To Comply or not to Comply ?

UEFA Club Licensing. – To Comply or not to Comply ?

On 16 April 2018 The UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) adjudicatory chamber took decisions in the cases of four clubs that had been referred to it by the CFCB chief investigator, concerning the non-fulfilment of the club licensing criteria defined in the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations.

Such criteria must be complied with by the clubs in order to be granted the licence required to enter the UEFA club competitions.

The cases of two clubs::

Olympique des Alpes SA (Sion Switzerland )

and

FC Irtysh  (Kazakhstan) 

are of particular interest to those following the events under which the SFA awarded a UEFA License to Rangers FC in 2011 currently under investigation by the SFA Compliance Officer because

  1. The case documentation tell us how UEFA wish national associations to apply UEFA FFP rules
  2. The cases  tell us what might have happened to Rangers  FC in 2012 had they not gone into liquidation and as a consequence avoided the same type of sanctions that UEFA applied to Sion and Irtysh.

 

FC Sion  (Olympique des Alpes SA)

Here we are told how the Swiss FL and then the UEFA CFCB acted in respect of FC Sion in 2017 where a misleading statement was made in the Sion UEFA licensing application.

Full details can be read at

http://tiny.cc/y6sxsy

 

but this is a summary.

In April 2017 the Swiss FL (SFL) granted a licence to Sion FC but indicated that a Disciplinary case was pending.

In July 2017 the CFCB, as part of their licence auditing programme,  carried out a compliance audit on 3 clubs to determine if licences had been properly awarded. Sion was one of those clubs.

The subsequent audit by Deloitte LLP discovered Sion had an overdue payable on a player, amounting to €950,000, owed to another football club (FC Sochaux ) at 31st March 2017 as a result of a transfer undertaken by Sion before 31st December 2016, although the €950,000 was paid in early June 2017.

Deloitte produced a draft report of their findings that was passed to SFL and Sion for comment on factual accuracy and comment on the findings. Sion responded quickly enabling Deloitte to present a final report to the CFCB Investigation Unit. In response to the Deloitte final report Sion stated:

“il apparaît aujourd’hui qu’il existait bel et bien un engagement impayé découlant d’une activité de transfert. Ce point est admis” translated as

“it now appears that there was indeed an outstanding commitment arising from transfer activity. This is admitted”

What emerged as the investigation proceeded was that the Swiss FL Licensing Committee, after granting the license in April and as a result of a Sochaux complaint of non-payment to FIFA, had reason to refer Sion’s application to their Disciplinary Commission in May 2017 with regard to the submission of potentially misleading information by FC Sion to the SFL on 7th April 2017 as part of its licensing documentation.

Sion had declared

“Written confirmation: no overdue payables arising from transfer activities”, signed by the Club’s president, stating that as at 31 March 2017 there were no overdue payables towards other football clubs. In particular, the Club indicated that the case between FC Sion and FC Sochaux regarding the transfer of the player Ishmael Yartey was still under dispute.

The SFL Disciplinary Commission came to the conclusion that FC Sion had no intention to mislead the SFL, but indeed submitted some incorrect licensing documentation; the SFL Disciplinary Commission further confirmed that the total amount of €950,000 had been paid by the Club to FC Sochaux on 7 June 2017. Because of the inaccurate information submitted, the SFL Disciplinary Commission decided to impose a fine of CHF 8,000 on the Club.

Whilst this satisfied the SFL Disciplinary process the CFCB deemed it not enough to justify the granting of the licence as UEFA intended their FFP rules to be applied.

Sion provided the CFCB with a number of reasons on the basis of which no sanction should be imposed. In particular, the Club admitted that there was an overdue payable as at 31 March 2017, but stated that the mistake in the document dated 7 April 2017 was the result of a misinterpretation by the club’s responsible person for dealing with the licence (the “Club’s licence manager”), who is not a lawyer. The Club affirmed that it never had the intention to conceal the information and had provisioned the amount due for payment and that, in any case, it has already been sanctioned by the SFL for providing the wrong information.

The CFCB Investigation Unit accepted that the Sion application, although inaccurate, was a one off misrepresentation and not a forgery, (as in intended to deceive ) but that nevertheless an overdue payable did exist at 31st March and a licence should not have been granted.

Based on their findings, the CFCB Chief Investigator decided to refer the case to the CFCB Adjudicatory Chamber and suggested a disciplinary measure to be imposed on FC Sion by the CFCB Adjudicatory Chamber, such measure consisting of a fine of €235,000, corresponding to the UEFA Revenues the Club gained by participating in the 2017/2018 UEFA Europa League.

The CFCB Investigatory Chamber submitted that it was  appropriate to impose a fine corresponding to all the UEFA revenues the Club gained by participating in the competition considering the fact that FC Sion should not have been admitted to the competition for failing to meet one of its admission criteria.

 

The Adjudicatory Chambers took all the circumstances (see paras 91 to 120 at http://tiny.cc/i8sxsy ) into consideration and reached the following key decisions.

  1. FC Sion failed to satisfy the requirements of Article 49(1) of the CL&FFP Regulations and it obtained the licence issued by the SFL not in accordance with the CL&FFP Regulations.
  2. FC Sion breached Articles 13(1) and 43(1)(i) of the CL&FFP Regulations. (Documents complete and correct)
  3. To exclude FC Sion from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which it would otherwise qualify in the next two (2) seasons (i.e. the 2018/19 and 2019/20).
  4. To impose a fine of two hundred and thirty five thousand Euros (€235,000) on FC Sion.
  5. FC Sion is to pay three thousand Euros (€3,000) towards the costs of these proceedings.

Comment in respect of the award of a UEFA Licence in 2011 to Rangers FC.

It is now public knowledge that an actual liability of tax due before 31stDecember 2010 towards HMRC, was admitted by Rangers FC before 31st March 2011.

This liability was described as “potential” in Rangers Interim accounts audited by Grant Thornton.

“Note 1: The exceptional item reflects a provision for a potential tax liability in relation to a Discounted Option Scheme associated with player contributions between 1999 and 2003. A provision for interest of £0.9m has also been included within the interest charge.”

The English Oxford Dictionary definition of potential is:

Having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future.

Which was not true as the liability had already been “developed” so could not be potential.

This was repeated by Chairman Alistair Johnson in his covering Interim Accounts statement

“The exceptional item reflects a provision for a potential tax liability in relation to a Discounted Option Scheme associated with player contributions between 1999 and 2003. “  where he also added

“Discussions are continuing with HMRC to establish a resolution to the assessments raised.”

This could be taken as disputing the liability but In fact the resolution to the assessments raised would have been payment of the actual liability, something that never happened.

In the Sion case it was accepted the misleading statement was a one off misrepresentation, but at the monitoring stages at June 2011 in Ranger’s case the status of the liability continued to be misrepresented and in September the continuing discussions reason was repeated, along with a claim of an instalment paid whose veracity is highly questionable.

The Swiss FL Licensing Committee did at least refer the case to their Disciplinary Committee when they realised a misleading statement might have been made. The SFA however in August 2011, when Sherriff Officers called at Ibrox for payment of the overdue tax , did no such thing and pulled up the drawbridge for six years, one that the Compliance Officer is now finally charged with lowering.

 


 

The case of FC Irtysh of Kazakhstan is set out in full at http://tiny.cc/y9sxsy  and is a bit more straightforward but is nevertheless useful to compare with events in 2011 in Scotland.

Unlike Rangers FC , FC Irtysh properly disclosed that they had an overdue payable to the Kazakhstan tax authorities at the monitoring point at 30th June 2017. This caused the CFCB Investigatory Unit to seek further information with regard to the position at 31st March

It transpired that Irtysh had declared an overdue payable at 31st March but cited their financial position (awaiting sponsor money) as a reason for non payment to the Kazakhstan FA who accepted it and granted the licence. The outstanding tax was paid in September 2107.

The outcome of the CFCB Investigation was a case put to the CFCB Adjudicatory Chamber  who agreed with the CFCB Investigation Unit that a licence should not have been granted and recommended that Irtysh be fined the equivalent of the UEFA prize money, (that had been withheld in any case whilst CFCB investigated.)

The CFCB Adjudicatory Chamber however decided that a fine was not sufficient in sporting deterrent terms and ruled that:

 

  1.  FC Irtysh failed to satisfy the requirements of Article 50bis(1) of the CL&FFP Regulations and it obtained the licence issued by the FFK not in accordance with the CL&FFP Regulations.
  2. To withhold four hundred and forty thousand Euros (€440,000) corresponding to the UEFA revenues FC Irtysh gained by participating in the 2017/2018 UEFA Europa League.
  3. To exclude FC Irtysh from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which it would otherwise qualify in the next three (3) seasons (i.e. the 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons). This sanction is deferred for a probationary period of (3) three years. This exclusion must be enforced in case the Club participates again in a UEFA club competition having not fulfilled the licence criteria required to obtain the UEFA licence in accordance with the CL&FFP Regulations.
  4. FC Irtysh is to pay three thousand Euros (€3,000) towards the costs of these proceedings. “

 

The deferral was because unlike Rangers FC,  FC Irtysh had properly disclosed to the licensor the correct & accurate financial information required, so the exclusion was deferred for a probationary period of (3) years.

 

Comment in respect of the award of a UEFA Licence in 2011 to Rangers FC.

From the foregoing it could be deduced that had Rangers FC qualified for the Champions League (or European League) and not gone bust as a result and so not entered liquidation BUT it became public knowledge by 2012 that a licence had been wrongly and possibly fraudulently granted then

  1. Rangers would have been fined the equivalent of their earnings from their participation in the UEFA competitions in 2011
  2. At least a two year ban from UEFA Competitions would have been imposed, but more likely three in view of repeated incorrect statements.
  3. The consequences of both would have been as damaging for Rangers survival as the real life consequences of losing to Malmo and Maribor in the qualifying rounds of the Champions and European Leagues.

Karma eh!

Interestingly in the UEFA COMPLIANCE AND INVESTIGATION ACTIVITY REPORT 2015 – 2017 , the CFCB investigatory chamber recommended that both the Kazakhstan FA and Swiss FA as licensors

“pay particular attention to the adequate disclosure of the outstanding amounts payable towards other football clubs, in respect of employees and towards social/tax authorities, which must be disclosed separately;

Would the same recommendation apply to the Scottish FA with regard to their performance in 2011 and will the  SFA responses thereafter to shareholders in a member club be examined for compliance with best governance practice by the SFA Compliance Officer investigating the processing of the UEFA Licence in 2011?

This would be a welcome step in fully restoring trust in the SFA.

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Auldheid

About Auldheid

Celtic fan from Glasgow living mostly in Spain. A contributor to several websites, discussion groups and blogs, and a member of the Resolution 12 Celtic shareholders' group. Committed to sporting integrity, good governance, and the idea that football is interdependent. We all need each other in the game.

7,185 thoughts on “To Comply or not to Comply ?


  1. BILLYDUG  JUNE 20, 2018 at 19:53
    ————————–
    Thanks. I’d seen that article before but for some reason I thought it was the SPL.

    I know that the SPL definitely changed their rules in 2005 and the SFA in 2013 re their definition of a club.


  2. One for the court ST holders ?
    LORD BANNATYNE – C Stark, Clerk

    Friday 22nd June
     
    Starred Motion
    Between 9.00am and 10.00am
     
    P997/17 Note: RFC 2012 Plc for orders under 4.16Dentons
    Brodies LLP


  3. paddy malarkeyJune 20, 2018 at 21:13
    ‘.One for the court ST holders ?LORD BANNATYNE – C Stark, ClerkFriday 22nd June….’
    __________________
    Yes, Paddy, I plan to be there!


  4. BILLYDUG JUNE 20, 2018 at 19:53
    ———————————-
    Further to my previous post, I’ve located the change to the SFA’s articles in 2006 that would cover Romanov’s criticism of referees.

    Inserting within Article 1, within the existing definition of “official”, at the end of the existing terms of the definition, the following wording:
    “including without prejudice to the foregoing generality any such person who is able to exercise control over the majority of the board of any such club or recognised football body (whether or not such person is himself intimated to the Registrar of Companies as holding the office of director);”


  5. EASYJAMBOJUNE 20, 2018 at 21:42
    ——————–
    So the SFA could sanction Mr king


  6. On the Jon chap ( not acquitted of an assault charge ,as Gerrard was) an old-sounding quote comes vaguely to mind:

    ” Real men don’t beat women. They beat the men who do.”

    White-collar crimes [ such as, for example, those that result in forty-odd criminal charges and conviction thereon, or in  the death of an old and (initially) honourable football club] are of course of much greater consequence to many more people and society as a whole,  than the beating of a drink-taken young woman by any drink-taken young man.  

    In our justified condemnation of Jon whats-his-name , we should therefore remember that the carefully planned deceptions of  sober ,middle-aged  people involved in Scottish football administration and/or  a Scottish (newish) football club, are to be as strongly condemned for what they represent: the abuse of us taxpayers and football supporters by that club and by those who are supposed to protect and defend the Integrity of Scottish football from clubs such as that.

    Jon’s abuse of a trusting and defenceless young woman who is/was? his ‘girl friend’ is emotionally repugnant to ordinary folk. 

    The abuse of thousands of us by both RIFC plc/(RFC 2012)  AND the Football Authorities is as repugnant: more so, even, because it was cold-blooded and calculated!

    There is hope that young Jon can learn from his experience, and begin to respect both himself and his present girl friend, and girls in general.

    There is little hope that our Football Administrators  and others formerly involved in the ‘saga’, steeped and hardened in iniquity as they are, will learn anything-until they are forced out of office, when Integrity and Truth return to the 6th Floor at Hampden.


  7. Cluster One June 20, 2018 at 22:02
    EASYJAMBOJUNE 20, 2018 at 21:42
    ——————–
    So the SFA could sanction Mr king
    =======================
    Only if he has been deemed to have broken the SFA’s rules.

    The only one that I think might be possible would be a disrepute charge, but for what, e.g.  I still think it would be hard to prove that he had affected the SFA’s standing because of his dispute with the TOP.


  8. Cluster OneJune 20, 2018 at 22:02
    ‘..So the SFA could sanction Mr king.’
    _____________________
    Yes, indeed. 

    In the same way that they could publicly declare that TRFC Ltd is not entitled to call itself the Rangers of 1872, or to claim the sporting honours etc of that club now known as RFC 2012 which is ‘languishing in Liquidation’ ( lovely alliteration!) even as I press this very key!

    They could: except that they lack moral fibre, and are so heavily compromised in every which direction that they are paralysed!

    Too many people up to their knees in deceptive practices are still on the Board of the SFA: Regan’s departure has solved nothing: the monkey has gone, but the organ grinders are still there, without even the shred of dignity that would urge them to find a reason to demit office, and make way for others.

    An interesting item of news today was the Gosport story.

    The passage of time does not let bad guys off the hook 18 plus years after the deaths of hundreds. 

    Six years after the death of Rangers FC 1872 is as nothing to that!

    Make no mistake: the propagation of, and the propagators of, the Big Lie will end, sooner than later. 

    The nonsense will simply have to stop, or we all, gradually, will walk away.

    Because, as said before, who could be ar.ed paying for a fixed, false, sport, lacking in any meaningful and honest recognition of sporting achievement and club history? 

    What would be the sporting merit  in claiming a sporting achievement that you haven’t actually won?

    Financial gain, obviously, if you get away with it.

    And therein lies the corruption and the reason for it.

    To the shame of those involved.


  9. easyJamboJune 20, 2018 at 22:24
    ‘…..I still think it would be hard to prove that he had affected the SFA’s standing because of his dispute with the TOP.’
    ___________________
    Perhaps it depends on the ‘standard of proof’ that applies in the public perception arena.
    Where an individual with a criminal record is seen to be the actual, factual controller of ,and principal spokesman/negotiator for the football club of the holding company of which he is the chairman, is publicly known  to be under a Court Order to comply with an unprecedented order from the TOP, there might possibly be grounds for the SFA to charge him with such conduct as a de facto director that shames Scottish Football in the eyes of the world of business as to impinge on the integrity(ha!) of the SFA!08


  10. Tricky draw for the Dons in the EL. From Jonathon Black on Twitter however, some advice for travelling fans from Aberdeen-
    “If you’re struggling to get accommodation booked in Burnley, they have the lowest average house prices in the U.K.  Might be easier to buy one?”


  11. Re TGAL and the SFA hitting him with a disrepute charge .

    That would surely mean they would have to accept that he is behaving as a shadow director .

    Now we couldn’t  have that now could we .


  12. EASYJAMBOJUNE 20, 2018 at 22:24
    4
    8 Rate This
    Cluster One June 20, 2018 at 22:02EASYJAMBOJUNE 20, 2018 at 21:42——————–So the SFA could sanction Mr king=======================Only if he has been deemed to have broken the SFA’s rules.
    The only one that I think might be possible would be a disrepute charge, but for what, e.g.
    ——————–
    Acting as a shadow director after he agreed not to.
    Not complying with a court order.
    Questioning the investigation into old rangers granting of a european licence.(that he was on the board of).
    Having a go at the integrity of members of the SPFL and SFA.
    Having the new ibrox managment pose in Hummel tracksuits.


  13. Yet another signing arriving at Ibrox who is likely to be on £25-30k a week, given what he earned / could have earned had he stayed in England. Gerrard and his coaching team are likely to be costing around £3M a year, possibly more. There is no share issue yet, and recent court action suggests there won’t be for a while. The Europa League Group stages are a tough ask. Close Brothers have a loan of £3m plus interest which will have to be repaid, and it is not yet known how many of the soft loans have been called in. 

    I just don’t believe there is no-one in the media capable of simple arithmetic.  


  14. James Doleman
    @jamesdoleman
    Advocate Depute says he will refer to Rangers Football Club PLC as either “Rangers” or “The Club” #WhyteTrial10:29 am · 4 May 2017


  15. With The Rangers most recent signing, and given the rap sheet of their “chairman”, perhaps we will see orange taps after all?


  16. So that’s Flanagan, Gerrard and McGregor as well as King all had legal issues, some you win, some you lose, but the good ship dignity sails on….

    Joking aside – I remember Graham Rix coming up to Scotland after a conviction as “he would be out of the media glare”… How did that work out? BTW I love the idea that they think Scotland is some backwater blackout zone where no-one is aware of problems faced “back home” and they’ll get a free ride by the media… what’s that you say? He’s going to Ibrox? Ok, I see your point…


  17. UPTHEHOOPSJUNE 21, 2018 at 07:12
    Agreed, As you will all be aware I keep harping on about the general running costs of Ibrox and Murray Park and that as soon as the management and player budget gets out of control there is definitely and issue with outgoings exceeding income unless the gamble of Euro cash pays off – and even that may still not be enough.

    It is a real juggling act while kicking a can down the road.

    Compare and contrast with Hearts who are trying to rebuild the squad for next year. 
    We seem to have plenty bodies coming in however they are bargain buys and becasue they are  watching the pennies the club has pulled the plug on a deal with Milinkovic (the type of player I think Hearts need) because his personal terms were too much for the club.

    Speaking of silly money I see talk in the papers of Patrick Roberts being valued at £15 and James Maddison (17 games and 2 goals when on loan at Aberdeen)  getting sold to Leicester for a deal ranging between £20 to £24m when add ons are considered.

    Decent players but FFS – madness.
     


  18. Regarding the status of Dave King and whether he can be sanctioned by the SFA have a look at the relationship between RIFC and TRFC based on the accounts of both.
    The facts can be seen from the links provided on Twitter begining at
     https://twitter.com/Auldheid/status/1009576782679494656?s=19
    1. In RIFC accounts (Rangers International Football  Club PLC) “Rangers Football Club” are described as a subsidiary in spite of the fact that the accounts of that subsidiary are those of The Rangers Football Club. Somewhere the “THE” was lost.
    2. Which set of accounts were  used by the SFA when  they granted a UEFA licence last year and this? If TRFC then DK is one removed. However if UEFA FFP requires the overall accounts of the business as Art46bis suggests, then it will be the accounts of Rangers International Football Club signed off by DK that are being used.
    The name sham was always going to run into Art12  of UEFA FFP because UEFA simply cannot accept an application from RFC because they no longer exist as the club who applied in the past but if they did, would be refused a licence because of unpaid well overdue tax.
    So the current applicant is either TRFC or RIFC with my money on the latter which puts DK in the hot seat.
    It’s all smoke and mirrors aided by the SFA the SPFL and the media who could use the correct nomenclature if it were not from the threat reporting facts attracts.
    The SFA could act if they were willing to but as long as majority of supporters of other clubs  cgaf what term is used to describe the operation at Ibrox then the SFA etc  will sit it out.
    For DK read Trump/May/Johnson/Farage all People of the Lie and then us as a whole who cgaf whilst lies become the truth.


  19. BillydugJune 21, 2018 at 08:15
    ‘..Advocate Depute says he will refer to Rangers Football Club PLC as either “Rangers” or “The Club” ‘
    ___________________
    And that was about the only useful statement that was made by the  prosecution in that hopelessly conducted prosecution.13


  20. The fact that SDM and Rangers weren’t nailed for the EBT/player registration issue then the games gets what it deserves.

    SDM should have been issued with sine die ban and the likes of King shouldn’t have been allowed to darken our door.

    The fact one was never punished and the other is allowed to jet in and spout shite with impunity means we deserve what we get.

    Hoping to catch DCK for some minor technical rules breech is to brush over the type of operator he is and that he should never have been allowed anywhere near T’Rangers and the Scottish Game.


  21. Sad news with the passing of ex-Ranger Johnny Hubbard at the age of 87.
    Unlike many of today’s players Johnny was more than happy to sit and chat any time you met him at Ibrox where he was still a regular attendee.
    True gentleman who will be sadly missed.  


  22. WOTTP @ 12:00

    Whilst I agree with your anger at how the SFA and SPFL are making a mockery of sporting integrity and with your views on the likes of SDM and TGASL, I utterly disagree with your assertion that ‘we deserve what we get’.

    Maybe those complicit in this fiasco deserve what they get (I’m thinking here about football supporters [of any club] who lazily put up with this crap and make no attempt to understand the issues and their import, or those who fail to keep some pressure (however limited – in their own eyes – that may be) on their club representatives.

    However, I accept no part of the blame for this clusterfeck, nor do I feel that I’m getting what I deserve: those of us with a conscience and a means of making our views know are up against powerful vested interests, which is frustrating and difficult. 

    But the show ain’t over yet: not by a long shot.


  23. I read the full disgusting details of Rangers new signing’s conviction today.  I do generally believe in the principle of rehabilitation but I feel uneasy about someone who’s been involved in such a horrific crime being rewarded with a highly paid & high profile role.

     Yes Rangers may have got themselves a 25 year old England international on a free but they’ve tarnished their already far from gleaming brand today.  Disappointing but I suppose wholly unsurprising given the corporate nature of our game nowadays.


  24. Strong rumours on twitter John Terry speaking to Celtic.


  25.                        BillydugJune 21, 2018 at 16:00
    Strong rumours on twitter John Terry speaking to Celtic.
    ———————————————————
    Never knew they had fallen out!


  26. BORDERSDON @ 16:23
    If they haven’t already then I sincerely hope that they do very soon. 


  27. JT would be a good piece of business, if it happens. Celtic’s back line has talent, but need on field guidance.
    One year of Terry could be as beneficial as the one year a former team got from the majestic Pat Stanton and more recently, the calming effect of Kolo Toure.


  28. They do or did have some undesirables down ibrox way.I don’t know what attracts them to ibrox since the new club was formed.
    Rangers’ Ian Black accused of betting against his own team …
    not that betting against your own team is in the same bracket as others,but they do attract them.
    An old saying if you lie down with dogs you will get fleas.


  29. From DT on Twitter,
    “The nearest Scotland will get to another World Cup is if Iran played Brunei and the scoreboard said IRN – BRU”


  30. I got a text from the good ol’ U.S of A. Perhaps it is not original and has already done the rounds, from here to there and back again. But I give it verbatim:
    “The Rangers will face Shkupi in the Europa League. If you’ve not heard of them they’re a team from Govan formed in 2012”
    Love it!08


  31. Ex LudoJune 21, 2018 at 21:36
    From DT on Twitter, “The nearest Scotland will get to another World Cup is if Iran played Brunei and the scoreboard said IRN – BRU”

    Just for you mate this happened see attachment.


  32. What’s with the sexist, jokey support of the racist thug Terry?


  33. bluJune 21, 2018 at 22:48
    ‘..What’s with the sexist, jokey support of the racist thug Terry?’
    ___________________
    To be true to myself, Blu, I wish I had made your post before you did.
    We cannot have double standards in matters of racism and the treatment of women, even ‘jokingly’.
    If we (rightly) comment on the criminal actions of a girl-friend beater, we need to keep in mind the possibly racist attitude of a player who , although not criminally prosecuted, was fined a substantial amount by Football. 
    And, personally, I think Celtic FC should be very careful, and mindful of their own good name, when considering, or if considering, any player who has form in either of those areas.


  34. Anent my post referring to Shkupi ( at 22.18 on 21st June), I have been told that the text I quoted originated in Edinburgh, and was created by a now retired civil servant who is a Hibs supporter and something of a classical musician.
    Happily, I am not to be sued for breach of copyright!08


  35. JOHN CLARKJUNE 21, 2018 at 22:18
    I got a text from the good ol’ U.S of A. Perhaps it is not original and has already done the rounds, from here to there and back again. But I give it verbatim:“The Rangers will face Shkupi in the Europa League. If you’ve not heard of them they’re a team from Govan formed in 2012”Love it!
    _______

    John, John, John, John, thank goodness you are one of us.


  36. So. No issue with the European Licence then. Not a whimper from anyone. Just all move along. Nothing to see here………………………


  37. Anyway, let us hope that the world, one day, will become a better place and women and children, and men, will never face abuse. What f*cking chance is there of that? Maybe there is amongst us here! I really do believe there is. Maybe Jimbo leads us in that direction.

    For the record, I don’t believe in any God, I do believe in people. There are a lot of good people on SFM. Too many f*cking liars in positions of power though. One day. Maybe one day. The good people, not the meek, will inherit the world?

    I hate the liars!

    Sorry, Allyjambo just needed a rant right now!


  38. Allyjambo,

    I posted two days ago about there being no place for 90 minute bigots, racists nor sectarianism.  I made the point there is no such thing as a part time racist…..etc.

    I then gave a particularly horrific example of a homeless man’s treatment from a drunk.

    My post went immediately into moderation.

    The only reason I can guess is I used a word which I rarely use: sc.m.   Many people would understandably have used stronger language.

    One would have thought a slight edit would have made the post acceptable.  Or at least an explanation why it was eventually pulled altogether.

    The ironic thing is since then there have been several posts in the past two days addressing exactly the type of behaviour which I abhor, which was the point of my post.

    Thank you for the kind words but I can assure you I’m not a saint.  The only thing I will say in my defence is I try to love everyone, but sometimes I read something and my heart turns to stone.  Especially when it involves violence or inhumanity to others.


  39. ALLYJAMBOJUNE 22, 2018 at 00:57

    For the record, I don’t believe in any God, I do believe in people. There are a lot of good people on SFM. Too many f*cking liars in positions of power though. One day. Maybe one day. The good people, not the meek, will inherit the world?

    ================================

    The biggest problem for me is there are still too many people who have a fixed position in their mind of what defines a ‘good’ person.  In Scotland in particular there is evidence over the years that a person’s schooling, religion, secret society membership and choice of football team can deem them to be a better person than others. Much of what has happened leading up to and since the demise of Rangers in 2012 backs my point in my view. I can see no other reason why many people involved in such dirty deeds against society can still be held in such high esteem by the media and politicians. Meanwhile others, who do not fit the identikit picture of a ‘good’ person, often find themselves under much more scrutiny.

    The simple truth is there are many good people from all walks of life and they shouldn’t be defined by anything other than the qualities which make them good people. 


  40. A quick update from this morning’s CoS hearing on the RFC (2012)/BDO v Henderson & Jones/ Wavetower/Sevco 5088 hearing.

    Discussion was mainly about documents, in particular the £24m settlement agreement between Collyer Bristow and RFC (2012), and Legal & Professional Privilege (LPP)

    Douglas Fairlie for the “noter” (H&J) accused RFC (2012) of adopting a “Sword and Shield” approach, by using the Lloyds debt assignation and the Ticketus agreement as a “sword” to further their case in the Collyer Bristow action, while using the potentially fraudulent nature of the same assignation and Ticketus arrangements as a “shield” against Wavetower’s claim in respect of the floating charge.

    Lord Bannatyne ordered that the agreement be handed over within 7 days.

    A further hearing will take place towards the end of July about LPP and a more substantive hearing at the beginning of September with both parties required to submit a list of witnesses in advance. It is likely that statements/affidavits will end up being submitted thereafter, rather than witnesses being called to court. 

    JC was there taking his usual copious notes, so will probably add more to the above.


  41. It’s quite so a little history lesson for any young ones looking in who would not have seen it back in the day.
    This is the kind of headline on this day 2012 that fed the demoted mentality over at ibrox.And the kind of rubbish we have had to put up with for years from the SMSM.
    No one voted anyone down,they voted on not letting a newco in.
    But the headline pandered to the victim mentality.


  42. jean7brodie
    June 22, 2018 at 17:00
     
    Helloooooooo??? Anyone there? 
    Probably all glued to the telly.

    Something to do with a big cup?
     


  43. So James McFadden, the Scotland Assistant Coach, reckons other players in the Scotland squad need to step up so that we are not so reliant on Leigh Griffiths for goals.  Quite right too, to a degree.

    What a difference a couple of years make.

    Back in the day of 2014, wee Strachan (yes the stubborn one) was loathe to play Griffiths.  In 2014/15 season Griffiths scored 20 goals for Celtic.  From 7/9/14 to 18/11/14, Scotland played 5 games.  LG played in none.

    From 25/3/15 to 4/6/16 Scotland played in 12 games.  LG played in 3.  2 as a sub, 1 as a start but was subbed on the hour mark.  In season 2015/16 Griffiths scored 40 goals for Celtic.

    It wasn’t until Strachan woke up to the fact we had decent Scottish players at Celtic that his fortunes began to turn.  But it was way too late.  His reliance on average to below average players playing in England was a disgrace.

    Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.

    I just hope McLeish doesn’t buy into the old idea that Scotland should be well represented by players from the establishment club. Regardless of ability or form.

    He shouldn’t even be in the job, so he better keep looking over his shoulder.

     


  44. JIMBO

    JUNE 22, 2018 at 19:33

    I just hope McLeish doesn’t buy into the old idea that Scotland should be well represented by players from the establishment club. Regardless of ability or form.
    ———————————–

    How many Scottish-qualified players do you think TRFC will field regularly next season?

    Less than three or more?


  45. jingso.jimsie, if I’m being brutally honest, none.  We are well covered in all positions without the need to go there.  They used to give Lee Wallace a game now and again to make them feel relevant.  But that’s out the window now.

    For goodness sakes one of the best players in Scotland, Kieran Tierney, has to play out of position for a game!

    And plenty of other players from all over Scotland were being ignored in Strachan’s fascination of players playing in England.

    I wouldn’t read too much into those recent friendlies, for obvious reasons.  The squad is there to put up a better showing.  It’s all down to the ability of the manager now, that’s my worry.

    Btw, Look at Iceland.  If anyone is interested look up ‘Football in Iceland’ on Wiki.  – ‘Modern Developments’.  It’s fascinating.  Do you know 1 in 500 of Icelanders have a UEFA coaching badge?  In England it’s 1 in 10,000.


  46. I was too kind with Lee Wallace, he had one game in 2016.

    9 caps for Scotland since 2009. 

    Club captain too! Maybe he should have had a word with Broonie.


  47. easyJamboJune 22, 2018 at 10:31
    ‘A quick update from this morning’s CoS hearing on the RFC (2012)/BDO v Henderson & Jones/ Wavetower/Sevco 5088 hearing………….
    JC was there taking his usual copious notes, so will probably add more to the above.’
    ______________________
    Just one possible amendment to make, eJ:

    When Lord Bannatyne ‘cut through the Gordian knot’ with his
    “I am minded to refuse [the [request for ] the specification, but respondent to produce within one week the [Collyer Bristow] settlement agreement [ in confidential envelope]…..would that suit you, Mr Fairlie?” , Mr Fairlie said he was content.

    The judge then asked Mr Dunlop whether he was ok with that.

    Mr Dunlop said “Yes. I will ask Collyer Bristow if they will waive and I will produce [the document]within 7 days of ‘caution’ being found.”

    (This was ‘caution’ in the sum of £25K the amount of which had been agreed between Counsel before today and was not therefore  going to be argued about today  (although Mr Fairlie, when telling the judge about that agreement, represented that the whole question of ‘caution’ will need to be looked at later, perhaps in the hearing in early September)

    And, of course, Lord Bannatyne had earlier established that it had  been agreed  that ‘caution’ was to be lodged within 14 days of today.

    I took it that the ‘one week-fom -today’ timescale for production of the settlement agreement  was therefore amended to one week within H&J lodging the agreed amount of ‘caution’. That is, that the settlement agreement is not required to be produced until after  ‘caution’ has been lodged, which can be be up to 14 days from now.

    But perhaps I misunderstood.

    As for the rest, your summary is  spot on.


  48. wottpiJune 21, 2018 at 12:00
    The fact that SDM and Rangers weren’t nailed for the EBT/player registration issue then the games gets what it deserves.
                                      
    Thanks wottpi, I’m always glad of the chance to re-state (for my own peace of mind) that Rangers FC was found guilty by Lord Nimmo Smith of breaking the player registration rules of the SFA and SPL: 11 seasons, 500+ league, domestic cup and European matches, registration offences. Guilty: Important point.
    Having said that, you are of course correct to imply that it feels like they got away with it. I hope that sometime soon the Rangers managers, players and supporters, who were not responsible for any wrong doing, take a stand for the good of the game and publicly demand that the titles are stripped. I think it would do them and me the world of good.


  49. I’ll be sorry to see Stuart Armstrong go.  He has the best haircut in Scotland. 

    But at least he will still be available to turn out for Scotland.  He would be one player plying his trade in England I wouldn’t mind coming up. 

    And Robertson of course.


  50. Abbot of ClonmacnoisJune 22, 2018 at 22:42
    ‘….Rangers FC was found guilty by Lord Nimmo Smith of breaking the player registration rules of the SFA and SPL: 11 seasons, 500+ league, domestic cup and European matches, registration offences.
    Guilty: Important point.’
    ______________________
    A very important point, indeed. 
    Which ought to have resulted in every match played while fielding even ONE ineligible player being awarded to the opposing team, and the expulsion of RFC(IL) aka Rangers 2012 from Scottish Football. For their monstrous cheating over such a long period of time. And SDM deserves to be stripped of his knighthood every bit as much as Goodwin was stripped of his. 
    [Goodwin was operating in the purely business world whee, perhaps, lying and cheating may be the order of the day.
    SDM was running a feckin football club, a sport! for heaven’s sake.]
    But then arose the incredible Bryson, put on God’s earth to spin the most fantastic tale ever to be heard, believed and accepted by Scottish Football: that an ineligible player is not ineligible if  his ineligibility is discovered at a date later than the date he was deemed to be eligible!
    Dante’s ‘Hell’ needs an extra circle for people like Bryson, I think.
    And I will be first in the queue with the pitchfork trident up his jaxie, shoving him in deeper, to make him all square and level in the brimstone.07


  51. More World Cup “Scrabble” from Michael Alexander on Twitter.
    “ When Sweden play Denmark the scoreboard will read SWE – DEN and the unused letters will read DEN – MARK” 


  52. Ex Ludo June 23, 2018 at 09:02
    https://twitter.com/billfleming42/status/1010236987217936384?s=21 One for the Jambos from billfleming42 on Twitter. Not sure of the context though. Is the team heading to a game or training? The picture is circa 1959.
    ===============================
    It’s one of the iconic Hearts photos from the past that has done the rounds on Hearts messageboards. Indeed it was posted again just yesterday, as Hearts have just returned to pre-season training and were pictured running as a group round Riccarton.

    I don’t know if those pictured were doing their pre-season training with a run round Gorgie, or were heading for one of the local parks to do some training there.

    As you say the picture dates from the late 50s and features much of the squad that won the league in 1957/58 and 1959/60.


  53. JOHN CLARK
    June 22, 2018 at 23:38
                               
    No disagreement on Bryson of the SFA. And I would add Iain Blair. Career credibility and legacy abandoned because it was Rangers.
    Iain Blair had a lovely wee Q&A last week on the fixtures for 2018-19 in which he said “I’ve been doing this for 20 years blah blah blah…” to imply that he is some kind of rules and procedures Jedi.
    Except of course Iain ma man, when it came to SPL Rules A7.1, D1.13, D9.3 D10.2.3 for 11 years, 500+ matches and 5 league titles.
    Shame on you. You have failed all, including Rangers, supporters.


  54. JIMBOJUNE 23, 2018 at 18:31
    Won’t see that this season . Premiership will be a poorer spectacle this season without him !


  55. CROWNSTREETBHOY
    Looks like the state aid nutter has some competition.
    It’s definitely someone with serious problems going by that vile piece.


  56. CROWNSTBHOY
    JUNE 23, 2018 at 19:35

    Something must be up.Getting really desperate now…================================

    He / She is totally clueless.

    “With the debt owed to Co-Op Bank …”

    Celtic had net cash at bank of almost £18m at the end of June 2017. That’s before competing in the CL group stages in the 2017/2018 season. The important point being that figure is “net of bank borrowings”. Celtic bank with the Co-operative bank.

    Depending on player trading, stadium improvements etc I would expect the net cash figure to be higher at the end of June this year. 

    This stuff is just another Rangers’ supporters myth, which tells you all you need to know about the blogger. 

    I assume Rangers supporters don’t understand what a bank facility is because neither their club, nor the PLC which owns it doesn’t have one. 

    They believe a loan is an overdraft for goodness sake. 


  57. Apologies for the double negative in my last, it should have read.

    “I assume Rangers supporters don’t understand what a bank facility is because neither their club, nor the PLC which owns it has one.”


  58. Last time I was properly focussed on the blog I think we were looking forward to the SFA’s consideration of the Compliance Officer’s report of his findings following his investigation into the deceitful (possibly criminal)award of a UEFA competitions licence to RFC(IL) in 2011.

    The date for this was to be 26th June, I think.

    Can anyone reassure me that I didn’t imagine this? 


  59. JOHN CLARKJUNE 23, 2018 at 22:03
    —————–
    May 22, to respond.June 26 principal hearing JC.


  60. John Clark June 23, 2018 at 22:03
    Last time I was properly focussed on the blog I think we were looking forward to the SFA’s consideration of the Compliance Officer’s report of his findings following his investigation into the deceitful (possibly criminal)award of a UEFA competitions licence to RFC(IL) in 2011.
    The date for this was to be 26th June, I think.
    Can anyone reassure me that I didn’t imagine this? 
    ========================
    The “Principal Hearing” is scheduled for that date.  Whether this particular hearing is an internal SFA process, or an independent panel hearing is not clear.  

    As ever, with such matters involving Rangers, the MSM seem reluctant to ask questions and report on the upcoming hearing, the process to be undertaken, the composition of any independent panel, or who will be giving evidence.   

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