Leaving aside for the moment the Shadenfreude-laden giggling as first Celtic, and then Rangers departed the Champions League this season, it is worthwhile taking time to think on the reality of Scotland’s latter-day bit-part status in the game.
There are Celtic fans who try to rationalise it by pointing out that for them, the Stein years were a wonderful exception and not the norm. That however does not explain the European status of Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs, Dundee, Dundee United, Kilmarnock and Dunfermline in a period of roughly a quarter of a century from the beginning of European competition.
From the fifties to the eighties, Scottish clubs were feared and respected in Europe. Since then, only Martin O’Neil’s Celtic and Walter Smith’s Rangers have made an impression on the European scene.
So what has happened? Many blame the distraction of new technology, taking potential Johnstones and Baxters away from pursuing the soccer dream. I’m not convinced of that myself. They have game consoles and PCs in England and Italy and Germany as well. They also have them in Scandinavian countries where daylight hours and suitable weather are in even less abundance than in Scotland – and of course clubs from Scandinavian countries were both responsible for Celtic and Rangers fates this season.
Failure then breeds failure. Losing out one year means more (and earlier) qualifiers down the line. In this regard, you have to wonder at the claims of how “brilliantly” Celtic have been run over the last decade, when the club went into Euro qualifiers again and again unprepared in terms of personnel, even to the extent of using makeshift central defenders in several campaigns. Our clubs know its all coming, but year on year, we get caught on the hop by the timing of those early ties. Planning? Don’t make me laugh.
We are also faced with the reality that fans of clubs who are not in contention for a ECL group place, are usually fervently hoping that the quest ends in failure. Not because there is a deep hatred of either or both Celtic and Rangers, but because a Champions League place for a Scottish team gives the successful side an immeasurable financial advantage over the rest. Of course that attitude is understandable when you look at the reality for our clubs if one of their number makes it to the group stages.
Scottish football clubs rely heavily on gate income for survival because their media deals struck with broadcasters are so much poorer than in countries of similar size. ECL money – even if the successful side fails to score a goal or get a point on the board – is like all your Christmasses have come at once.
It is well known that the income gap between Celtic & Rangers and the rest is huge. The income gap between a Scottish Champions League team and the rest is even more massive. Yet if a Dutch, or Portuguese or Danish or Swedish side get a place in the group stages, the impact is not so great. Why? Because they have football administrators who can sell the game effectively, getting value for their product from the media.
This is the one area where our administrators have failed consistently and miserably.
The current football model where home teams keep their own gate money, and in some cases even have their own media contracts, is designed to (with the notable exception of England) create a few bigger fishes in a number of smaller ponds. It ultimately ends with the pantomime (which has not yet gone away) of the European Super League.
I wish I could say I had a solution to all this, but my instinct is to say that in the absence of a solution we should forget about Europe and its riches. Instead, lets return to a sport driven model of the game where there is a more equitable share of revenues. Forget the tuppence ha’penny TV contracts and give football back to the fans, live on a Saturday (Covid permitting). In time, the level of competition would increase, as would the quality of the product. The talk to the TV folk when they want to pay the going rate.
It might help if there was some kind of levy (listening indy supporters?) imposed on subscription service providers like Sky. £25m versus £1.5 billion is a much smaller fraction than that of Scottish subscribers to the Sky platform for example.
There is little we in Scotland can do to prevent the globalisation and Mafia-isation of the game internationally, but those things we CAN control, like turning inward to improve our game instead of, like Stella Dallas in the eponymous classic movie, standing in the rain looking through the window at the banquet elsewhere.
Of course it won’t happen.
Highlander 21st September 2021 At 09:28
5 0 Rate This
They seem to have no problem in applying the rules and sanctions when they only affect insignificant clubs (or do I mean companies?), yet do everything in their power to admonish the big boys.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
In terms of the ‘big boys’ of the Scottish game I think of Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen. I can only ever recall the SFA twisting themselves into contortions to admonish one of those clubs for fielding ineligible players. They firstly set terms of reference to the lead investigator to eliminate certain pieces of evidence. They then sent their man to the investigation to advise of a ‘rule’ never used before, and never used again. It really is quite incredible. It was such an obvious stitch up, and all to protect a ‘club’ which had illegally denied the public purse of tens of millions of pounds. Why on earth should such illegal behaviour be protected?
With the news today that Celtic posted a loss of 11 million last year, the financial experts in the sports sections of the Scottish media should be painting a picture of doom and gloom over Celtic Park. If Rangers were able to approach a loss like that it would time for celebration and tons of column inches on how well run and financially stable they are. When will their figures be released probably early on a Friday evening and have no mention until days later.
Highlander 21st September 2021 At 09:28
Jingso.Jimsie 21st September 2021 At 11:19
upthehoops 21st September 2021 At 15:32
The same question remains:- Why do the other clubs allow it to continue? Not one of them ever speaks out or protests at what’s going on so they must be quite happy with it all.
Another offside goal at the week end and a mild comment by the Motherwell manager but nothing more.
Nothing will ever be done if the other clubs accept what is going on and to date they seem quite content to go along with the cheating.
upthehoops 21st September 2021 At 15:32
‘.. It was such an obvious stitch up, and all to protect a ‘club’ which had illegally denied the public purse of tens of millions of pounds.’
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Happily, in spite of lies and deceit, the cheating club did NOT survive, but was liquidated and ceased to exit.
Of course, a further lie was then required to be manufactured by the wretched liars in football governance, backed by the running dog lackeys in the SMSM the lie that a brand new football club had a history of sporting achievement dating back 140 years!
The liars know that they are liars, and they that they have no response that can mitigate their betrayal of office[ may they live the rest of their lives in disgrace and shame]
Vernallan 21st Sept 17.01
“With the news today that Celtic posted a loss of 11 million last year, the financial experts in the sports sections of the Scottish media should be painting a picture of doom and gloom over Celtic Park. If Rangers were able to approach a loss like that it would time for celebration and tons of column inches on how well run and financially stable they are. When will their figures be released probably early on a Friday evening and have no mention until days later.”
I’ve only had a quick look at the results but I can only agree with you. Looking purely from a financial perspective (ignoring the hurt Celtic fans no doubt feel at the dismal attempt at TIAR) the results, in COVID context, are very solid. Notwithstanding a reduction in Football and Stadium Income of £15m Celtic’s cash position only fell £3m and was £19.5m at the end of the FY. An additional £13m RCF remained undrawn. Post the end of the FY they have had a strong net gain on player trading and the accounts, while giving no details, highlight that they have a “net receivables position” with respect to past player movement i.e. they are owed more money than Celtic owe other clubs which will further strengthen their cash position. Their P/L performance for FY 22, having secured Europa group football and had a strong net gain in the recent transfer window is almost guaranteed.
While the results will no doubt do little to comfort many Celtic fans there will come a time (as happened when assessing “The Bunnet’s” running of the club) when they look back with a different mindset.
Elsewhere in Govan there will be a club who will be wondering how their results (when they are released) could be spun. They will, as I’ve said before, be awful. No window dressing will disguise that when they issued.
Westcoaster — 21 sept 2021– 19:36
Will this be the year that Rangers break the 100 million mark in accumulated losses. Will this lead to a late Friday evening news release and the subsequent crowing of a new world record for achieving this feat in record time. How long will the money continue to flow from “investors”, how deep are the pockets, how short are the arms. How will the paid to play media react. Interesting times coming down the pike.
‘Ballyargus 21st September 2021 At 17:45
The same question remains:- Why do the other clubs allow it to continue? Not one of them ever speaks out or protests at what’s going on so they must be quite happy with it all…’
::
::
I suspect that the SFA & SPFL ‘one club, one vote’ principle is corrupted by the usual forces: cliques, deference to the ‘Big Two’, fear of losing the tiny bit of influence/social standing/the freebies associated with board/committee memberships, trepidation of being put on some, likely nonexistent, sh!t list that will have consequences in the future &, of course, troughers’ apathy.
Then there’s also the ‘Whit school didye go tae?’ lifetime expectation that you’ll support (or, at least, not agitate against) your ‘side’, simply because of who your parents were & where you were educated.
Over the past year the Board at Ibrox has dug very deep to keep the show on the road , a lot deeper than the outside investors did at the recent share issue . I believe they did so in the hope (or belief) that CL group stage money would relieve them of this ongoing burden. The perfect storm of Brexit/Covid/Evergrande /NI increases and the costs of everything else going skyward will affect all of us . The ability to borrow is being restricted to those who are credit worthy and those who are being rejected from loan sharks such as Close will not receive a warm welcome from the High St or the City .
Dave King is due to call in his loan in a few short weeks and if anyone thinks he will roll it over or increase it should check his Sebata companies share price. From the day he took control at Ibrox to today the value of Sebata in Sterling terms has lost over 90% of its value. King is treading water and is as desperate for cash as those left inside Ibrox.
The transfer window doesn’t open for over 3 months so zero funds can be raised in that way . By going to the public with the share issue rather than raising funds from within indicates they are now cash strapped . If they do get to January they have a dilemma , do they sell their top players (in a depressed market) and risk not qualifying for the CL . Even though the rules on ffp have been relaxed due to Covid are they still at risk of failing to gain a licence due to their losses. To top it all we have Ashley sitting in the wings waiting to extract revenge on those who ousted him and that includes Park as well as King . I can’t wait to see how the Daily Record blames Catholic schools for this one.
You couldn’t make this up.
RIFC/TRFC were negotiating with cinch up until the 7th of June about renaming their ground ‘the cinch Ibrox Stadium’ –
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/rangers-held-talks-rename-stadium-25046101
‘The parent company of Rangers entered negotiations to rename Ibrox with a firm that secured an SPFL sponsorship deal, a court has heard.
Advocate Lord Keen of Elie QC said bosses at Rangers Football Club Ltd spoke to chiefs at online car retailer Cinch about renaming the club’s stadium.
The lawyer told the Court of Session on Wednesday that the organisations explored the possibility of calling the club’s home ‘the cinch Ibrox stadium.’
Lord Keen spoke during a hearing in which the SFA succeeded in a bid to gain permission to appeal against an interim interdict which had been granted against it earlier this year…’
There’s a bit more info in the article about a ‘heavily redacted’ contract, dated May 2021, between Parks of Hamilton & TRFC, which seems to be the basis of the dispute.
Quite delicious isn’t it JJ?
They provided a heavily redacted contract from May 2021. Keen says he needs the full unredacted version to make sense of it.
There could be trouble ahead.
Jingso.Jimsie 22nd September 2021 At 15:23
You couldn’t make this up.
RIFC/TRFC were negotiating with cinch up until the 7th of June about renaming their ground ‘the cinch Ibrox Stadium’
Speculative, but until recently, was it not the case that Close Finance held securities over Ibrox, and would have had the final say on whether they could, or couldnae?
The Cinch revelations could prove costly as I’m sure they will seek recompense for a certain club* not displaying their name on shirts and stadia advertising as per the agreement . The SPFL should also fine them for failure to do so, then there will be the associated court costs if of course they end up on the losing side of the argument . Possibly the most damaging aspect of this is that once again they have shown themselves to be untrustworthy when it comes to business deals and are prepared to make ridiculous claims and excuses.
The SPFL must rue the day they decided an entity at Ibrox was an essential part of life in Scotland however I have a suggestion for them , introduce ffp and put these pups back in their box.
My speculation .
cinch have a large lump of money that they want to use to build brand awareness via partnerships in Scottish football.After discussions/negotiations , cinch decide to go with overall league sponsorship rather than a single stadium renaming . RIFC/TRFC spit the dummy oot because they are being forced to display advertising for a fraction of what they would have got had they concluded their own deal with cinch .
(I wonder if the redacted contract was drafted by the same hand that compiled the dossier ?)
Timtim 22nd September 2021 At 19:34
‘..The Cinch revelations could prove costly as I’m sure they will seek recompense for a certain club* ..
%%%%%%%5
If the contract was between the SPFL and cinch, cinch simply takes action against the SPFL for breach of contract, I would have thought.
The fight would then be between the SPFL and RIFC plc.
RIFC appear to have argued that the SPFL had no right to include them in any contract with cinch because they were already bound by a previous contract with another party [Park’s]
It looks like a major bols up for everyone but cinch, who’ll get their money one way or another!
Gross incompetence with an admixture of lies and deceit. Reminds me of 2012, for some reason.
With Derby County going into administration owing c. £30m to HMRC, it will be the first time since 2003 that HMRC will be a preferred creditor in a football administration (behind fixed charge / secured creditors and football creditors (England only), but ahead of unsecured creditors).
The law in respect of “Crown Preference” changed both in Scotland and England with effect from 1 December 2020.
It covers tax that is held by the company on behalf of others, e.g. VAT, PAYE, employee NICs. It does not cover tax due by the company itself, e.g. Corporation tax or employers NICs.
RANGERS have blasted back in their ongoing row with the SPFL – and say NO negotiations took place over a possible stadium sponsorship deal with cinch.
The Ibrox club insist it was the league’s new title sponsors who approached them “to discuss commercial opportunities” earlier this year.
Rangers say no ‘negotiations’ took place about renaming Ibrox
The Scottish champions are refusing to display cinch branding on team shirts, advertising boards or other media board.
Rangers chairman Douglas Park believes that the £8m deal struck by the SPFL breaches a commercial agreement between his company, Parks of Hamilton, and the club.
The matter is being dealt with at the Court of Session where Advocate Lord Keen of Elie QC said earlier today that the club had spoken to cinch about renaming the club’s stadium.
Acting for the SPFL, Lord Keen spoke during a hearing in which the SFA succeeded in a bid to gain permission to appeal against an interim interdict which had been granted against it earlier this year.
Douglas Park had won the court order which forces the SFA to comply with its own guidelines on arbitration.
The businessman instructed lawyers to go to Scotland’s highest civil court to seek a resolution.
Rangers, though, have hit back to say that isn’t the case.
They told the BBC: “Cinch approached Rangers to discuss commercial opportunities in early 2021.
“Rangers provided information on what opportunities might be available.
“This is common practice for our commercial team.
“At no point did cinch offer any terms to Rangers.
“Contrary to the SPFL’s claims, no ‘negotiations’ took place.”
Rangers believe they don’t need to display cinch branding because clubs are “not obliged to comply with this rule if to do so would result in that club being in breach of a contractual obligation entered into prior to the commercial contract concerned”.
Just been sent a video of Leigh Griffiths kicking a smoking flare into the St Johnstone support at Dens Park this evening.
No matter the provocation he receives, this is reprehensible at best and life threatening at worst.
Surely a lengthy ban & visit from Police Scotland awaits him. If not then why?
Timtim 22nd September 2021 At 12:45
Dave King is due to call in his loan in a few short weeks.
To top it all we have Ashley sitting in the wings waiting to extract revenge on those who ousted him and that includes Park as well as King.
RIFC/TRFC were negotiating with cinch up until the 7th of June about renaming their ground ‘the cinch Ibrox Stadium’ – Cinch found a better deal with the SPFL.
Do they sell their top players (in a depressed market) and risk not qualifying for the CL .
They have been trying to sell players and no one is interested in the price the ibrox club is asking.
If they do get to January they have a dilemma.
Do they go cap in hand to Ashley? It may be the only option left.
Albertz@21.33
Are Rangers* claiming the negotiations were dubbed ?
Perhaps the Ibrox board should look at appearing on the British version of Britain’s got Talent, or, The X Factor. Their juggling of stories of what was negotiated, what was discussed with cinch would surely appeal to the judges. If they were concerned about submitting an unredacted contract they could have applied for confidentiality agreements to be signed by all parties. It looks to be a case of them over-valuing the naming rights to the stadium, similar, to the over-valuing of numerous players they have been trying to flog. After all didn’t Dave King have a rather ambitious valuation of the roster a few years back.
C1@ 22:37
Imagine trying to spin the Sports Direct Ibrox Arena and a 1p in the £ per shirt deal into a positive . Did we ever find out where ra deedz were hiding ?
Come to the Cinch used car emporium. Home of a 2nd haun’ club, nearly new school jumpers, and pre-owned trophies……..Has quite a ring tae it. 🙂
Corrupt official 22nd September 2021 At 23:08
‘… Home of a 2nd haun’ club’
%%%%%%%%%%
Nay, Corrupt Official, rather more a ‘cheap, deceitful imitation’ of a deceased club, than decently ‘second haun’!
Vernallen 22nd Sept 01.22
“Will this be the year that Rangers break the 100 million mark in accumulated losses.”
More accurately, was FY20-21 the year Rangers broke the £100m mark in accumulated losses? Yes is the short answer. It has already happened, they just haven’t told us yet. The negative player trading in FY 20-21 combined with the COVID-related loss of non-season ticket “turn style” revenue of approximately £18m will have taken them comfortably over £100m of losses since formation in 2012. The only major unknowns are was there any positive offset from business interruption insurance which may have been in place and what the impact is of any improved commercial revenue linked to the switch to Castore netted against further legal costs and SDIR settlement provisions. The cumulative scale of share issues and the government loan indicate roughly where the numbers will land – a P/L loss in the region of £25-30m.
Given that no players left for any meaningful fee in the main transfer window affecting FY 21-22 and CL revenue didn’t materialise then I think a more interesting question is if Rangers fail to shift anyone in the January window is there any hope they could break even or are further losses inevitable this FY (21-22).
Nae fooling you John. lol.
TBH I wasn’t trying to fool anyone. I just stole a wee bit of artistic license to fit with the joke advertising blurb…… A new club with a used fanbase would be more accurate, but the Advertising Standards Authority don’t worry too much about accuracy.
It was intended in the third person. Arthur Daley-esque.
Anyhoos……Seems it wisnae them, but a big Bhoy that did it and ran away.
Re the ‘beanspilling’ about TRFC’s commercial activities, it’s a ‘cinch’ that the version of events outlined in RC’s post above is being spun by God knows who from the crumbling dome – most likely the board of the parent company. Also, I didn’t realise that the Govan mob was talking to the BBC – there ye go, I’ve learned something new today.
“They told the BBC blah blah …”. That wording doesn’t ring true wording and seems, at best, a bit ‘wishy washy’ to me! Or possibly fabricated.
I await with interest a response from Cinch, and the judge once he has seen the unredacted documents ( why would you redact anything if everything you claim about the vague nature of the contract is true?)
Now – got to get this off my chest…
It’s time, apparently, to have another attempt at ‘criminalising’ Leigh Griffiths, who admittedly behaved reprehensively against St Johnstone, from someone (see above) who seemingly sympathises with Kris ‘I know I’m associated with a mental health charity but that disnae matter cos we’re talking about a hooligan here’ Boyd, when chastising Griffiths for his actions – and looking for draconian punishment. Shylock and his pound of flesh springs to mind.?
It’s as if the poster was ‘bursting’ to ‘have a go’ at a guy with well documented enduring mental health issues, so although he definitely deserves punishment for his actions, how about a greater degree of understanding, humanity, help and support.
Or …let the polis just lock him up, eh?
Albertz11 22nd September 2021 @ 21:33hrs:
Interesting. Where does your extensive quote come from? It would have been much better had you supplied an attribution/link.
Instead of replying to Lord Keen’s assertions in in court, one of RIFC, TRFC or Douglas Park (I’m not at all sure who’s driving this forward, it may be one of, two of, or all three) decides to indulge in some ‘he said, she said’ via a BBC (?) journalist.
If Lord Keen, acting for the SFA, has used incorrect information in the CoS in front of Lord Braid, then the place to dispute the advocate’s position is in that very court. I’m surprised that those (apparently easily-proved, according to your quoted article) rebuttals weren’t made at yesterday’s hearing.
Still, the ‘clumpany’ works in mysterious ways & legal bills are just chaff in the wind…
betc67. 23rd September 11.17.
Where did i mention or show support for Kris Boyd?
Kris Boyd suffered a family bereavement and has used his media profile to raise awareness for an issue that affects people in every part of the country. He should be applauded for this by everyone, but sadly and somewhat predictably was subjected to vile online abuse on social media.
I have a great amount of sympathy for everyone who suffers with mental health issues, including Leigh Griffiths, but this should not excuse his recent actions which include last nights irresponsible behaviour.
I’m sure he has been offered all the “understanding, help and support” from his parent club (Celtic) but has to accept a personal level of responsibility going forward. Throwing a flare into a section of the stadium which included young children must be condemned, irrespective of who the perpetrator is.
Rather than “bursting to have a go” i was actually surprised no-one had mentioned the incident given its very nature.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58662407
Enterprising way of increasing income in Scottish fitba’
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/match-worn-football-shirts-and-shorts-brechin-city-3797806
For clarification on the Kris Boyd ‘stuff’, you need to dig a wee bit into the archives, and see what his historic disparaging and derogatory comments, which showed a complete lack of empathy to Griffiths, and, to my recollection, did not mention mental health issues with regard to his ongoing struggles.
I, indeed, acknowledged and posted at the time, that he, as a patron of a mental health charity, together with the fact that he had lost a brother who had sadly taken his own life should could reasonably be expected to have been more understanding of the Celtic striker. I was fully aware of that.
Griffiths had a ‘go’ at him, for his ‘pronouncements’ previously made about him, and his ‘attitude’ by Boyd. after scoring against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. The irony , again as I mentioned at the time, was Boyd’s ‘position’ in a mental health charity
Whilst two wrongs don’t make a right, Griffiths himself has been subjected to vile abuse on social media – more so, I suspect, than Boyd.
Although I feel you have aggressively targetted Griffiths (why mention the polis?), you will note that I wrote ‘seemingly’ – so I would be grateful if you didn’t ‘put words into my mouth’ and/or do my thinking for me.
The incident has now been highlighted in the media, I’m pleased to note, and in a much more ‘temperate’ tone than your own post (please see the BBC Website).
I cannot express myself any clearer that I believe him to be a victim of poor mental health who needs ongoing support (not suggestions that he might be arrested/cautioned by her majesty’s finest). That is my main point, and that he does not need to be vilified more.
Finally, please note that my remarks are made from a mental health perspective.
betc67.23rd September 15.04
First of all let me thank you for the reply and hope you are well.
I have no knowledge of Kris Boyd’s previous comments regarding Leigh Griffiths but would have expected a degree of sympathy.
You have accused me of “putting words in to your mouth”, whilst at the same time making assumptions regarding the tone of my post that are incorrect. As an example of this, at no point did i mention “let the polis just lock him up”
Also at no time did i mention that “he might be arrested/cautioned” but simply said in the original post that he may receive a visit from PS. Would it not be standard procedure that he be asked for his version of events?
Would you agree with this?
From the BBC Website.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident involving a small number of smoke devices at Dens Park, during the match between Dundee and St Johnstone Football Clubs on Wednesday, 22 September.
“There were no injuries and no complaints have been made to police at this stage. Enquiries into the matter are ongoing.” .
Finally, to be perfectly clear this is not a personal attack on Leigh Griffiths who i still feel needs to accept some responsibility for his actions.
Despite previous well documented indiscretions i believe it is obvious he still requires help with his issues and sincerely hope he receives it.
In closing i would like to reiterate my earlier point that i genuinely hope you take care and keep well in the future.
Albertz11
Could you point me to any quotes where he has denied being responsible for his actions ? Or is it that he’s not contrite enough?
Jingso.Jimsie 23rd September 2021 At 11:52
‘..Still, the ‘clumpany’ works in mysterious ways & legal bills are just chaff in the wind…’
%%%%%%%%%%%
Tonight, and I hope he doesn’t suffer for it, but I think I may have heard from the mouth of one Kenny McIntyre of the BBC an ‘objective’, but casual, observation about legal bills.
I will not swear to the fact ( until I listen again to ‘Sportsound’) but it seemed to be a kind of implied criticism of perhaps the most litigious club in Scottish Football and the money, money, money it seems to ready to spend on law suits of one kind or another!
How very brave! Or was he expressing personal anxiety at the foolhardiness of his club?
Was anyone else listening?
JC 23rd September 23.22
Sorry to disappoint you but i believe that he (KMI) was criticising the governing bodies and not Rangers.
Tuned in to listen to the draw for the Semi-Finals and the discussion centred around the possibility of VAR being introduced in Scottish football. Pat Bonner was in favour, other guest? was more cautious and KMI mentioned “who was going to pay for it” as money was being squandered, or words to that effect, on court cases.
I could have picked this up wrong as i was multi tasking at the time, unsuccessfully as it turned out.
John,
I’m sure that the Onion Bears & Van Gogh Bears will come forward & organise bucket-collections at a few home games to assist in paying said legal bills to help the club/company.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58680425
Some fantastic kite-flying going on in the press today: it must be a quiet Friday!
The SMSM have Kamara selling for ‘eight figures’ in January.
If that’s not eye-popping enough, they’re quoting sources in Romania (including the player’s own agent, of course) who’re pumping Hagi for a £17m move to Mourinho’s Roma in the next window.
Poor Morelos; he’s not mentioned (as far as I can see). I wonder what that’ll do to his ego?
Still, the promise of ‘jam tomorrow’ (well January, anyway!) will likely be enough to please the followers of TRFC.
JJ “Some fantastic kite-flying going on in the press today: it must be a quiet Friday!”
Per my earlier post, a positive January window is likely the only chance Rangers* have of avoiding a further loss for FY 21-22 having failed to offload anyone in the summer window. Expect many more puff pieces between now and then.
Since it is Friday and the bar is almost open, mischievously, I will add that with a loss for FY 20-21 a certainty, should they fail to stop the rot in FY 21-22 then that would be TIAR.
JJ – I despair at the lack of understanding of the dynamics of modern transfers in the Scottish press (at least in how they report them if not understand them). Kamara signed a new contract in the last few days. That contract will include within it release clauses (if it doesn’t he needs a new agent). Those clauses, combined with interest for other clubs, will determine whether Kamara sees out his contract. If the release clause for January is 8 figures then either Kamara has secured a whopping increase in his weekly pay or a rather large signing on fee (there has to be a trade-off). The days of players signing contracts and allowing the club to retain all the value of that contract in any transfer are gone.
A case in point is the recent transfer moves made by Jack Hendry where he inserted the max transfer fee clause if the buying club was in the Champions League.
Jingso.Jimsie 24th September 2021 At 15:37
Some fantastic kite-flying going on in the press today
Weird that nobody wanted them just a couple of short weeks ago when the windae was open. :-)
Does anyone else get annoyed when no sooner has ne'erday passed, and Easter eggs start appearing in the shops
https://www.indycelts.com/rumours-grow-that-sevco-missed-wages-as-smsm-launch-17mil-squirrel/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
Firstly , it’s a rumour but so is the alleged 17m bid for Hagi and the future 8 figure bid for Kamara both of whom could have been subject to a bid during the long summer transfer window . These rumoured bids are courtesy of a media that told us Barry McKay was on his way to Red Bull for 6m (500k to Forest) and the 30m for our favourite Colombian collector of red and yellow cards (going nowhere) It could be trying to put at ease the minds of those who may have monies owed or it could be trying to put lipstick on a pig to influence potential investors. If they have struggled to pay last months wages then there is little in the way of income coming in before January that can cover September,October,November and December’s wage.
Wishful thinking? , mibbees aye mibbees naw but I get the feeling that this season was a CL or bust play by those investors just as David Murray used to gamble on those riches to kick the can down the road . Going into administration ends next seasons CL group stage entry as I’m pretty sure it rules out getting a licence, it would also see many of the high earners released just to keep the club* afloat and any future transfer income from those players goes with it. If these rumours have substance then they are between a rock and a hard place . The last share issue came up short , club 1872 are skint , King wants his cash back , Ashley hovers over them and there are tax deferments and outstanding transfer fees to be addressed . There comes a time when you have to stop throwing good money after bad , the question is , has that time come?
Timtim 24th September 20.23
What rumours?
Origin of said rumours?
What number of rumours are we at now?
People believing what they desperately want to believe.
Timtim 24th September 2021 At 21:23
‘… Going into administration ends next seasons CL group stage entry as I’m pretty sure it rules out getting a licence..’
%%%%%%%%%%
Tut, tut, Timtim!
“Rules”?
Do we not have a governance body that knows not the meaning of “Rules”?
Isn’t it ‘bruited abroad’ that there is precedent for breach of ‘rules’ by the SFA in respect of the UEFA licence afforded to a now deceased football club, by their withholding the truth about that deceased club’s finances?
Admittedly, the deceased club in question was not ‘In Administration’ at the time, so its financial difficulties might not have been under scrutiny by UEFA.
They certainly appear not to have been properly scrutinised and reported on to UEFA by the SFA licensing approval chaps!
And any investigation into whether that ‘appearance’ had any substance in fact was arbitrarily blocked, by the SFA itself- acting as judge in its own case!
Obviously, actual “Administration” such as the recently announced Derby County’s, is perhaps too publicly known to be hidden from UEFA.
But by the Lord Harry, we can be in no doubt that our football governance bodies will do their damnedest to ‘save’ TRFC, rules or no rules, if, when, it goes bust!
Or, if they fail in that, will allow any new creation of a club by chancers to call itself TRFC II with a history of sporting achievement going back , what?, 150 years or so!
The rot is there, inbuilt in the heart of Scottish Football governance!
jingso.jimsie — 24 sept 2021 — 15:37
Perhaps there will be an offer from China for Kamara since no other leagues appear to be openly interested. Hagi and Mourhino are an interesting combination Hagi is said to be an offensive style player while Mourhino appears to prefer someone who can apply some defensive abilities. The rumor mill will be churning out all sorts of fantasy moves between now and January and if the money is as tight as it appears to be there may actually be some movement, but, nowhere near the figures being tossed around.
As betc67 alluded to, there would appear to be a lack of empathy toward Leigh Griffiths from Kris Boyd judging by his column in the Sun today.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
KARMA has a way of catching up with people.
Leigh Griffiths is about to find that out the hard way at Dens Park.
He was laughing when he tied that Celtic scarf to one of the goalposts at Ibrox a few seasons back.
Grinning from ear to ear during an Old Firm game the day he waved his Irish tricolour from the Broomloan Road Stand.
When he wiped his nose on a Rangers corner flag he thought he was being clever.
Well, let’s see how smart he is when Rangers supporters tell him what they think of him.
Griffiths is about to get bombarded with 90 minutes of relentless abuse and if he’s got a brain in that head of his he better be prepared to take it.
Listen, I’m not going to go into the reasons why supporters all over the country are going to give him a hard time this season. Frankly, I want nothing to do with it.
But what I will say is that Griffiths only has himself to blame — and the sooner he realises that the better.
Will he, though? Is he capable of accepting responsibility for anything in life? I’m not sure he is.
It seems to me that every time something happens to him he thinks it’s someone else’s fault.
He wasn’t to blame for how things worked out for him at Celtic, was he? No, that was all Neil Lennon’s fault apparently.
Honestly, I can’t remember reading anything as ridiculous as when Griffiths spoke about Lennon recently and claimed his ex-boss was just trying to stay relevant by talking about him. Really?
Are we talking about the same high-profile Neil Lennon who has been one of the most talked about personalities in Scottish football in the last 20 years?
Griffiths can’t surely be serious when he says Lennon needs him to stay relevant.
But that sums him up, doesn’t it? Rather than owning his mistakes and taking responsibility for them, his default position is to go on the attack.
If only he was as threatening on the park.
Because when you strip everything back with Griffiths, he’s not the player his fan club will have you believe.
Is he a good finisher? Sure, I’ll give him that. But in the last three seasons do you know how many league goals he’s scored? Let me tell you because I looked it up. It’s 17.
Two goals in season 2018/19, nine goals in season 19/20 and six goals in season 20/21.
I’m sorry, but that’s not the statistics of a top-level goalscorer.
This is someone with natural talent, sure.
But that’s not enough if you are to be considered a top player.
Yet his cheerleaders are forever making excuses for him, constantly telling anyone who’ll listen that Griffiths would prove everyone wrong.
That he just needed to get fit and he’d be back.
Griffiths ended up saying it himself but it was total and utter nonsense, every single word of it.
Griffiths is yet to score for Dundee
Griffiths has had more than enough time and opportunity to get himself in shape and he’s only thrown it back in people’s faces.
The scoring records in Scottish football should have been OBLITERATED by him in the last five years. Instead he put the tools away and it seems like he couldn’t care less.
Why Celtic gave him a new contract in the summer, I’ll never know. For the life of me, I’ll never be able to work that one out.
Even their supporters must have been scratching their heads.
Those fans slaughtered me for criticising Griffiths and more or less saying it takes more than just ability to play at a top club.
But while my wording could have been better I think I’ve been proved right. When he scored at Rugby Park one day he looked up at me and made a shooshing gesture, but I stand by every word. He’s not exactly silenced me since, has he?
Now he’s at Dundee I wonder if his manager James McPake is beginning to wonder if it was a good idea bringing him to the club.
They’re pals from their days together at Livingston so I can understand why McPake was prepared to give Griffiths the benefit of any doubt.
But since he signed, Dundee have yet to score a goal.
Listen, I’ve been there. I got abuse every single time I stepped on to a football park and had to take it. It’s part of the deal.
Okay, the shouts weren’t anything like the abuse Griffiths is getting but he’s 31 now and should be experienced enough to know how to switch off from it.
I just look at him and see someone who is more or less finished. Truth be told, he’s the way I was when I was at Kilmarnock and hung up my boots a couple of months before my 36th birthday.
I didn’t have the same drive to stay in shape so I realised it was time to hang up the boots.
As a striker you stand the best chance of playing every week, because it’s a specialist position. But you need to deliver.
Griffiths just hasn’t looked like delivering for a long time now. His decline is there for all to see with his scoring record miles off where it should be.
During the warm-up before the Dundee derby at Tannadice last weekend we were in the gantry preparing for kick-off when a ball flew past.
We were nowhere near the goals so it was obvious someone was deliberately trying to hit us.
I didn’t see who was responsible — but my money would be on Griffiths.
Why? Because he missed.
@A11 – I believe the rumour referenced by JJ is per the link he posted. And to be fair to JJ he has qualified his post by noting that it is only a rumour.
By its very nature the source of a rumour is somewhat irrelevant until the rumour is proven as fact.
And I would not expect TRFC to take any action to quash such rumour if false unless it was having an adverse effect on their business.
Actions will speak louder than words in the transfer window.
For clarity, I haven’t referenced any rumours.
That wisnae me, anither boy dun it & run awa’!
Apologies JJ and TT. In my defence I have an appointment at Vision Express on Monday!
“We need people, children, teenagers and adults to be brave and speak up. We have to make them believe someone will listen to them and help. We need to build more trust. We need to encourage them strive to be the best person they can possibly be. Help them to overcome the hurdles that life will inevitably throw up at them and make sure they are successful in their chosen field” (Mission Statement of The Kris Boyd Foundation).
Notwithstanding his family tragedy, I find it, quite frankly, nauseating to read his arrogant, spiteful diatribe (which ‘flies in the face’ of the above statement) in today’s Sun against the very sort of person his charity seeks to help!
His disgusting hypocrisy (in leading his organisation whilst earning a few bob from a ‘rag’ of a paper to malign, demean and undermine a bit of a ‘lost soul’, is egregious and despicable
No allowance is made in his article regarding the man’s mental health and wellbeing.
He has also fallen into the trap of basically telling someone beset by mental health issues to ‘get a grip’.
Albertz11 25th September 2021 At 07:46
Oh deary me !
Albertz11 — 25 sept 2021– 7:46
I think the most telling point in the Boyd article is as follows — I’m not going to get into reasons why supporters all over the country are going to give him a hard time this season. Frankly I want nothing to do with it. — From this point on he constantly harps on about Griffiths, almost like he was getting paid by the word. Not the way forward for someone who wants nothing to do with it. Also pointing out Griffiths scoring record in the last three seasons if a little self serving, can anyone point out Boyd’s stats for his last three seasons.
In terms of rumours about wages not being paid it’s worth remembering anyone can post what they like on social media without having to offer any evidence.
What it did make me wonder about is how it is flagged to the authorities when a club can’t meet its payroll. I remember instances in the past where it became public knowledge through media reporting that clubs had not met their wage bill. There is I believe sanctions for this, a transfer ban being one of them, although it means little unless the window is open.
My question is general. If a club can’t meet its wage bill who is responsible for telling the authorities? Is it down to players complaining to the Players Union or are clubs duty bound to inform them?
The original rumour prompted my questions, that’s all.
upthehoops 25th September 2021 @ 22:31hrs –
Clubs agree to operate ‘in good faith’ when they are members of the SFA & SPFL.
In the broadest of terms, if any club is unable to pay its staff, then they are in breach of said ‘good faith’ & should (no tittering, I don’t like tittering!) inform the relevant authorities.
Buried in a subsection of a subsection in the SFA Handbook, there’s a clause which states that the SFA has the right to examine, at any time, accounts & documents pertaining to a club’s operations.
I wonder how many times they’ve exercised that option?
Jingso.Jimsie 26th September 2021 At 11:38
If I recall correctly any time in the past that a club has failed to pay its players it normally becomes public knowledge via the Players Union. As for the SFA and ‘acting in good faith’…words fail me.
upthehoops 26th September 2021 At 21:28
‘..As for the SFA and ‘acting in good faith’…words fail me.’
%%%%%
Indeed.
There was a singular lack of anything like ‘good faith’ on the part of the SFA when it created the lie that TRFC of 2012 is to be regarded as being , in terms of sporting history, the Rangers of 1872!
Liars, and betrayers of their office as ‘guardians’ of the integrity of Scottish professional football, what are they like?
Who in his right mind would credit the SFA with even an understanding of the meaning of ‘integrity’?
There are , in my opinion, bad people in the world.
And also weak, ineffectual ‘leaders’ in the world of Scottish Football.
That it should come this!
Bad guys are one thing.
Useless toss-pots as bad guys are something else!
I cannot think of a better outcome for Scottish football than a team out with Glasgow winning the league this season . Real Madrid v Motherwell or PSG v Hibernian in the CL is long overdue.
Surely relevant, and possibly mitigating (?), to the indisputable fact that Leigh Griffiths acted rashly in kicking the flare towards a spectator area, are the following points …
Who threw the flares?
Who, if anybody, is investigating it?
Are our trusted SFA leaders involved in any investigation?
Will Dundee face punishment as club responsible for spectator safety?
Just wondering like.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58699735
bect67 27th September 2021 At 15:15
Only Griffiths knows for sure what his intention was. However it was not a good look because if he only wanted to move the flare to the trackside he could easily have done so.
On a wider note the furore over Griffiths is ignoring the now widespread and dangerous acts we see at many games regarding fans and pyrotechnics. Something really needs to be done about this because it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured. There is no room for whataboutery either, because fans associated with many clubs are now involved. As always the media in their desperate thirst to get Griffiths, have ignored the pimple brained clown who threw the flare in the first place.
Uth @ 16.53
Wrt to Griffiths, although I tend to regard his actions as not being maliciously intentional , your point is fair, debatable in the best sense, and well made.
As the rest of my post – well, all will be revealed in due course. (wont it ???).
Albertz11 27th September 2021 At 15:17
‘…https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58699735.’
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
That was an extremely useful link, and thanks for posting it, Albertz11.
Having only the faintest idea about ‘franchises’ I was prompted to try to find out a little more about the concept and the application of it.
I googled http://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/franchise.asp
from which I take this:
“A franchise is a business whereby the owner licenses its operations—along with its products, branding, and knowledge—in exchange for a franchise fee.
The franchisor is the business that grants licenses to franchisees.
The Franchise Rule requires franchisors to disclosure key operating information to prospective franchisees.1
Ongoing royalties paid to franchisors vary by industry and can range between 4.6% and 12.5%.2 ”
The full article is worth a read, and I will try to read it with understanding. But at present, in thinking abut how ‘franchising’ would or could work in Scottish Football, I’m stuck at the starting gate on the question: who would be the franchisor? Who ‘owns’ Scottish Football? The SFA? or the SPFL? Or would each individual club be franchisor? How would a club lease the right to operate as a club, and what would it market other than its own brand and branded goods/services?
Anyone able to explain how franchise system would work? I am embarrassed by being so ignorant, but since we’re probably going to hear a lot more about it, I’ll need to try to get to grips with the basics so that I can follow the discussions that the ‘5-club Review’ might throw up in a few months.
John Clark 27th September 20.41
Thanks John. I have always had an interest in US Sports, and the way they operate, whether it be the NFL, MLB or NBA. From the draft system, to the pooling resources to ensure no one club dominates for a lengthy period of time just made sense to me.
The complete opposite of course to what happens in Scottish football where two clubs, sometimes one, have dominated for decades with turnover 5,10,15 times the competition. Added to this the best talent from the other clubs is snapped up by the big two, which not only weakens the individual clubs and in turn the league but has also led to the players own career stagnating through a lack of game time.
From a few years back but still relevant is how the NFL operates.
NFL Revenue Sharing 101
Posted on January 23, 2020 by Steve Thomas
January 23, 2020
By Noonefromtampa
Many people have questions as to how revenue is divided up among the various NFL teams, so I wanted to provide a general overview on the subject from publicly available sources and estimates made by industry followers. The NFL does not make detailed financial information available.
NFL revenue is split into two major categories: national revenue and local revenue.
National revenue, which is shared across all 32 teams, consists of:
TV deals with the various networks
NFL Ventures:
Merchandising; Fanatics is the lead NFL partner on this
NFL Enterprise:
NFL Network, NFL.com and NFL Sunday Ticket
Licensing deals, such as “official sponsors of the NFL”
Ticket sales (40% of gross)
Local revenue, which goes to the local team, consists of:
Ticket sales (60% of gross)
Concessions and parking, which are split between the team and stadium ownership
Corporate sponsorships with the local team
Tickets sales are split between the home team, which gets 60% of the gate, with the remaining 40% going into a shared pool that is split across all teams. This helps negates the impact of poor attendance on individual teams, such as the Redskins.
2018 Estimate of Shared Revenue Sources
Category Amount
TV Deals $5.1B
NFL Ventures $1.4B
NFL Enterprise $2.3B
Ticket Sales $330M
We know from the 2018 Green Bay Packers’ financial report that the league provided $274.3M in shared revenue per team. Multiplying that amount by 32 teams yields a net total shared revenue pool of $8.8B. The estimate of shared revenue from various sources is around $9.1B, so the difference between the two values means that league expenses are around $300M.
While every team gets an equal of the national revenue, the local revenue can vary greatly based on the size and type of the stadium, ticket sales, how much of the concession/parking revenue the team gets and the value of the team’s corporate sponsorships. In 2018, the Packers had $203.7M in local revenue for a total revenue of $489M. Economic experts who track sports league finances have estimated some teams have much higher total revenues than the Packers.
Some total revenue estimates for 2018 for the top revenue teams:
Dallas Cowboys – $950M
New England Patriots – $600M
New York Giants – $520M
Houston Texans – $500M
Washington Redskins – $495M
San Francisco 49ers – $495M
So, the better a team does at generating local revenue, the more money goes into the team’s pockets.
John Clark a wee read for you if you have not read it.
https://scottishfsa.org/chairmans-blog-17-09-21/
John Clark
Further to my post of 22.25.
A quick check back through the blog finds a post i addressed to you on the 11th of August at 23.54 in which the distribution of monies in US College Football was discussed.
Not sure whether you will find it interesting or not? and apologies to those who have no interest in the subject but given the increase in American owners of SPFL clubs may be something worthy of further discussion in the future.
………………………………………….
JC
Further to my previous post an example of how wealth distribution worked in College Football in the USA.
REPORT: FOOTBALL TICKET REVENUE SHARING COST UW MORE THAN $950,000 IN 2012;
SPORTS
TODD D. MILEWSKI , The Capital Times , tmilewski@madison.com
When it comes to football gate revenues, the Big Ten Conference takes from the rich to give to the poor.
Under a long-held revenue sharing plan, more than $6.6 million went from the Big Ten’s top seven gate-revenue-producing schools – the University of Wisconsin included – to the bottom five in the 2012 season, according to an analysis by The Gazette of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Wisconsin athletic department contributed more than $950,000 to that transfer in a system that The Gazette found was unique among major college football conferences.
Here’s how it works:
Big Ten teams share 35 percent of the net gate receipts, after sales tax, from conference home games, up to $1 million per game and at minimum $300,000 per game.
Each school has four conference home games per season, meaning the most any would pay in is $4 million. Five schools reached that level in 2012: Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State.
The money from that pool gets split 12 ways and returned evenly to the schools.
In 2012, the total of gate receipts for the league’s 48 games was $36,458,053.71, or $3,038,171.14 per school.
Those five schools that paid in $4 million each ended up with a net loss of $961,828.86. Wisconsin paid in a little less – three of its four home games reached the $1 million cap but the home game against Illinois did not – so its loss was a little less as well.
It ended up being $957,854.22 out of the Badgers’ budget. Randy Marnocha, the UW associate athletic director for business operations, told a meeting of the UW Athletic Board’s finance, facilities and operations committee earlier this month that the department had budgeted to lose $800,000 last year in that revenue sharing agreement.
Michigan State also had a net loss ($862,933.66), while five schools had a revenue gain from the program:
Indiana, $1,722,143.29
Illinois, $1,312,175.70
Northwestern, $1,271,654.13
Minnesota, $1,266,143.74
Purdue, $1,057,815.29
Football gate receipts aren’t the only kind of money shared by Big Ten schools. Each year, they get a payout from the conference on media revenues, including those from the Big Ten Network.
Marnocha told the finance committee that in the 2012-13 school year, the athletic department brought in over $16 million from Big Ten media revenue.
Conference officials said the football ticket revenue sharing idea goes to the heart of the Big Ten philosophy.
“It’s very important philosophically because it was the first real commitment on the financial end, that our schools recognized that great things can be achieved by the collective good to share revenue in a way that’s beneficial to all,” Big Ten deputy commissioner Brad Traviolia told The Gazette. “It’s important to continue.
“It’s worked well for us. It’s a trust and a camaraderie among our institutions that’s been developed over a century. It’s part of who we are.”
October 31, 2013
bigboab1916 27th September 2021 At 23:05
‘…John Clark a wee read for you..’
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Thank you, bigboab1916!
“Membership is on business criteria not what we would call sporting merit.”
Mmmnn….
Not altogether a new idea in Scottish football then, where we have had the extraordinary ‘business’ decision that a club created in 2012 is to be regarded as being the dead club which, if it had not died, would be approaching its 150th birthday!-for filthy lucre’s sake.
Let’s hope that the Yanks in Scottish Football fail in their attempts to ‘Americanise’ our game.
[And, begeez, do I not still remember the Locarno Ballroom on Sauchiehall St and the ‘Polaris’ fights in the 1960s? Happy days!]
Albertz11 27th September 2021 At 22:25
Albertz11 27th September 2021 At 23:28
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Grateful for those informative posts.
The key point for me is that gate-sharing seems to be taken as a basic principle, which recognises the obvious fact that there can be no game, match, bout, without an opponent!
I have difficulty, though, with the idea of no promotion/relegation.
Perhaps the 5-Club Review might find some way forward that keeps both gate-sharing and pyramid structure.
Might be quite interesting times ahead.
John Clark 28th sept 2021 — 10:17
The NFL is a financial beast compared to all other major sporting leagues in North America. The stadiums range in size from 60K to 80K so ticket income is massive. Unlike other sports they don’t have to support a minor league system to develop players, the colleges/universities provide that service for them. Baseball and hockey have to support multi layers of minor league teams to have a development system in place. Basketball is a little gray in that area, but do rely heavily on colleges/universities and some times high schools to act as a feeder system. While they don’t have promotion and relegation these leagues have play off systems that will enrich the owners and provide bonus money to players
John Clark 28th sept 2021 — 10:17
As follow up to my earlier post to show how a franchise system can benefit a team playing in a small and I mean small market, the Green Bay Packers of the NFL, play in a city with a population of just over 104,000 people. Green Bay is the third largest city in the state and the 303 rd largest city in the U.S. They continually field a competitive team and have won several Super Bowls. Without the franchise system and the financial benefits that accompany the system, it’s highly unlikely Green Bay would have a football team. Also, several of the NFL teams have had the city build their stadium under threat of relocating the team, enjoy immense tax breaks, and in some cases enjoy all the additional revenues associated with the games, food, drink, parking to name a few.
Notice of Complaint | Leigh Griffiths, Player, Dundee FC
Wednesday 29 September 2021
Notice of Complaint | Leigh Griffiths, Player, Dundee FC
Alleged Party in Breach: Leigh Griffiths, Player, Dundee FC
Date: 22 September 2021
Competition: Scottish League Cup
Match: Dundee F.C. v St Johnstone F.C.
Disciplinary Rules allegedly breached:
Disciplinary Rule 71 – No recognised football body, club, official, Team Official or other member of Team Staff, player, match official, or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall bring the game into disrepute.
Disciplinary Rule 77 – A recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall, at all times, act in the best interests of Association Football. Furthermore such person or body shall not act in any manner which is improper or use any one, or a combination of, violent Conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.
Disciplinary Rule 202 – No player shall commit Excessive Misconduct at a match.
Principal hearing date: Thursday 14 October 2021
Leave it to that bastion of journalistic excellence, the DR, to come up with another fantasy story. Rangers out to end 40 year hex of no victories in Czech. Interesting timeline for a team formed in 2012 but why let the truth get in the way. Sooner or later someone in the media will take a step forward and as a former sportscaster in the US used to say, “tell it like it is.”
Notice of complaint above …
‘Like a werefolf peerin’ o’er a dyke’ so ye ur’!…
… although a most reasonable chap as well no doubt
vernallen 29th September 2021 At 18:05
‘.. that bastion of journalistic excellence, the DR,’
%%%%%%
Geez! Should have had my eye-sight checked!
I read ” bastardin journalistic excrement”
and was nodding my head in agreement.
Seriously, though, what are we to make of guys whose jobs require them to buy into lies?
Whose job requires not Truth, but the earnest and sustained effort to support Untruth , in writing for an organ such as the ‘Daily Record’ which steadfastly refuses to accept that RFC of 1872 died!
I have made comparisons before, and I make them again. Ja!
Newspapers, ‘the freedom of the Press’, is killed when the organs of the Press support Untruth, in any sphere of public life.
And the barstewards know it, and gnash their teeth at being called out!
Bad, bad , and knowingly bad, as they are!
God grant their their presses grind to a halt sooner than soon. Press freedom does not include freedom to lie in matters of fact.
A11 – 29th Sept 11.01
“Notice of Complaint | Leigh Griffiths, Player, Dundee FC
Wednesday 29 September 2021
Notice of Complaint | Leigh Griffiths, Player, Dundee FC”
That Leigh Griffiths would be in trouble for his actions was a given. His actions were inexplicable and clearly wrong.
One of the root causes of the incident however is that flares, pyrotechnics, smoke grenades etc. are routinely used in football stadia and by football fans pre and post matches. This is an issue which simply has to be knocked on the head. Existing laws should be enforced and, if they were, the frequency of use would diminish. Instead, clubs and the police appear to be doing nothing, or at least nothing that is effective, to solve the problem.
We already have had a report of the partial permanent disability earlier in the year.
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/7119913/rangers-celebrations-hospital-hand-missing/
Many of us may well have had an initial reaction of “hell mend him” with respect to that particular incident but it misses the point that it could just as well have been an innocent by-stander who ended up maimed. Does it take this to happen before authorities act?
I’m rather taken aback by the reaction of the media & others to the booing of Kamara last night.
The player was being booed because of what happened last season. Roofe was also being booed at times. Crowds love a ‘villain’ (real or imagined) to rail against (cf. Brown, Griffiths, Morelos etc. etc.). Kamara’s lawyer is such a clever man that he can interpret a boo as racist. Gerrard claims not to have heard the boos in the stadium during the game, but realised how ‘bad’ it was when watching a recording of the match (or when someone told him there was some mileage in remarking on it, perhaps?). At a stroke, 10k Czech schoolchildren are branded as racist & used to deflect from an underwhelming performance by TRFC.
I note that Frimpong was booed every time he touched the ball last night at Celtic Park. What was the crowd’s motivation for that?