Good Afternoon.
As virtually anyone on the internet who follows Scottish Football has come to realise, there is a reasoned and determined attempt at ignoring the content of the Charlotte Fakeovers files on the part of the mainstream print media— and indeed by the broadcast journo’s to an extent.
There is widespread speculation that the accessing of the information provided by Charlotte the Harlot was not all above board and the reluctance of the journalists to mention or comment on the documents, so far published on the internet, is often explained away by the lawyers allegedly advising that the content is tainted and so on.
That indeed might or might not be the case, and only the editors, lawyers, journalists and so on will truly know what their stance is on the revelations. Some will want the whole thing suppressed and others will be desperate to get into print, but thus far are frustrated in any attempt to do so.
However, as the documents do appear on the net only to be quickly followed by file disappearances and so on, there is an ever burning question which must be asked and thrown open to debate and argument.
The issue is not just how independent are the Sports Press in Scotland, but whether or not the relationship between certain sections of the press and Rangers or The Rangers is in fact lawful and deserving of football sanctions.
There is no doubt that many big businesses, local authorities and Governments use the services of PR firms and the likes to get information out to the public and to put their slant on any given situation. That is fair enough.
However, in recent days we have seen the release of documentation which, if accurate and true, shows that a leading Scottish PR company were specifically employed to place stories with the press which were designed to damage the reputation of, to embarrass or cause problems for certain other teams and personnel involved in Scottish Football.
Again I stress that all of this is subject to the caveat that what Charlotte is publishing may or may not be real and accurate. However, if what has been produced is in fact the genuine correspondence between the club and its professional advisers then that correspondence needs to be looked at.
The SFA and indeed the SPFL are the bodies that lay down rules which govern the conduct of clubs and their officers and employees.
So looking at these regulations let me just repeat some of them here:
Fisrt the rules of what was the SPL and which I presume are the rules of the SPFL:
A3.1 In all matters and transactions relating to the League and Company each Club shall behave towards each other Club and the Company with the utmost good faith.
A3.2 No Club, either by itself or its Club Officials, shall by any means whatsoever unfairly criticise, disparage, belittle or discredit any other Club, the Company or the League or in either case any such other Cub or the Company’s directors, officers, employees or agents (which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, exclude supporters).
The SFA handbook at article 5 places obligations on members to observe the principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship in accordance with the rules of fair play, and to refrain from engaging in any activity which would constitute a breach of sections 1, 2 and 6 the Bribery Act 2010.
The details of the Bribery act can be found here:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/23/section/2
Basically, I think these rules mean that you cannot criticise belittle or try to damage the reputation of a club outwith the rules of the games and must at all times behave with integrity, in a sporting manner and with THE UTMOST GOOD FAITH!
The details,as released by Charlotte, show that there is at best a conflict of interests at times with various parties being both employed by the club and paid by radio stations or newspapers to comment on matters relating to all aspects of Scottish Football. As a member of the PR staff at Ibrox presumably such employees are paid to tow a certain party line when commenting in the media and so throw a spin on any given set of facts and circumstances that suits whoever is in control of Ibrox.
Further, it has been suggested that certain individuals acting in this way can also represent the views of for example Walter Smith — and so act as their mouthpiece if necessary.
Such practices may be unpleasant and undesirable but not necessarily against the laws of the game. It would just mean that the newspapers and broadcasters concerned cannot be regarded as independent or objective in their comments or views — they are merely towing an employers line. In short they are HMV— His Masters Voice!
Equally, we have seen supposedly independent journalists and editors referred to in such a way that it is clear they are being asked to spin news a certain way for whatever reason — including the suggestion that if they do not comply then some kind of action will be taken which the parties concerned would rather avoid — such as private matters becoming public.
However, of far greater interest is the suggestion that where necessary the newspapers or whoever will be used to spread negative stories about another club, its employees, directors or whoever.
Such a position may well amount to a breach of articles 3.1 and 3,2 of the SPL ( now SPFL rules) and against the principals set out in the SFA handbook.
Both the SFA and the SPL ( SPFL) has a press office and legal officers.
Both grant rights to broadcasters and journalists, and allow members of the press access to their officers and officials.
Both bodies are free to set out what is acceptable conduct on the part of clubs in this area…… and what is not!
Without even alluding to the detail of the Charlotte revelations, or needing to enquire into the details of the Charlotte documents, I would have thought that the governing bodies would be capable of issuing a formal reminder, to all clubs currently playing at any level in Scottish football, of the content of these rules and that any breach of the rules will not be tolerated.
Of course the matter becomes more convoluted if any officers of the SFA or SPL were involved in the employment of any PR companies or agencies on behalf of a member club and engaged in briefing any such agency about what to say when it comes to the affairs of other clubs. Surely you cannot have an executive officer of a governing body who is in any way linked to the employment of an agency which breaks rules on behalf of a member club?
However, few of these people ever appear on the airwaves to answer questions on a personal basis, and very few expose themselves to questions from the public.
However, many of the commentators and journalists named in the Charlotte documents are regulars on the airwaves and could, in theory, be asked whether or not they are no more than “Their master’s voice” as would appear to be the case if the Charlotte documents are in fact genuine.
If the Scottish Footballing Public are to be entrusted with the truth — and why shouldn’t they in this era of open and transparent football governance– then I think they are entitled to enquire direct whether or not the journalists, players, ex players,managers directors, broadcasters and governing body officials believe in articles 3.1 and 3.2 of the SPFL rules and article 5 of the SFA handbook?
Oh– and maybe the same people could provide some practical examples of what they would consider to be breaches of these rules and what the appropriate sanctions might be?
Specifically– do the actions mentioned in the Charlotte documents ( if true ) fall within the football rules or not?
Or do the SFA and SPFL just ignore placed press releases and comments?
It would be interesting to know.
Well done St J. S. Cosgrove will be a very happy man this evening. Hope his petty and ill informed sidekicks team can do the same.
Oldco registration ban was imposed for behaviour ‘Just short of match fixing’ Anyone confirm this please?
A wee bit here:
“It has been agreed with Sevco Scotland Ltd that the registration embargo will be accepted as a primary condition of a transfer of membership.
“It is necessary to complete the judicial process following the determination by Lord Glennie in the Court of Session that required the Independent Appellate Body to revisit available sanctions relating to Oldco, having been found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute.
“The Scottish FA indicated to Sevco Scotland Ltd that they had to accept responsibility for any sanctions arising out of this case as a condition of transfer of membership.
“Rather than convening the Appellate Tribunal to determine from the sanctions available to it, the company directors of Sevco Scotland Ltd have chosen to accept the 12-month registration embargo.
“This embargo will begin on 1st September 2012 and end on 31st August 2013.
“Sevco Scotland Ltd have also undertaken to accept all other outstanding conditions relating to Oldco’s charges of bringing the game into disrepute.
“The conditional offer of transfer will now be submitted to the Appellate Tribunal for its consideration.
“This will form part of the approval process for the transfer of membership which, once approved, will enable Rangers FC to take a considerable step towards participating in Irn Bru Division Three.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/9416156/Rangers-newco-accept-12-month-transfer-ban-in-order-to-secure-SFA-admission.html
Carfins Finest. says:
August 1, 2013 at 6:59 pm
Oldco registration ban was imposed for behaviour ‘Just short of match fixing’ Anyone confirm this please?
==============
Daily Telegraph, 29/05/12
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/9298583/Rangers-risk-fresh-sanctions-after-wnning-transfer-embargo-ruling.html
Andypingu @andypingu 13m
St Johnstone have won more games in Europe this year than rangers did in their last 4 years of existence
Armageddon
“If ever he had harboured a conscience in his tough narrow breast he had by now dug out and flung away the awkward thing – flung it so far away that were he ever to need it again he could never find it.”
I’d say that’s a fair description of the club Steerpike used to support, although it’s possible that the conscience was shredded along with so much else. Only a club that has no conscience could dog whistle to the extent that it did. The club that now plays at Ibrox is following in the same rabble rousing footsteps.
Cheating is one thing but the incitement of the Klan (© P McG) is horrendous and dangerous.
Steerpike is quite entitled to come on here and give his POV, but the glossing over of some of the worst crimes ever committed by a sporting institution tells me he’s a very articulate troll and he’s chosen his name well.
@wottpi
” From a quick scan CF’s latest appears to back up the theory that regardless of how much you cut the players wages and possibly other wages the cost of operating a large stadium at near full capacity every second week of the season (regardless of what division you are in) along with a large world class traning facility for a year is a very costly business.”
I agree, I have said from the get go you cannot downsize a supermarket into a corner shop without it affecting future potential and the fan base, if it costs 20 million to prop it up then that is 10 million less than Bill Miller estimated.
Steerpike says:
August 1, 2013 at 7:14 pm
I agree, I have said from the get go you cannot downsize a supermarket into a corner shop without it affecting future potential and the fan base, if it costs 20 million to prop it up then that is 10 million less than Bill Miller estimated.
Per Annum!!
Thanks DP and JC
‘The independent three-man SFA disciplinary panel had considered ending Rangers’ membership, saying they viewed the offence second only to match-fixing in terms of seriousness, but decided a transfer ban was more appropriate’
Superb result for the Saints tonight, well done. Lets hope they can finish the job in the 2nd leg.
Good to luck to Motherwell tonight as well.
@broadsword
” Cheating is one thing but the incitement of the Klan (© P McG) is horrendous and dangerous.
Steerpike is quite entitled to come on here and give his POV, but the glossing over of some of the worst crimes ever committed by a sporting institution tells me he’s a very articulate troll and he’s chosen his name well. ”
I do not believe I have glossed over any crimes, and I condemn all who incite hatred toward any individual or group, there is not one ounce of anti -Celtic bone in my body, I am pro-Rangers, they are not synonymous. Sectarian bigotry is a disease and my club promoted it for over a century, there is nothing I can do about the past only the present, Rangers is a football club to me I do not attach my religious or political beliefs to my football club, and most football fans are the same.
Okay, as Mr Regan said to Tommy on his phone in, I want to know who started this Urban Myth about RFC and the Licence to play in Europe being improperly awarded by SFA. 👿
Steerpike says:
August 1, 2013 at 6:49 pm
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@tomtom
” Rangers were in trouble the day and minute David Murray embarked on his reckless spending spree.”
It only became reckless when he could no longer afford to bankroll his gambling losses, Rangers having a sugar daddy owner is hardly a unique phenomena in football, his decision to embark on a very dubious tax avoidance scheme was a sign he could no longer justify the losses, plus businessman hate paying tax.
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Gambling with other peoples money is theft in my book. In addition I don’t know anyone who likes paying tax, it’s not the preserve of businessmen.
I’m hearing resentful cries from Rangers fans on Clyde about rules not being applied equally to clubs in an insolvency situation.
The principle is rock solid and another argument for taking preventative action via club licensing to stop clubs going bust.
However they should remember that in allowing their club into SFL the SFA were not applying the rules fairly to clubs like Spartans who had earned the right to entry.
Its all about expediency and something has to be done to remove that from the equation but the argument that the SFA are not applying the rules fairly is the reason they have a club to support and Mathers might need reminding about that.
Gratitude is not exactly of The Rangers world.
Not even a ball kicked in anger in the league and St Johnstone have racked up two fantastic away victories in Europe. Superb stuff in anybody’s book I say.
Craig Mather statement:
RANGERS Football Club notes today’s verdict by the Disciplinary Tribunal who ruled that Hearts cannot register any players over the age of 21 between now and February 1, 2014.
We also recall that Dunfermline were given a similar sanction in May.
But in particular, Rangers are aware of the glaring differences in the sanctions imposed on three clubs who entered administration.
Our club, Rangers, was hit with a £50,000 fine and given a 12 month registration embargo.
While no-one at this Club wishes to see others fall on hard times, questions must be asked about these anomalies and we fully understand the rising anger among our fans.
They are entitled to think there is one rule for our club and another for everyone else.
We will be seeking clarification for our fans.
———————————————————————-
Unbelievable. I have no sympathy for their plight . Does the nearest thing to match fixing mean nothing down Govan way.
Caveat Emptor and Smartie
As a life long non smoker I welcomed the arrival of spreadsheets with relish. Anything over 10 fingers and I was screwed. 🙂
Nowoldandgrumpy.
The UEFA 2011 licence is a bit of a hobby horse of mine. What was said?
CF material suggests there is a lot more to it than a myth. A lot lot more.
Did Regan dispell the myth?
Steerpike says:
August 1, 2013 at 4:58 pm
Like others on the blog, it’s a good thing that you do post and more power to your elbow for doing so!
Can I ask you though, based on your para below – isthat seriously the first timer that you or any other educated RFC fans felt that the game was a bogey?
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I suspected Rangers were in trouble soon after Lehman Bros went bankrupt and the full extent of the economic crisis became obvious, this was in Sept 2008. Anyone who could count knew the Rangers business model was being bankrolled by its owner, nothing new or unusual about this in football, we all have our follies.
——–
I would disagree with your assessment and say that Murray hasn’t put a cent of his “own” money into RFC – it was, from the very first moment, a sham – he only ever guaranteed the original 6m overdraft, not a cent was paid in. His company/companies acted as guarantors via unlimited, no-questions-asked, loans from BoS/HBoS for everything subsequent to that date. On the other hand there was doubt a lot of cleaning of “investments” for the likes of the glib and shameless liar but, again, that was part and parcel of doing business with RFC during this period. The only people putting money into the club in the end were UK taxpayers to bail out the bank that gave away its cash and its soul to the likes of Murray, Masterton and their cohorts.
Auldheid says:
August 1, 2013 at 8:02 pm
=================================
paulsatim says:
August 1, 2013 at 6:24 pm
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SACK CLYDE THURSDAY @tommyinglasgow 1m
Stewart Regan was my guest on 1st show of the nite here
https://www.spreaker.com/user/glasgow-radio-online/celtic_fan_phone_in_call_0141_416_1888_1 …
Re Craig Mather’s statement
Nice one Craig , getting on-side with the dinosaur bears in a slightly under-stated Charles Green sort of way.
Are Rangers asking for Hearts and Dunfermline to have further punishments, I wonder how their boards and fans will be taking this grubby piece of intervention from Rangers?
The SFA need to find a voice as they have been presented with an open goal however their unofficial title of the admin wing of Rangers will result in no response – another grubby episode.
verselijkfc says:
August 1, 2013 at 8:12 pm
“The only people putting money into the club in the end were UK taxpayers…”
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Ouch!!! That really struck a nerve. I was paying tax to maintain a midden!
valentinesclown says:
August 1, 2013 at 7:53 pm
Craig Mather statement:
…
Rangers are aware of the glaring differences in the sanctions imposed on three clubs who entered administration.
Our club, Rangers, was hit with a £50,000 fine and given a 12 month registration embargo…
====================
I presume that the CEO of a plc who has released a factually incorrect, official statement – will be quickly issuing a ‘clarification’ ?
:tumbleweed:
Craig Mather statement:
RANGERS Football Club notes today’s verdict by the Disciplinary Tribunal who ruled that Hearts cannot register any players over the age of 21 between now and February 1, 2014.
We also recall that Dunfermline were given a similar sanction in May.
But in particular, Rangers are aware of the glaring differences in the sanctions imposed on three clubs who entered administration.
Our club, Rangers, was hit with a £50,000 fine and given a 12 month registration embargo.
While no-one at this Club wishes to see others fall on hard times, questions must be asked about these anomalies and we fully understand the rising anger among our fans.
They are entitled to think there is one rule for our club and another for everyone else.
We will be seeking clarification for our fans.
_________________________________________________________________________________
What utter, dog-whistling, self-serving, history rewriting, logic twisting tripe!
It makes my bile rise to believe that this rubbish can be spouted at will and without contradiction.
Do the “authorities” still not see what a pit they have opened up by aiding and assisting these sleekit creatures, instead of applying the rules fairly from the start. They wouldn’t even have a club if the SFA and SPL hadn’t bent over backwards to side with them.
If only they finally found the balls to tell them home truths in public. That they are a new club, that their WATP nonsense is way past it’s sell by date. That they are lucky to be around at all. That their old club were the biggest bunch of sporting cheats this country has ever seen.
And oh for a proper journalist who would get tore into Mather and his ilk.
Thank god Scottish Football won’t get another penny from me. At least until justice has been done, which I suspect is never.
MSM telling it like it is 😯
Ewan Murray @mrewanmurray 1m
Rangers chief exec seeks ‘clarification’… RFC fans used to take the piss out of this stuff when done by other clubs. Now? A vote winner…
So – rumours abound on t’Interweb that Ibrox is without a safety certificate and some contractors have downed tools, due to fears of non-payment. What better time to release an ‘its no’ fair, everybody is against uuuuuuuuuus’ squirrel?
Shooperb says:
August 1, 2013 at 6:00 pm
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39. Madbhoy24941 says:
August 1, 2013 at 5:40 pm
You might not agree with what he’s saying, but the guy has a right to come on here and give his opinion.
————————————————————————————————————————
“He certainly does, I have not said otherwise and would also defend his right to voice an opinion.
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Engage with him. If he’s only here to stuff up the discussion, then it will come to light pretty quickly, and he can be ignored.
————————————————————————————————————————
“I did engage, I felt it was clear he was not being 100% honest and now I chose to ignore. This is why I said “don’t take the bait”. Maybe that is where I was wrong, that is not my call, bite away……
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Re: Craig Mathers misleading and deliberately confrontational statement.
Anyone got Mr Lunny’s email handy? Surely a stick on case of bringing the game into disrepute.
And while the SFA are handing out the punishment a short statement clarifying that Mr Mather’s employer is not the same club that went into Administration last year would be appropriate.
Long past time to call The Rangers bluff on all this nonsense.
Scottish football needs a strong SFA. A very strong SFA. And now!
The gall of these people…..
then along comes Spiersy
Graham Spiers @GrahamSpiers 1m
The SFA ‘anomalies’ in punishing Hearts/Rangers for Rule14 breach does look odd. Answer maybe: a totally different 3-man Disciplinary Panel.
Someone needs to remind Mather that his club has never suffered an insolvency event, and therefore cannot have been punished
As for Spiers another clueless hack, who blows with the wind (and is full of it)
Ewan Murray @mrewanmurray 7m
@ChrisGraham76 via your logic, Hearts would cry for a year about receiving an embargo which Rangers didn’t…
valentinesclown says:
August 1, 2013 at 7:53 pm
——————
Craig Mather statement…….
——————
I think Mr Mather is making the same mistake so many do in this area and that is to forget that Rangers are dead.
Accept that fact and it all makes sense; Hearts are not (yet) dead, Dunfermline are not dead, Rangers are dead and in the process of being dissected by the BDO morticians.
The fact that a Rangers supporter is, today, being given the opportunity to watch a team called “The Rangers”, wearing the ludicrous 5 stars on its shirt, playing senior football in this great little country of ours is evidence of the generosity of spirit of those in charge of Scottish football.
No new club in the history of the game, no not one in the whole of Scotland, has been given such preferential treatment as “The Rangers”.
Remember that fact as much as you remember Rangers are dead.
54 to 0
paulsatim says:
August 1, 2013 at 8:21 pm
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Auldheid says:
August 1, 2013 at 8:02 pm
=================================
paulsatim says:
August 1, 2013 at 6:24 pm
0 0 Rate This
SACK CLYDE THURSDAY @tommyinglasgow 1m
Stewart Regan was my guest on 1st show of the nite here
https://www.spreaker.com/user/glasgow-radio-online/celtic_fan_phone_in_call_0141_416_1888_1 …
_________________________
Cheers and I heard Regan stick to the same defense as he did in 2012 re everything was done properly in spite of not actually proving that is was so.
He also took the line in Dec 2011 on Twitter that the tax bil had not crystalised at the time the licence was granted by 31st May 2011.The bill crystalised at the time of determination/delivery because Rangers had accepted it was in order and that was because the precedent it wasbased upon had gone befor an FTT and UUT appeal and found for HMRC.
By 30th June the key date for an item becoming an overdue payable it had definitely crystalised, was definitely over due and did not meet the criteria for designating it as not an overdue payable.
The “ongoing discussions ” line did not meet the criteria for exclusion which is another of Regan’s defences as well as the not crystalising one and it is clear from CF thAT lies and obsfuscation were employed by Rangers and the SFA..
Interestingly UEFA changed one of the criteria d) in UEFA FFP 2012 but the effect of that was only to reinforce no reason for excusing the item from being an overdue payable existed under UEAFA FFP 2010.
Why the rule changed is a question being posed to UEFA who must by now be getting irritated by the football rule anomalies resulting from SFA interpretation of the rules.
As someone said earlier the tax payer has been subsidising Rangers for a number of years and have been aided and abetted by the SFA in 2011 at least if not during the whole EBT period. Only the UTT stand between them and serious questions being asked of their failure to police what Rangers were up to from 2000 but from 2011 the SFA’s misjudged decisions and actions flowing have cost the UK taxpayer millions.
slimshady61 says:
August 1, 2013 at 9:02 pm
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valentinesclown says:
August 1, 2013 at 7:53 pm
——————
Craig Mather statement…….
*************************
I feel another raft of e-mails to the usual suspects coming on. Not holding my breath for as much as a reply, never mind action. Will anyone ask Mr Mather to clarify his statement? No!! It will be spun in the MSM as TRFC being the victim and ‘kicked when they are down’. Again!
verselijkfc says:
August 1, 2013 at 8:12 pm
It was not just by keeping the banks afloat the tax payer contributed indirectly to Rangers. By not payng tax that was actually due Around £15 VAT/NI and the £2.8m wee tax bill, with the EBT tax possibly still to be added, Rangers directly robbed the tax payer with SFA help.
Just read the BBC website report about the interview with Henry McLeish and just shook my head!
95% of his recommendations have been implemented – woohoo!
Next thing to be dealt with is “atmosphere” at Scottish football!
Then I came on here and saw the posts about Craig Mather’s statement …. and shook my head again!
At the dawn of a new season, this Aberdeen fan still has no intention of spending another penny attending football in Scotland until Rangers / Sevco are dealt with properly. Suggestion to Henry McLeish: write another report detailing what the SPL, SFA, SFL did wrong last year and the steps to fix.
I wonder if anybody will point out to Mr Mather that:
Dunfermline had the highest points penalty for a first time ‘insolvency event’ (until Hearts equalled ours)
Dunfermline had an immediate transfer embargo placed upon them. No wee windows to sign players
Dunfermline were excluded from the Scottish cup until Hamilton were paid their share of the ticket money.
Why were they treated differently, I demand to know who these people are etc etc.
The bile coming from that club makes me sick.
Auldheid says:
August 1, 2013 at 9:26 pm
As you probably heard on the clip SR asked Tommy to write to him and he would give him a reply. Perhaps you could collaborate with Tommy to ask the right questions.
Tell you whats odd, the next time any player/club/manager is pulled up by Vincent lunney, how many will get the hearing deferred until they have completed an investigation into themselves, find themselves innocent and have no further punishment?
Didn’t Rangers take the SFA to court because they thought their transfer ban wasn’t fair?? And now it’s not enough???
They thought they’d been punished enough with a 10 point penalty. Now both DAFC and HMFC get much larger points deductions and embargoes – and they didn’t even deliberately trade while insolvent for 6 months (or longer).
Then Mather gets parachuted into the company (club) that bought the assets of Rangers and starts mouthing off about how a club he has no justifiable connection with was treated badly. Talk about toys out the pram…
Anyway, he should be grateful that RFC’s special treatment wasn’t enough to save them. If RFC wasn’t dead he wouldn’t have his current job.
Auldheid
How long before they’re circling the wagons?
No wheels on my wagon
And I’m not rolling along
HMRC,have caught up with me……music fades,…….
Doubtful that Mather believes a word of his own statement. Just more daft and dangerous PR.
This sums up SSB. Made me laugh.
http://t.co/WaPUZbDmQY
If the authorities stand accused of inconsistent punishments for similar offences, they should grow a pair and counter the Sevco statement point by point regarding Rangers and their situation……..and while they are at it, call Sevco’s bluff and publish the 5 way agreement…….let us all see what ‘was never signed’ (MCoist) regarding the Sevco situation……a wee bit of transparency will move us all forward……..I won’t hold my breath!
Well done Saints, tremendous result….just tremendous. All achieved by patient planning and prudent stewardship, on and off the park. Would be nice to see a pundit or two put these recent achievements in this context, rather than relentlessly pine for a bygone era….an era that almost destroyed Scottish football, but delivered lots of jollies and lamb for the hungry hacks.
Matty Roth says:
August 1, 2013 at 5:31 pm
You’ve got me on tenderhooks AH, looking forward to full transcript.
And thanks once again for taking the time to contact and question these bodies where appropriate. We all benefit from your efforts.
______________________
Apologies for keeping you waiting.
It is fairly obvious that in arguing the “its the same club” case those that do take the words in any rules or rulings and use the minutae within to justify their stance. I call them the Pharisees of whom a very wise man foretold 2000 years ago of great woes for such folk because the spirit, the ethics and the intent of those rules appeared alien to their thinking.
So following that wise man I argue that it is only in taking the intent into account, that is trying to identify what any rule attempts to achieve or prevent that a proper interpretation can be arrived at.
Thus I e mailed Ed Thomson whom I have had no previous contact via his web site at
http://www.financialfairplay.co.uk/contact-us.php
which suggests he is an expert on UEFA FFP and asked the following question. Note no mention of any club or instances in the question.
_____________________
On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 1:38 AM, Yola wrote:
You received a Contact me submission from Financial Fair Play:
Name Auldheid
Email xx@yy.co.uk
Phone 12345678
Message: Have you any idea of the purpose of Article 12 of UEFA FFP 2010/12 and what exactly it is aimed at preventing?
To which I received the following reply:
Auldheid
Hopefully we are a both referring to the same section (see attached below).
It is basically saying:
– Only a member of a UEFA-recognised league can apply to take part in UEFA competitions (this stops, say, Greenland trying to get a team into the Champions League, or someone setting up a rival non-recognised breakaway league trying to take part).
– Clubs need to have been in existence for at least 3 years before they can get a UEFA license.
The 3year rule stops clubs closing and then reforming as a way of getting round their financial liabilities and escaping UEFA punishment. I believe the purpose here is to stop a club benefiting from a “New Co” scenario (i.e like the situation that happened with Rangers). Rangers folded with heavy debts and then reformed. UEFA’s requirements that clubs don’t have ‘overdue payables’ (tax, wages etc) would be a mockery if clubs could keep folding and re-forming and then get into UEFA competitions immediately and without penalty. Hence Rangers have, for UEFA purposes, only been in existence for 1 year (and could not go into the UEFA competitions even if they win the the Scottish Cup).
The deduction of points and relegation of Rangers in the Scottish League are matters decided by the domestic leagues rather than UEFA (it is possible that a club could escape domestic punishment for liquidation).
——————————
Notice he mentioned Rangers not I , and this is how the world outside of Scotland as they become more aware of the full and true narrative will see it too.
Now how UEFA view Rangers cannot be much clearer than that, which is why Article 12 will not be compromised.
But there is more.
In Article 12 and UEFA FFP as a whole, UEFA set out a governance standard, a standard the SFA have signed up to for protecting the competitions UEFA are responsible for.
Note that UEFA allow national associations to decide on domestic matters, but in deciding as they have done the SFA have damaged the integrity of the very game in Scotland they are supposed to be protecting (and themselves) beyond repair.
The Bryson law on registration and ensuing eligibility coming from the LNS enquiry, the idea that sporting advantage needs to be proved when points deductions are handed out without proof to offset the sporting advantage clubs living beyond their means have gained, these are matters the SFA have ruled on or accepted, but they are not domestic matters. The SFA in trying to save Rangers have crossed the line from domestic into international/global football law with interpretations which if adopted more widely would cause chaos.
It can only be a matter of time before the football law anomalies created by the SFA under Regan and Ogilvie come back to bite them on the bum. In fact the RST are already dropping their gnashers into the Steradent on the apparent disparity of treatment between Rangers and Hearts (although prematurely and in ignorance of the difference between administration and liquidation and causes, but much of that ignorance is born of the SFA twisting events to suit their agenda rather than that of integrity and truth.
Left to their own devices the SFA have turned football law pretzel shaped, butthat is not all. They have also failed in their responsibilities to the UK taxpayer. By not insisting CW’s Rangers paid the £2.8m wee tax bill BEFORE they even thought of granting a licence, they have robbed the UK tax payer of £2.8M. (I exclude the later added penalties)
Did the SFA not wonder why CW could not pay the wee tax bill (I mean £2,8M to a bilionaire!! ) Did they try to establish its genesis and why Rangers had accepted it was due (which I set out earlier).By allowing CW to take over Rangers and then assisting in the non payment of that £2.8m, the SFA cost the UK taxpayer that amount.
Instead of then insisting Rangers live within their means and cut costs, they placed no conditions allowing them them to live on the hog and play roulette using the UEFA licence reward potentail as an entry stake into Europe, using tax payers money, and when that gamble failed their failure to act with due diligence cost the taxpayer around £15m in unpaid VAT and NI.
Rangers got told the good news that as result of the information passed to UEFA by the SFA under Article 66 of UEFA FFP after 30th June,, that not only had approval been given, but that as a result of the case made, UEFA did not require future financial forecasts (and I’d love to see what UEFA were told) and all this at a time when HMRC were asking for exactly that kind of information. Instead of working with Rangers to save them, the SFA should have been aware of the potential cost of their decisions to help Rangers to the UK tax payer (and this is without possible additions from the EBT tax avoided.under UTT consideration)
So what you have here is UEFA taking steps to protect tax payers throughout Europe and the SFA circumventing those steps for reasons that should be investigated.
Who guards the guards is always a problem but the UK taxpayer of which many are football fans, must have some assurances from the UK Government that they will demand, by law if necessary, that the national associations recognise their responsibilities to rax payers and that football pays its taxes when due and puts due tax payments above all other considerations.
This is a more than just narrow football skullduggery, it will be of much wider public interest than that when the full story is known, and it is imo in the public interests that the full story gets told using knowedge in most journalists possesion.
Regards, Ed
Article 12 – Definition of licence applicant 1 A licence applicant may only be a football club, i.e. a legal entity fully responsible for a football team participating in national and international competitions which either: a) is a registered member of a UEFA member association and/or its affiliated league (hereinafter: registered member); or b) has a contractual relationship with a registered member (hereinafter: football company). 2 The membership and the contractual relationship (if any) must have lasted – at the start of the licence season – for at least three consecutive years. Any alteration to the club’s legal form or company structure (including, for example, changing its headquarters, name or club colours, or transferring stakeholdings between different clubs) during this period in order to facilitate its qualification on sporting merit and/or its receipt of a licence to the detriment of the integrity of a competition is deemed as an interruption of membership
I sat myself down at the pc a few minutes ago after our two young guests from the USA ( daughters of friends) went out on the town ( ‘All-bar-One’ in George St was their stated destination).
My ‘ever-loving’ ( toast to Damon Runyan’s memory at this point) very decently brought me up a drink.
And she said, somewhat to my surprise, that she was pure delighted at St Johnstone’s wonderful result tonight.
And she really was! She loved the purity and honesty of the communal joy in Perth that that result brings.
And so do I.
We are really, really smilingly pleased.
But I have just read Arabest1’s post of 11.19 pm in which he reminds us of “….an era that almost destroyed Scottish football, but delivered lots of jollies and lamb for the hungry hacks.”
And I think of how we have , all of us, come to realise that for many years the SFA board, like a parent who favours one child over the others, have been an obstacle to the growth and development of the other children.
What St J have achieved has been in spite of the SFA; and Motherwell’s ( my Dad’s team,ffs) struggle tonight is, at least in part, attributable to the skewing of Scottish Football brought about by the SFA’s dereliction of duty and blind favouritism of one particular club.
A favouritism which allowed that particular club to spend monies that it did not have in a way that undermined the capacity of other clubs to compete fairly in the market place.
There is an overwhelming sense that the siblings of the favoured child have been only of minor significance, readily to be lied to, barely acknowledged, their achievements seen as somehow upsetting the natural order of things, ……
Great post and well done for getting a reply Auldheid.
Just went to check the latest TRFC / Scottish football ‘reporting’ on The Scottish Sun, [I know !].
They now want me to pay £1 a month to view their website content ?!
That’s about £1 a month too much.
We have all observed how poor / inaccurate / ignorant / succulent the reporting of Scottish football has been in The Scottish Sun over the last couple of years in particular.
Someone should inform The Sun that having proper journalists producing proper journalism would be a sensible starting point before trying to charge for online subscriptions, [& for papers too 😉 ].
Will be interesting to hear how The Sun’s online hits falls off a cliff this month. Looks like the rapidly declining print circulation will be overtaken by the drop in online hits. Nevermind.
And using the same yardstick, TSFM should be billing The Sun football ‘journalists’ directly for viewing / plagiarising TSFM content. :slamb: :slamb: :slamb:
Well done Auldheid. The hard work has paid off.
I wonder if Neepheid got any success from AIM. If not Neepheid, will you then go up to the LSEx itself? And then the FSA? I know it’s easy for me standing in the terracing, but I think you’ll get there.
@CharlotteFakes
Ibrox Stadium Roofs and the Arsenal Shares. As mentioned before, capital expenditure works if neglected, (cont) tl.gd/n_1rlmcgq
In these docs from the latest CF tweets the quoted price for the roof repairs does not look prohibitive. So if it’s a case of simple neglect how worse are they now than a few years ago? Can’t see there not being enough in the kitty to fund these repairs. Of course, you’d have expected them to have been done in the close season.
PS Great listen on the wireless last night as St Johnstone performed yet another football miracle! Too bad for ‘Well, but their opponents are hugely rich (like their fellows from Zenit whom I watched the other night). Financial gulf wasn’t quite as big on the pitch though (in either match), so that’s a kind of positive …
Auldheid says:
August 2, 2013 at 12:02 am
……………………………….
Perserverence pays off…great stuff Auldheid
Clearly the SFA have lied to UEFA. They have lied so many times to so many people,they wouldn’t know the truth if it came in a big new bus. Utterly disgraceful.
Auldheid says:
August 2, 2013 at 12:02 am
http://www.financialfairplay.co.uk/contact-us.php………….Hence Rangers have, for UEFA purposes, only been in existence for 1 year (and could not go into the UEFA competitions even if they win the the Scottish Cup).
…………………………………………..
In a kind of twisted wee way I hope the Sevco Rangers win the Scottish Cup in 2014 and qualify for Europe.
Then we’ll have some fun.
Auldheid says:
August 2, 2013 at 12:02 am
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Excellent post 😎
Danish Pastry says:
August 2, 2013 at 6:37 am
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I expect no repair work has been carried out on the roofs. They will have deteriorated further in the 2+ years since the original report.
Ibrox Stadium is home to many world records regularly trumpeted to the world, but there is one, a most unhappy one, that you rarely hear of. Ibrox is the only major stadium in the world to have witnessed three separate fatal accidents involving supporters.
Rangers supporters must wonder if the present owners, like the two previous incumbents, are going to continue to act in such a cavalier way towards the health and safety of those attending Ibrox Stadium because if they do, it may only be a matter of time before another such accident occurs.
The ground is of course due to host a major sporting event during next year’s Commonwealth Games; is it too much to hope that the games organising committee and Glasgow City Council are discharging their duties appropriately in that regard?
Auldheid’s post leads to a great question to ask both UEFA and Mr Regan (or one of his fully cogniscent committees) and compare the answers.
“If the team playing in Scotland as Rangers (financial history attached) win the Scottish Cup in 2014 or 2015, and are therefore eligible for entry to European football, can they take their place?
(I bet Regan and his chums already plan to change the rules to avoid this and drop the automatic European qualification through the Scottish Cup!)
I also bet they hope Ally stays on as manager so it would never happen anyway.
Steerpike says:
August 1, 2013 at 6:09 pm
” Are you suggesting the short-term investors knew what the risks were, on the basis they knew they were being lied to but didn’t care? I find that hard to believe. ”
@beatipacificiscotia
A day is a long time in business, conditions can change overnight and any investor knows this, they were not lied to just because the original estimates fell short of projections, business is not an exact science. If the CEO wants to spend funds to suit the new conditions then its usually on a needs must basis, the alternative is far worse for the investor.
Anyone who buys shares in a Scottish football club is needing their head looked, both Celtic and an efficient Rangers only break even in their domestic market, and it is shrinking. Our next door neighbour gets 1 billion per year for media rights, we get 16 million, do the math, personally I was shell shocked at the amount raised by the flotation.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
The IPO was a great success and the money raised surprised most. However, the sales pitch was more “snake oil salesman” than responsible.
None of the macro economics changed from the day of the IPO to date. Rangers were knocked out of all the cups, but they got as far as you would expect for the team they assembled. That is the only variable that I can think of. Even if budgeting for winning every cup, it does not explain a £10M gulf between that stated at IPO and what we expect to see in the (overdue?) audited accounts.
The reality is that investors were not told the truth. Many on here commented that the money required for the day to day running of the club from the IPO was a long way short of what was really needed – and they were right. Rangers didn’t get it wrong, the numbers were available, they deliberately produced a work of fiction to fool investors.
StevieBC says:
August 2, 2013 at 1:59 am
Just went to check the latest TRFC / Scottish football ‘reporting’ on The Scottish Sun, [I know !].
They now want me to pay £1 a month to view their website content ?!
That’s about £1 a month too much.
—————————————————–
They should be paying us if they want us to read their drivel.
At the other end of the spectrum – Auldheid, great stuff.
Directorate Change
RNS Number : 8831X
Formation Group PLC
22 February 2012
FORMATION GROUP PLC
(‘Formation’ or ‘the Group’)
Directorate Change
Formation announces the resignation of Charles Green as non executive chairman and a director with immediate effect due to personal reasons.
The Group has commenced a process to identify an independent non executive chairman. Until a suitable candidate has been appointed David Kennedy, Chief Executive, will be appointed as interim Chairman and Chief Executive with immediate effect.
Enquiries:
Formation Group PLC:
David Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chairman – 020 7920 7590
NOMAD to Formation Group PLC:
Zeus Capital Limited – Ross Andrews / Tom Rowley – 0161 831 1512
http://www.digitallook.com/news/rns/19898494-31217/FRM-Directorate_Change_html
Paul McConville @Paulmcc12 1m
Craig Mather Shows He Can Talk As Much Rubbish For #Rangers As Messrs Green and Whyte! http://wp.me/p1Adbc-11i
Neither Hearts or Dunfermline have entered the liquidation stakes (yet) and so neither are new clubs and still retain their membership of the SFA and other bodies. I hear talk of “relegation” to the bottom tier as an example of sanctions that should be applied, according to sevco followers. Let us clarify once and for all, sevco were not at any time relegated, they folded, and a new entity applied for and was granted temporary membership of the SFL. If only our football authorities and MSM had the gumption to tell everyone that this was the case at the time, we may have had a quieter year and the newco could have simply worked at gaining respect amongst the clubs in Scottish Football. Instead of allowing the people who think they are, to continue deluding themselves.
Jeeeeezo that was a struggle to get on 🙄 however I am quite ashamed that in the last few weeks I have lost all interest in all things football because of the lack of fairness in the actions of the SFA etc. BUT the show must go on and have a renewed optimism that things may just level out ( live in hope 😛 ) previously known as’ Brenda’ on RTC and TSFM,
Well done Auldheid magnificent post!!!
Do you still have your clock Brenda ?,sorry Toots.You’ll need it. 😆
Auldheid,what a great piece of digging.Brilliant post!
Good to see you back toots, (Brenda), did the clock(s) Tupe over as well??? How many are still running?
Ah beat me to it rantinrobin
Could anyone tell me if the fine of 50k handed out to RFC for going into administration was ever payed ❓
Or the fine for NEAR MATCH FIXING of 160k was payed ❓
If not why are TRFC shouting about a debt that wasn’t theirs ❓
Clocks all at the ready 😆 boys but don’t know what Brenda done but could not comment for love nor money 😐 But wee Toots is here to continue her work 😀 happy Friday everyone <3
FORMATION GROUP : UPDATE ON ALDGATE EAST DEVELOPMENT
The Company is pleased to announce that Julius Properties Limited (‘JPL’), a Guernsey registered company that owns the property development above Aldgate East Station, London (‘Aldgate’), has entered into a conditional agreement for the disposal of Aldgate to a UK national housebuilder.
The conditions of this agreement must be satisfied
no later than 22 February 2012
and consideration payable under the disposal agreement is to be split with part payable on completion and part being deferred. The deferred portion of the consideration will all be payable within 30 months after the date of completion.
If JPL completes the disposal of Aldgate, the Directors anticipate that the contingent liability relating to Formation’s guarantee to assist JPL in repaying Aldgate East Property Company Limited a maximum of £11.6 million in respect of capital and interest on loan notes will be extinguished.
In addition, if JPL completes the disposal of Aldgate, the Directors also anticipate that JPL will, after receipt of the deferred element of the consideration, be able to substantially repay the loans provided by JV Finance Ventures Limited, the special purpose vehicle set up by Formation and JV Finance Limited in which Formation has a 36.88% equity interest.
There is no certainty that the conditions to the disposal agreement will be satisfied and a further announcement will be made to update shareholders in due course.
Enquiries:
Formation Group Plc:
David Kennedy; Chief Executive Officer – 020 7920 7590
NOMAD to Formation Group Plc:
Zeus Capital Limited – Ross Andrews / Tom Rowley – 0161 831 1512
———————————————————————————————————
http://www.4-traders.com/FORMATION-GROUP-4003476/news/FORMATION-GROUP-UPDATE-ON-ALDGATE-EAST-DEVELOPMENT-13774415/
Auldheid says:
August 2, 2013 at 12:02 am
Brilliant post Auldheid. Thanks for all your good work and tireless effort.
Finloch says:
In a kind of twisted wee way I hope the Sevco Rangers win the Scottish Cup in 2014 and qualify for Europe.
Then we’ll have some fun.
==============================
Please no.
Apart from the fact I could not live with the jingoistic celebrations that would follow their win, we all know that the SFA would find some way of bending the rules (yes, even UEFA;’s) to make sure TRFC would be allowed to play in the Europa League competition.
Toots
I think you have already registered as Brenda under another email address. PM me and I’ll get it sorted.
Folks.
The Podcast thing is proving a bit more difficult to organise than we thought.
We now have the equipment needed to achieve what we want, but getting the people together in the same place at the same time is a big problem right now. Please bear with us and hopefully we should have something by the end of the month – with a plan moving forward.
Completely off topic (meaning discussing a football match) 😉
Isn’t it somewhat mouth-watering that of all the teams Hearts could have opened their SPFL campaign against, they’re playing St. Johnstone? The form team.
Could be an absolute cracker on Sunday.
I’m a Hibee so totally unbiased 😛 but for me one of the things to look forward to (maybe the only, did I say I was hibee?) is how Hearts will perform.
It’s not so much the 15-point penalty which will ultimately do for them, IMHO it is more the fact that their squad is (i) very young (ii) inexperienced and (iii) composed of only 17 outfield players.
Once injuries and suspensions start to bite (and for some reason Hearts have a very poor record with injuries in recent seasons) I suspect they’ll fall away. Youthful energy only gets you so far.
So the SPFL Premiership starts this evening. Bring it on. I’ll still not be contributing one penny towards Scottish Football but even from this distance I just can’t look away from it.
Rangers goto war
http://davidleggat-leggoland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/rangers-go-to-war-with-radio-clyde.html?m=1