or the broadcast media that I can find. Any ideas?
“simply ratcheting up ever-larger fines that just penalize shareholders, erode capital reserves and diminish the lending potential of the economy is not, in the end, a long-term answer.”’
===================================
Off topic but whether you like him or not that statement by Osborne is actually correct.
Whilst the financial services industry certainly went off the rails (not just in the UK mind) the answer is not to kill it, which is what he’s saying in the piece you quoted.
The answer is, of course, properly structured regulation combined with competent oversight by the regulator and appropriate action against offenders. All three were absent in the run up to the global financial crisis; and the absence of the first two pretty much makes impossible the third.
zerotolerance1903 30th September 2015 at 9:57 am
“Off topic but whether you like him or not that statement by Osborne is actually correct. Whilst the financial services industry certainly went off the rails (not just in the UK mind) the answer is not to kill it, which is what he’s saying in the piece you quoted.The answer is, of course, properly structured regulation combined with competent oversight by the regulator and appropriate action against offenders. All three were absent in the run up to the global financial crisis; and the absence of the first two pretty much makes impossible the third.”
ZT, Osborne is seeking to protect his own.
In response to your main point though, the same applies to shareholders in financial institutions as in Scottish football – the shareholders are ultimately responsible for the governance of the company. Shareholders in financial services companies were delighted to benefit from the seemingly endless rise in share price through the early noughties and had no one else to blame than themselves when the sector went into meltdown due to its own greed. Bank officers who acted illegally should obviously be prosecuted and similarly the directors appointed by the shareholders to provide governance on their behalf.
In the case of Scottish football, you know who the shareholders are and whether they directed or followed the managers and directors they appointed, they allowed the Rangers mess to happen, maybe even facilitated it. The regulations were fine, oversight was poor and appropriate action wasn’t taken against offenders (i.e. action against Rangers wasn’t proportionate to the offences they were found guilty of in terms of player registration, particularly when taking account of other clubs expulsion from competitions for less serious rule breaches).
I heard a rumour earlier that the SFA are to make an announcement that they have terminated their vehicle provision contract with the VW Group as they do not want to be associated with an organisation that is involved in the circumvention of rules and regulations.
I also understand that Dave King may be jetting in to get Level 5 PR to announce that the Rangers International Group will no longer be using the VW Group for the provision of ride-on garden machinery for the franchise. Whether that is a cost-cutting measure or an ethical decision was not confirmed by the bloke on the bus.
Did I miss something yesterday?
https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/current-business/court-rolls/court-roll?id=0ca2eea6-8980-69d2-b500-ff0000d74aa7
COURT OF SESSION
CALLING LIST
Tuesday 29th September
13 Charles Alexander Green, c/o DAC Beachcroft Scotland LLP, 125 West Regent Street, Glasgow AG The Rangers International Football Club Plc, Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow. DAC Beachcroft Scotland LLP
Charlie’s briefs
http://www.dacbeachcroft.com/global-coverage/united-kingdom/scotland
DAC Beachcroft Scotland specialises in insurance litigation and dispute resolution, commercial dispute resolution, private client and commercial law. On 3 September 2012, Andersons Solicitors LLP merged with DAC Beachcroft LLP to become DAC Beachcroft Scotland. From our offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh the team extends the reach of the firm into the Scottish jurisdiction, offering seamless cross-border services for our clients in the UK. We offer clients deep local market knowledge in Scotland backed by full national and international support from across the firm. DAC Beachcroft Scotland is acknowledged in Chambers and Legal 500 as being at the forefront of insurance advice in Scotland. The insurance litigation and dispute resolution department is one of the largest in the country. The quality of our staff means we offer a breadth and depth of knowledge in our practice areas. We place high importance on integrity and professionalism, always working with clients to provide quality services and bespoke solutions. DAC Beachcroft Scotland is part of DAC Beachcroft LLP, an international law firm with coverage across the UK, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and North America.
easyJambo 30th September 2015 at 1:46 pm # Did I miss something yesterday?https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/current-business/court-rolls/court-roll?id=0ca2eea6-8980-69d2-b500-ff0000d74aa7 COURT OF SESSION CALLING LIST Tuesday 29th September 13 Charles Alexander Green, c/o DAC Beachcroft Scotland LLP, 125 West Regent Street, Glasgow AG The Rangers International Football Club Plc, Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow. DAC Beachcroft Scotland LLP
_______________
Don’t know what a ‘Calling List’ entails, or if it means there was some sort of hearing yesterday, but John James is blogging in his usual ‘factual’ way that there will be a hearing either next week or the week after. As usual he makes no reference as to how he knows this, but I wonder if this is the kind of decision (hearing date set) that would be made as a result of being on the ‘Calling List’.
easyJambo 30th September 2015 at 1:52 pm #Charlie’s briefs http://www.dacbeachcroft.com/global-coverage/united-kingdom/scotland DAC Beachcroft Scotland specialises in insurance litigation and dispute resolution, commercial dispute resolution, private client and commercial law. On 3 September 2012, Andersons Solicitors LLP merged with DAC Beachcroft LLP to become DAC Beachcroft Scotland. From our offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh the team extends the reach of the firm into the Scottish jurisdiction, offering seamless cross-border services for our clients in the UK. We offer clients deep local market knowledge in Scotland backed by full national and international support from across the firm. DAC Beachcroft Scotland is acknowledged in Chambers and Legal 500 as being at the forefront of insurance advice in Scotland. The insurance litigation and dispute resolution department is one of the largest in the country. The quality of our staff means we offer a breadth and depth of knowledge in our practice areas. We place high importance on integrity and professionalism, always working with clients to provide quality services and bespoke solutions. DAC Beachcroft Scotland is part of DAC Beachcroft LLP, an international law firm with coverage across the UK, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and North America.
=========================
“We place high importance on integrity and professionalism” nearly caused the keyboard and monitors to be sprayed. That “I” word keeps appearing in printed and spoken word, but seems to be in very short supply in deed.
I assume that they are referring to themselves and not their clients, otherwise it may all end in tears.
It was JJ’s post that prompted me to look at the Court Rolls.
He said that the writ had been served. That may have been what happened yesterday.
neepheid 30th September 2015 at 9:52 am
You are not alone, so was I, so a little search.
First up johnjamessite, and latest post !
“The Impact of the Green Trial on The Blue Pound”
Worth a read, he is absolutely spot on with this:
In over 35 years in the Insurance Industry, I have never heard of any policy which would, as he says, indemnify anyone against criminal charges.
As for the Govan six /seven
For others wondering what is about to happen next, see the attached file above, the preliminary hearing at Glasgow High Court on October the 6th is Level 5
PS just seen subsequent comments.
http://www.dacbeachcroft.com/global-coverage/united-kingdom/scotland
With Craigy previously stating he could not expect a favourable outcome in Edinburgh, and Imran further throwing his tuppenceworth into the mix with his statement, I wonder how much bearing this part of Beachcroft’s blurb will come into play, wrt where a trial may be eventually held.
“offering seamless cross-border services for our clients in the UK”
This is from the following link-
http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/docs/default-source/scs—taking-action/raising-and-defending-ordinary-action-in-the-cos100810.pdf?sfvrsn=6
“4 Next steps- Having your summons accepted by the court is the first step. You must now arrange for a copy of the summons to be served upon the defender(s).This is required in terms of Rule of Court 16.After that, your summons must be lodged for calling(G). It will appear in the Court Rolls on the calling list to show that it has been served and proceedings have started.Staff within the General Department of the OCoS can advise you on how to go about these steps. What happens next depends on whether your case is disputed by the defender.”
From the glossary-
“Calling- When the names of parties are published in a court list, this is also published on the court website,containing details of cases that have called i.e. the summons has been served upon the defender and the period of notice has expired.”
woodstein 30th September 2015 at 2:08 pm #
neepheid
eayJambo
_____
Thank you for those contributions. Can I just be clear: on October 16th there will some activity in Glasgow Sheriff court during which the accused will be asked how they plead,and date for trial will be set? That is, there will be more than a few minutes involved? I’d travel through, but not for just a few minutes.
Extracted from ET today;
“IBROX directors John Gilligan and Stewart Robertson will field questions on Friday night as fans seek answers on a range of issues at the Rangers Supporters Trust AGM…
A Trust spokesman told SportTimes: “The meeting on Friday is an opportunity for members to ask questions to John and Stewart about what is happening and hopefully get updates on a range of issues…
It should be a very positive meeting. Everyone is pleased with the way things are going at the club so hopefully that will come through.”
================================
Sounds like a TRFC threat – to itself for a change.
It better be a “very positive meeting”.
Well, Dermott Desmond has just done his bit for ‘Rangers’.
He’s extolling, on Sky, that both Celtic and Rangers deserve to be in the EPL within 10 years. Regardless of the likelihood of that ever coming to pass, nice to see he’s tying the two clubs together again. As far as I am concerned, in that short PR piece, we see the real reason for Celtic’s silence on matters Sevco – they consider they have a better chance of reaching the holy grail in tandem with their great rivals, but not if they are universally recognised as being dead!
Allyjambo 30th September 2015 at 3:55 pm #
Personally, I would have some respect for people who put their hands up and said”We did what we did, because we believe it was in the best interests of the company”
I have no respect for people who hide behind carefully scripted jokes, nods, winks, or proxies.
Those are scary figures on jjs site re. the legal fees. If he is anywhere near the mark on the costs neither DK & his board or CG or CW can afford to fight this out.
(unless they secretly have wealth off the radar)
Allyjambo 30th September 2015 at 3:55 pm #
‘.Well, Dermott Desmond has just done his bit for ‘Rangers’.’
_________)
Blithering auld eejit!
I am incensed that he should open his stupid propagandist mouth in support of ‘continuity Rangers’ as if nothing had happened and it was ‘Old Firm’ business as usual, instead of directing his energies into the task of cleansing Scottish Football and restoring some integrity to our sport..
Is he really trying to rally support for the dying new club? Will he chip in a few million to the war chest, if he’s so feckin desperate to have ‘The Old Firm’ back in business?
Or is he just taking the p.ss, secretly laughing at the very idea that the new club will last even one season, let alone ten?
The man may be wealthy, but from my perspective he’s a pernicious buffoon, and should keep his mouth shut and enjoy his millions.