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
- The case documentation tell us how UEFA wish national associations to apply UEFA FFP rules
- 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
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.
- 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.
- FC Sion breached Articles 13(1) and 43(1)(i) of the CL&FFP Regulations. (Documents complete and correct)
- 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).
- To impose a fine of two hundred and thirty five thousand Euros (€235,000) on FC Sion.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Rangers would have been fined the equivalent of their earnings from their participation in the UEFA competitions in 2011
- At least a two year ban from UEFA Competitions would have been imposed, but more likely three in view of repeated incorrect statements.
- 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.
Dave King was deemed not to be fit and proper to become Chairman of the Club that holds an SFA membership. It now seems likely that Mr King has been instrumental in signing a retail contract on behalf of the Football Club. Should the SFA not be taking closer interest in the goings on at the court in England.
CARFINS FINEST
As with all things from a club playing at Ibrox the rules are bent to suit
It would appear we were correct when we guessed ‘…contract ripped up…’ was another way of saying ‘contract terminated by mutual consent’.
In the same vein, I wonder if ‘It doesn’t open the door for me to go and sign more players.’ is another way of Gerrard saying, ‘the settlement payment to Alves means there is no extra money to sign a player as a result of his removal from the wage bill.’
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44794889
SG : “”Coulibaly is a destroyer-type midfielder……..He will add a bit of power in the engine room for us.”
Surely this should read “He will add a bit of power in the engine room subsidiary for us.”
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.
ALLYJAMBO
‘It doesn’t open the door for me to go and sign more players.’ is another way of Gerrard saying, ‘the settlement payment to Alves means there is no extra money to sign a player as a result of his removal from the wage bill.’
________________________________________________________________________
Are they not trying to buy the Millwall defender then ?
The petition regarding Orange walks on change.org will reach its 75,000 signature target in the next half hour.
THELAWMAN2JULY 12, 2018 at 09:55
ALLYJAMBO
‘It doesn’t open the door for me to go and sign more players.’ is another way of Gerrard saying, ‘the settlement payment to Alves means there is no extra money to sign a player as a result of his removal from the wage bill.’
________________________________________________________________________
Are they not trying to buy the Millwall defender then ?
___________
Try reading what I said in the post again. Then re-comment on it if you manage to work out the difference between what I wrote and how you mis-read it in your hurry to be critical.
Hint- I anticipated a remark from you that would show your desperation to ‘defend’ TRFC by making out I’d slipped up as you appear to be suggesting.
PS Until, and unless, TRFC do sign this defender, ‘trying to sign’ could be seen as a bit of an exaggeration, like so many so called targets over the years.
Billydug July 12, 2018 at 07:43
EASYJAMBOJULY 11, 2018 at 23:01
SD own 6% of shares in JD?
==============================
I think that information (from Wiki?) is way out of date. The last notifiable event to the stock exchange showed SD to have dropped below 3% in 2016.
Their latest list of shareholders doesn’t list SD at all and that goes as low as 0.86%.
http://www.4-traders.com/JD-SPORTS-FASHION-PLC-16860081/company/
I was merely asking a question. I wasnt rushing to defend Rangers and im not sure how you could have anticipated a remark from me considering ive hardly been posting. Strange response but happy for you to explain what you meant when suggesting that what Gerrard said and what he meant were perhaps 2 different things.
PS – was my post on the SD legal case also defending Rangers ?
REDLICHTIE
JULY 11, 2018 at 21:58
3. Do Hummel have such a clause in their agreement, allowing them to walk away too?
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Can Hummel (a relatively small company) afford to have money tied up in mullyins & mullyins of replica strips that can’t be sold? What effect will this have on them?
CARFINS FINESTJULY 12, 2018 at 08:00
Dave King was deemed not to be fit and proper to become Chairman of the Club that holds an SFA membership. It now seems likely that Mr King has been instrumental in signing a retail contract on behalf of the Football Club. Should the SFA not be taking closer interest in the goings on at the court in England.
—————————————————————————————————-
He is a director of Sevco Retail though CF, but I have no idea if that has any bearing.
EASYJAMBOJULY 12, 2018 at 10:45
Billydug July 12, 2018 at 07:43EASYJAMBOJULY 11, 2018 at 23:01SD own 6% of shares in JD?==============================I think that information (from Wiki?) is way out of date. The last notifiable event to the stock exchange showed SD to have dropped below 3% in 2016.
Their latest list of shareholders doesn’t list SD at all and that goes as low as 0.86%.
Sports Direct and JD Sports are essentially at war and have been for some time, JD have tied up exclusive deals for NIke and Adidas’ high end sportswear (who knew there was such a thing) and this has coincided with unprecedented demand in the “high end” market (bloody kids). Sports Direct’s inability to access these lines is hurting them much more than the bad PR over their Dickensian practices. There’s also a bit of history between Ashley and the JD CEO so might be a bit personal.
I’m not sure if this rivalry will have any impact on Sports Direct’s strategy in Rangers case but it certainly won’t make them more amenable to a compromise.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/jd-sports-sports-direct-sportswear-retail-mike-ashely-peter-cowgill-america-a8274301.html
https://www.ft.com/content/21aba404-97d2-11e7-a652-cde3f882dd7b
JINGSO.JIMSIEJULY 12, 2018 at 11:02
REDLICHTIE
JULY 11, 2018 at 21:58
3. Do Hummel have such a clause in their agreement, allowing them to walk away too?———————————————
Can Hummel (a relatively small company) afford to have money tied up in mullyins & mullyins of replica strips that can’t be sold? What effect will this have on them?
__________________
They will learn to pay more attention to social media (SFM) in future
But, perhaps, if they can show a measurable loss on account of the delay, or as a result of any new contract with SDI, then they would, presumably, chase TRFC for compensation. I do wonder, though, if they had the foresight to do a Mike Ashley on them with a clause that makes TRFC responsible for any unsold stock.
ALLYJAMBOJULY 12, 2018 at 11:49
_________________
They will learn to pay more attention to social media (SFM) in future
But, perhaps, if they can show a measurable loss on account of the delay, or as a result of any new contract with SDI, then they would, presumably, chase TRFC for compensation. I do wonder, though, if they had the foresight to do a Mike Ashley on them with a clause that makes TRFC responsible for any unsold stock.
—————————————————
BP/Tris….
Any thoughts on setting up SFM Contract Consultancy Services Ltd (trading as ‘CCS’, we could Korner the football retailing market).
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.
EASYJAMBOJULY 12, 2018 at 10:45
Thanks for info.
It seems only a fortnight or so ago that Club 1872 were being instructed to specify just how much money they had to invest in the forthcoming share issue.
And yet unless I have missed it no announcement yet iro the share issue that is to raise £6m. My understanding being that this was to have happened by the end of June as per public comments from DCK.
Yet, the summer transfer splurge continues (according to the MSM).
Contempt of court proceedings underway against the chairman of the Holding Company! How can this end well?
redlichtieJuly 12, 2018 at 11:57
——-
CCS was Collective Consciousness Society iirc, which sounds like a suitable reference, although Alexis Korner was a Great British Bluesman.
Then again,
King turns on the money, see the monies flow,
Debts now make a forest, watch the forest grow.
Nothing there behind you, nothing more to come,
Come and ride a squirrel, Rangers on the run.
OK, back to my day job.
I followed a link on Twitter to the Steven Gerrard press conference from yesterday. His body language suggested a man still not entirely comfortable in his new job. More worryingly is that he seems to be overly relying on a full house at Ibrox to overcome tonights opposition. It’s a big game for the rookie manager with his entire reputation and credentials on the line. Interesting times.
EX LUDOJULY 12, 2018 at 13:37
I followed a link on Twitter to the Steven Gerrard press conference from yesterday. His body language suggested a man still not entirely comfortable in his new job. More worryingly is that he seems to be overly relying on a full house at Ibrox to overcome tonights opposition. It’s a big game for the rookie manager with his entire reputation and credentials on the line. Interesting times.
________________________________________________________
Thats interesting as i got the exact opposite impression. I think Gerrard has been super impressive in his press conferences and in yesterdays he showed he wasnt going to get pushed about either with daft questions from the press.
Im very much in the “jurys out” campaign but also of the belief that any appointment would be a huge risk anyway in our state.
Any manager worth their salt would reference the fans and how big a part they play in helping the team. Its basic management and used by everyone. He knows the fans are excited, its the start of a new season and i thought it was excellent that instead of throwing out the usual “the fans need to be patient as we are a new team blah blah blah” he was saying that he wants the full house to be buzzing from the off and giving the players the extra spring in their step like what happened last week as only a victory will do.
MACFURGLYJULY 12, 2018 at 13:32
CCS was Collective Consciousness Society iirc, which sounds like a suitable reference, although Alexis Korner was a Great British Bluesman.Then again,King turns on the money, see the monies flow,Debts now make a forest, watch the forest grow.Nothing there behind you, nothing more to come,Come and ride a squirrel, Rangers on the run.
OK, back to my day job.
——————————————————–
Same wavelength MACFURGLY! 🙂
RIFC/TRFC appears to be a tap that never runs dry…. speaking of ‘tap’, are Sevco the Spinal Tap of football?
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath
EX LUDO
JULY 12, 2018 at 13:37
I followed a link on Twitter to the Steven Gerrard press conference from yesterday. His body language suggested a man still not entirely comfortable in his new job. More worryingly is that he seems to be overly relying on a full house at Ibrox to overcome tonights opposition. It’s a big game for the rookie manager with his entire reputation and credentials on the line. Interesting times.
======================================
Well, like any ex-player new to management, Gerrard should be allowed some leeway with his first club: after all, his lack of experience is a very public – and accepted – high risk for both the manager and the club.
The opposition tonight were quoted at 50/1 for a win, so had to put a couple of quid on, just in case.
So the bookies think that TRFC should win easily, but football can be a funny old game.
What if they lose tonight…?
I would be bricking it if I was in Gerrard’s brogues.
Absolutely!
StevieBC
Gerrard himself made reference to last years first round exit to an unfancied team in the same competition. So things can go wrong. It seems to me to be a bit of a faux pas though to use that as motivation for his team talk.
“Whatever you do tonight boys, don’t get beat like last year!”
I made that quote up but I hope you get the drift.
macfurglyJuly 12, 2018 at 13:32
redlichtieJuly 12, 2018 at 11:57——-CCS was Collective Consciousness Society iirc, which sounds like a suitable reference, although Alexis Korner was a Great British Bluesman.Then again,King turns on the money, see the monies flow,Debts now make a forest, watch the forest grow.Nothing there behind you, nothing more to come,Come and ride a squirrel, Rangers on the run.OK, back to my day job.
_______________-
And here you are…if you all want to sing along with Macfurgly’s words
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOOpbqs5myI
It seems that RIFC was in court again today, but as the pursuer this time.
CALLING LIST
Thursday 12th July
A97/18 Rangers International Football Club Plc AG Mr Charles Alexander Green – Anderson Strathern LLP
Dave King facing TOP action again next week.
LORD BANNATYNE – C Stark, Clerk
Friday 20th July
By Order Between 9.30am and 10.00am
P341/17 Pet: The Panel on Takeovers and Mergers or orders sec 955 – Dentons – Lindsays
REDLICHTIEJULY 12, 2018 at 09:23 SG : “”Coulibaly is a destroyer-type midfielder……..He will add a bit of power in the engine room for us.”
It probably means, “He will kick everything above the grass.”
With regard to the influence or otherwise of DCK on The Rangers Football Club Limited, I note that Form PSC02 (ef) lodged by that company on 24/7/17 sets out as a Relevant Legal Entity or Person with Significant Control :
“Rangers International Football Club” who :
“…holds, directly or indirectly, 75% or more of the shares in the company.
…has the right, directly or indirectly, to appoint or remove a majority of the board of directors of the company.
….holds, directly or indirectly 75% or more of the voting rights in the company.”
Since DCK is Chairman and a major shareholder in RIFC via his family interests and has been the subject of various court actions in the past year does this situation not cause some disquiet at the SFA?
Scottish Football needs the new SFA Chief Executive to start cleaning out the stables. Mr Maxwell?
STEVIEBCJULY 12, 2018 at 15:28
===================
I expect Gerrard to enjoy a very comfortable win in his first competitive game. I then expect the Rangers fans and the SMSM to go all England in terms of expectation.
UTH,
Think you might be right. I expect SG to get more out of the squad than recent managers and perhaps to have made shrewder acquisitions.
As an Englishman, Steven Gerrard would be advised not to underestimate the quality of teams from the nations which were part of the former Yugoslavia, as Shkupi of Macedonia are, lest he suffers the kind of defeat his fellow countrymen fell to at the hands of Croatia last night. Oh dear, how sad, never mind.
HIGHLANDERJULY 12, 2018 at 19:32
=========================
If he does get a good start to the season he will find the SMSM can show the English media a thing or two about over the top cheerleading and sycophantic reporting.
UPTHEHOOPS
they already do,on a daily basis
easyJamboJuly 12, 2018 at 16:05
‘…Dave King facing TOP action again next week.LORD BANNATYNE – C Stark, ClerkFriday 20th JulyBy Order Between 9.30am and 10.00am’
__________________
Unless there’s another foul up, eJ, this one should at least be in open court!
I hope to be there, of course.
The papers served on 8th could not have been an arrest warrant after all. They were possibly just an demand for King to show cause for not having complied, with some kind of warning that he must reply.
So he writes to the Chairman of the Hearings Committee of the TOP seeking a review of the TOP ‘Executive’s ‘refusal to allow him an extension of time.
That request was refused on 21st June.
3 further weeks have passed, and still no compliance.
Surely next Friday’s business will see EITHER real, verified compliance OR an order for the arrest of King?
As said before, neither the Courts nor Parliament can allow the TOP to be bested by a single ,non-compliant, previously convicted tax fraudster acting the goat with contemptuous impunity.
Shareholders in every plc in Europe and wider afield will be deeply concerned if neither TOP nor the Courts can nail King’s behaviour, in a way that sends out the appropriate message: do as you are required by the Regulatory authority or go to jail.
easyJamboJuly 12, 2018 at 16:05
‘…It seems that RIFC was in court again today, but as the pursuer this time.CALLING LISTThursday 12th JulyA97/18 Rangers International Football Club Plc AG Mr Charles Alexander Green – Anderson Strathern LLP ”
___________________________
That reminds me, eJ: I had a wee run through the list (yesterday) of the cases that are currently under ‘reporting restrictions’ ( excluding those under restriction because they are about minors).
I patiently counted 241 ( or was it 242, or 240? something of that order, but my eyes were birling as I scrolled through on this link
https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/current-business/court-notices/contempt-of-court-orders
There were 4 which related to ‘Rangers’.
One of these is “Charles Green v Rangers International Football Club Plc, Court of Session, Edinburgh, 12 November 2015”.
This, you will know, was about the horse-whisperer’s claim to be covered by director’s insurance for the expenses he incurred in legal fees to defend himself against criminal charges.
I haven’t a clue as to whether today’s business ( A97/18) is in any way connected with that expenses business in 2015? Doesn’t seem likely.
But could it be connected in some way with ‘onerous contracts’ and the current little legal difficulty that TRFC Ltd finds itself in vis-à-vis SDIR?
I have been checking the ‘rolls’ fairly faithfully in recent times, but saw no intimation of today’s proceedings.
I assume I simply missed it.
But if I had seen it, I would have tried to attend. (Probably only to be told it was to be heard behind closed doors!)
redlichtieJuly 12, 2018 at 17:52
‘…does this situation not cause some disquiet at the SFA?’
_________________________
It will, of course.
The members of an utterly forsworn ‘governance’ body ,guilty of creating the biggest sporting untruth in its history, are not by any measure persons of sufficiently developed moral conscience to understand the distinction between Truth and Falsehood and feel ‘guilty’.
No,any ‘ disquiet’ they may feel is in relation to their fear of being absolutely found out as having been, and continuing to be, cheats unworthy of office!
And also, perhaps, of being found to be complicit in conspiracy to defraud.
There are no SFA board members sleeping as easily as you and I tonight.( we are not in the same bed , of course!)
That , in the words of EBT recipient (for whatever services?) Sounness , is for sure.
“Are they not trying to sign the Millwall defender then?”
If you cast your mind back to 2012 you may remember the original club* were trying to sign a player the day before they were placed in administration. Attempting to sign a player is no yardstick for financial well being.
TIMTIMJULY 13, 2018 at 02:11
If you cast your mind back to 2012 they even wanted to sign players while in Administration also
And Craig Beattie
TIMTIMJULY 13, 2018 at 02:11
“Are they not trying to sign the Millwall defender then?”If you cast your mind back to 2012 you may remember the original club* were trying to sign a player the day before they were placed in administration. Attempting to sign a player is no yardstick for financial well being.
______________________________
Completely agree.
JOHN CLARKJULY 12, 2018 at 21:57
Shareholders in every plc in Europe and wider afield will be deeply concerned if neither TOP nor the Courts can nail King’s behaviour, in a way that sends out the appropriate message: do as you are required by the Regulatory authority or go to jail.
=========================
If the case was being heard in the English courts I would agree with you…but it’s not.
Yet another hatchet job on Murdoch Maclennan by the Daily Record today. The willingness of the Daily Record to do Rangers dirty work for them is appalling. People may not want to click the link but I’ve left it here. I can see no other way for Maclennan other than to resign, if he values his safety and peace of mind.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/missing-murdoch-maclennan-require-cave-12907268
To be fair the meeja are not entirely without surprise this morning…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44811549
John Clark July 12, 2018 at 23:26
=====================
I’ve noticed that there have been a few occasions when cases have come up in the rolls, previously unannounced, on the day they are heard (usually on a Thursday).
I don’t know what this RIFC v Green case is about. It has a different case number and appears to only be against Green, rather than Green and others as in the earlier one. It could be that it is a derivative of the earlier case, or the other parties have been removed for reasons unknown.
Their is another case in the CoS, next Thursday, with tenuous links to Rangers, when their official vaping supplier, Vaporized is back in court in their breach of copyright case with Vapouriz
The FIFA investigation into English fans for the merest whiff of veiled racism/bigotry disguised cleverly in a football chant which wasn’t even heard on television, sung in a one off match by a few hundred people, makes the SFA look utterly ridiculous.
upthehoopsJuly 13, 2018 at 08:45
Yet another hatchet job on Murdoch Maclennan by the Daily Record today. The willingness of the Daily Record to do Rangers dirty work for them is appalling. People may not want to click the link but I’ve left it here. I can see no other way for Maclennan other than to resign, if he values his safety and peace of mind. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/missing-murdoch-maclennan-require-cave-12907268
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A hatchet job, indeed. A squirrel brandishing a hatchet; and for good measure, they link it to the kids rescued from the caves in Thailand. A class newspaper, or what?
They did, though, make a good point, or it would have been if they’d left out the vitriol, and that is, as chairman of the SPFL, he’s been silent throughout his tenure (though the continued attack from TRFC, via Level5 and their poodles in the SMSM might have made that more difficult for him in recent months). Typically, a valid criticism of a member of our game’s governance has been lost in a TRFC plot. A decent newspaper would have used this situation to make it clear that all the game’s governors have been very reticent to comment on anything bordering on controversial for a great many years, and asking why that should be.
But here’s a list, in no particular order:
David Murray.
Craig Whyte.
Charles Green.
Dave King.
Campbell Ogilvie.
Walter Smith.
Graham Souness.
The list is not exhaustive, but if the Scottish Media had been as prepared to do what they are doing to MacLennan to these men for their ‘potential’ conflicts, before the sh*t hit had the fan as a result of their underhand dealings, then who knows how much good that would have done for our game, and particularly both the teams from Govan that the media do so much to protect? In each case things had gone spectacularly wrong before any hack was prepared to write one cautionary word about them.
As to the last two names on that list, imagine if MacLennan had actually done something to compare with their receipt of EBTs after they’d both left Rangers and were working for other clubs with whom Rangers had dealings! Imagine the vitriol that would be flying his way from all sections of the media! Imagine if it was the case that, rather than a ‘potential’ and very unlikely conflict of interest scenario, he’d accepted money from Celtic, even though he had no current working relationship with them.
Then there’s the hypocricy of these stenographers in saying that when they call out his name all they get back is an echo. Dave? Mr King? Can we ask you a question that’s not on the Level5 list, list, list, ist, ist…?
UPTHEHOOPS JULY 13, 2018 at 08:45
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I see the Record article demands transparency from the SPFL and implies that the strength of feeling generated by Rangers* and its fans over the MacLennan issue cannot be ignored.
If only the Record was in any way consistent, we might have read about demands for transparency in more serious issues such as the illicit Five Way Agreement and how a deceased club that the Record said RIP to had miraculously survived, phoenixing debt free (for all of five minutes) back to its rightful place with many of the guilty men who killed the original club allowed to try again with the second entity.
If only the Record employed investigative journalists, or indeed any kind of journalist, they might have found a story worth reporting.
We might have read how one club’s every whim seems to be pandered to at the expense of the other 41 clubs, all of whom strive to live within their means while remaining on the right side of the law.
Rangers*, on the other hand, have been involved in so many court cases in the short six years of their existence there is a rumour the new club from Govan is entitled to a 20% bulk discount on any fines levied by the courts.
As I’ve pointed out many times, any other club would have been facing charges of bringing the game into disrepute, although I don’t doubt the Compliance Officer would have admonished them on the basis that nobody could possibly hold a dimmer view of the Scottish football authorities than they already hold.
There’s a rather snide piece in today’s Private Eye about MacLennan & RIFC/TRFC’s claims. I read it on Wednesday, so expected the DR to have something about him by the weekend.
They seem to have no current interest in the Dave King/TOP/CoS etc. etc. stories, though.
Alternatively if the Record could read its own article and realise the irony that its the fact the strength of feeling is being generated BY the Rangers’ support and not BY the actions of Mr Macglennan that is at the core of the problem.
A potential blow to SPFL finances.
Laura Sports Law @laurasportslaw
International sports marketing agency, MP & Silva, defaults on payments to multiple sport-rights holders. MP & Silva have broadcasting agreements with a number of sport bodies including the SPFL and the Premier League, amongst others.
https://www.sportbusiness.com/sport-news/rights-holders-suffer-missed-payments-mp-silva-state-paralysis
From what I remember, the SPL (SPFL) tied themselves into a 10 year deal for a total of £20m in 2013. If they do go bust then there is the possibility of payments to all clubs being reduced this season. I’m unsure of the total distribution to clubs, but the £2m a season could mean anything up to a 10% reduction. I’d imagine that would be unwelcome news for those clubs that operate on a break even budget, particularly if they have spent money in the close season on the expectation of funds coming in.
I wonder if we will get a statement from Doncaster about what they are doing to mitigate this potential shortfall.
I fear that Macglennan is being set up as a scapegoat for the next big downturn in the fortunes of the Ibrox club.
If there is to be an administration event down Goven way and the SFA are called upon to make some tough decisions, Macglennan might find himself to be conflicted due to the pressure being put on him.
upthehoopsJuly 12, 2018 at 20:05
“….If he does get a good start to the season he will find the SMSM can show the English media a thing or two about over the top cheerleading and sycophantic reporting”
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As witness Halliday’s full two-page spread plus back page picture of Tavernier’s penalty kick goal (in stoppage time) in today’s Edinburgh-based ‘Scotsman’ ( how many in Glasgow and darkest Lanarkshire buy the Scotsman?)
The Hibs game gets half a page (page 61 of 64)!
easyJamboJuly 13, 2018 at 13:29
‘…A potential blow to SPFL finances.’
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I had a quick scout at the history of this deal eJ ( which I have no recollection of at all) and noticed that the DR reported in September last that it was a nine-year del: so there may be even less money per year!
John Clark July 13, 2018 at 15:07
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Yup it was nine years until 2022/23
https://spfl.co.uk/news/article/press-release–spl-appoints-mp–silva-2013-06-14/
ARMCHAIRSUPPORTERJULY 13, 2018 at 13:38
I fear that Macglennan is being set up as a scapegoat for the next big downturn in the fortunes of the Ibrox club.
If there is to be an administration event down Goven way and the SFA are called upon to make some tough decisions, Macglennan might find himself to be conflicted due to the pressure being put on him.
====================
Murdoch Maclennan is SPFL, not SFA, however in such an event there would be decisions for them to make as well. I don’t believe anyone at Ibrox thinks he has made decisions to disadvantage Rangers, or indeed to benefit Celtic. I believe they are simply appealing to the neanderthals among their fanbase to keep them onside. Getting heads on a spike at Hampden, especially if they are the heads of Celtic fans, is good for business. It’s even easier when they clearly have so many friends among the media who want the same thing.
As I said earlier, I believe Maclennan will stand down. Not because he has anything to hide, simply because he will prefer to live safely in peace. The inferences and innuendo being released drip by drip will eventually get to him, and it seems clear that is what it is designed to do. I don’t expect the media to act responsibly though, and I will give you a case in point from Martin O’Neill’s days at Celtic. The Herald property section were profiling an expensive property for sale in Glasgow’s south side, and in the description they mentioned the neighbours were none other than Martin O’Neill and his family. Shortly after, Celtic played Rangers at Hampden in the league cup semi-final and lost 2-1. Martin O’Neill received a phone call at Hampden from his wife who was alarmed at a group of men planting a Union Flag in their garden. Speaking afterwards, O’Neill said it never helps when a newspaper effectively publishes your address, but I am sure he had been in Scotland long enough by that time to have an idea of how things work. Let’s never forget either that Raith Rovers ground was targeted for the ‘crime’ of one of their directors being part of a disciplinary panel acting against Rangers. The names of panel members are supposed to be withheld, yet somehow it got out.
There will come a time (in the near future I think)when the current shambles at Ibrox will inevitably go into Administration.
This is the point where fact and fiction meet head on and the SFA will either have to continue with the continuity myth and serve the Club at Ibrox with a heavy points deduction for going into Admin for a second time or as I suspect come clean and treat it as a first offence.
interesting times ahead methinks…
https://youtu.be/pwXhI0I2iaM
JUSTTHEFACTSJULY 13, 2018 at 16:09
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I believe the SFA would be safe to treat them as the same club and only apply a 15 point deduction. 25 points only applies if there is a second event within 5 years of the first.
If I recall correctly when accusations have been made, or actions sought, against Rangers/T’Rangers the mantra from the SMSM and the Blue Room has been that no-one has an appetite for the fight or that only one or two trouble makers are stirring things up, so can the rest of us not just accept the situation and ‘Move On’.
Why therefore is there an apparent desire to continue the hounding of Maclennan when no-one else in the game has any any problems with his appointment?
Like having a go at referees, all decent fans want is a bit on consistency.
Therefore you either shut the feck up when told or you accept the right for people to dig deep and continue digging, across a number of issues, until we get an answer as to where potential corruption and wrong doing occurs.
UPTHEHOOPS
JULY 13, 2018 at 16:15
I believe the SFA would be safe to treat them as the same club and only apply a 15 point deduction. 25 points only applies if there is a second event within 5 years of the first.
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I doubt the SFA would simply turn a blind eye to the extent of debt run up by the previous incarnation and treat this incarnation so flippantly without the other Clubs going mental myself.
After all we are not talking small amounts of Debt here?
Tens of millions.
WOTTPIJULY 13, 2018 at 16:18
If I recall correctly when accusations have been made, or actions sought, against Rangers/T’Rangers the mantra from the SMSM and the Blue Room has been that no-one has an appetite for the fight or that only one or two trouble makers are stirring things up, so can the rest of us not just accept the situation and ‘Move On’.
Why therefore is there an apparent desire to continue the hounding of Maclennan when no-one else in the game has any any problems with his appointment?
=====================
That is a very good point, but unfortunately no-one in the game or the SMSM who disagrees will speak out, whereas they know they can speak out and say ‘move on’ because the mob won’t go after them for that.
ARMCHAIRSUPPORTERJULY 13, 2018 at 13:38
I fear that Macglennan is being set up as a scapegoat for the next big downturn in the fortunes of the Ibrox club.
If there is to be an administration event down Goven way and the SFA are called upon to make some tough decisions, Macglennan might find himself to be conflicted due to the pressure being put on him.
====================
UPTHEHOOPSJULY 13, 2018 at 15:45
Murdoch Maclennan is SPFL, not SFA, however in such an event there would be decisions for them to make as well.
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You guys have hit the nail on the head. The objective is twofold : to cow Maclennan so that if he remains in position he will be influenced by the likely shitstorm he will face should he try to do the right thing and, should Maclennan now depart, ensure that his successor is either a RRM or again someone fully aware of what awaits him if he too seeks to do the right thing.
Scottish Football needs a strong SFA/SPFL executive.
Bra tycoon Michele Mone tweeted after the England defeat that even though she was Scottish she was wanting England to win. She was also full of praise for Gareth Southgate.
Nothing wrong with that.
Within 2 mins somebody tweeted back that she and Southgate had rather a lot in common. Both have the ability to transform ordinary tits into something that look better than they actually are.
Hs
Higgy’s ShoesJuly 13, 2018 at 17:21
I have to add that I wouldn’t buy anything from her cos she is a gobshite!! OMG I could have made that into a poem!!!
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You are a naughty boy Higgy but you are right
Have Celtic FC made any official moves yet to counter the racism by proxy allegations against the club and manager? Very quiet on this front. Celtic worried that there is some substance to what the charity Show Racism The Red Card are alluding to? I hope not. I know that some fans will say fek it what the hell do we care but seriously this should be investigated thoroughly and the the police who escorted Logan off the pitch that day should be asked for their input. If the allegation has substance then present the evidence and allow Shay Logan justification. To leave this hanging over football supporters as if a given is typical of the attitude from political quarters to the hoi polloi . How best to manage the OO without upsetting any other demographic that might be sympathetic.Celtic should once and for all drop the softly softly and stand up for their support and manager who has been so obviously maligned.I say this insisting on a full inquiry into the allegations made by Logan, should there be less evidence than the last time he accused Tonev then he should be disciplined. Racism is not a game and both he and SRTHRS should be prepared to prove it!
They have been in the press for assualting a priest, and hounding an SPFL guy and of course it is nothing to do with them and their backwardness, the priest happened to be open at the wrong time and the director guy should not have opened his mouth allegedly 30 years ago and stated he hated the old club now in liqidation. But none of this is sectarian related, after all the OO and Sevco is merely culture.
Craig smith @BeithCraig
@Ejaria little bit of advise son don’t cross yourself when you enter the park to play for famous especially on the 12th it won’t endear yourself to us
2:10 pm – 12 Jul 2018
Ask yourself this Craig Smith WTF has the problem Ejaria or you?
Looking forward to Kilmarnock v St. Mirren tonight. Should be interesting.
However, first night of the Proms!
It’s Ok I’ll record it. I only want to see and hear one piece, Mars the Bringer of War. (The Planets, Holtz.)
I don’t know who to support in the game. But Steve Clarke is here from the off this season. I wonder how high they will go this season.
UPTHEHOOPSJULY 13, 2018 at 08:45
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Yet another hatchet job on Murdoch Maclennan by the Daily Record today. The willingness of the Daily Record to do Rangers dirty work for them is appalling.
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And yet the ibrox mob have banned the Daily Record so many times since the new ibrox inception,
You have to wonder if the Daily record will ever grow a pair.Just think how many new readers it could have if it started telling the truth and put the ibrox mob in their place instead of pandering to them to get let back in.Who cares if we never see a bouble page spread of how SG new ibrox team has mastered the art of football,until that is they have to play football.
We have seen all this before with the Ally’s the murty’s the warburtons and the pedros,no one buys into the regurgitated shit from the Daily Record all they are good for now is if you pull up an old article and have a laugh at them.
Ok and since it is Friday 13th, from Traynor who once worked for the Daily Record and is now after begging for a job at ibrox is now their head of PR.
The offspring of the club.
Welcomed the new club in.
The pulling power of rangers,rather the New rangers.
Article here
https://twitter.com/laurasportslaw/status/1017822025065336839?s=21
Should we start planning ahead now?
The ongoing hounding of Maclennan by the MSM is enlightening in so many ways
If we were to think of how many conflicted (or possibly conflicted peepil ) have held positions of influence in our game and NOT ONE SINGLE NEWSPAPER QUESTIONED IT ,NOT ONE .
Now there has been a shake up of power in Scottish football and all of a sudden heads have to roll because a club with a convicted criminal acting as a shadow director right under the noses of the SFA decides he doesn’t like the new set up .
Now ,what could possibly be behind the rabble rousing from the GASL .
1.because that is what the peepils clubs do .
2. They are scared that without their placemen they will have to abide by the same rules as every club
3. Their business plan cannot work without a few blind eyes being turned
4. The old club could actually be held accountable for transgressions of the past ,no more slaps on the wrist
5. There are favours that will be needed soon to keep the show on the road
6. The old club benefited from having peepil in the right places and the new club just want the same
7. The GASL has to keep throwing squeaky toys for the more gullible in the support
I could go on but quite frankly ,I could be here all night .
The real story here is that TGASL can call on many of his peepil in the MSM to do his bidding and it works ,how else can we explain how so many who follow sevco 2012 play to his tune .
Blogs like this do not have the reach the MSM has and there won’t be many sevco 2012 supporters who frequent such blogs that would not see them as just haters .
To me it is very much like the handling of the BIG LIE and all that went on in the last 20yrs
What is the point of asking why ragers 1872 and sevco 2012 acted as they did ,they did it for their own ends as THEIR INTERESTS were the only ones they had to look after .The SFA /SPL have no such defence
The truth is ,that ragers 1872 could not have done what they did without certain peepil in certain places and IMO this is what is worrying the GASL and the peepil , the dog whistling is an added bonus to keep the support from calling for HIS head .
I am a celtic supporter and the last thing I want is the dismantling of a peepil’s network of power in our game only to be replaced by a pro celtic network ,That cannot be allowed to happen .It needs to be structured for ALL CLUBS and their needs to be a process in place to make sure that is what happens .
But let’s not kid ourselves here the baying to the hordes from TGASL and his place men in the media has nothing at all to do with an honest running of our game whatsoever. It was not and will not be in their interests to have an honest game in Scotland
Scotland’s Grand Lodge has already condemned what it called “bigoted actions” when Canon Tom White was spat on, abused and threatened during a parade through the city’s east end on Saturday.
But Michael Rosie, a member of the Scottish Government’s Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism, said the movement’s leaders would be reeling from heightened public concern.
Dr Rosie said: “If I were a leader of the Orange Order, I would be holding my head in my hands this weekend.
“There was a huge undertaking by the Orange Order and the police and the council on Saturday and there were four arrests.
“That is way down on the kind of number of arrests we would have had in the 1980s and even 1990s.
“But despite that there is an incident, a horrific incident, that, of course shocks people. That is not what the Orange Order want. They don’t want the pressure and the criticism and some of the abuse thrown at them.
“They want their day and to do their thing, unfurl their banners and bang their drums.”
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If ever anyone was under any illusions as to how hard it will be to rid this country of sectarianism the above should leave you in no doubt .
This from a man described as an expert who is on the GOVERNMENT’S advisory group
WORDS FAIL ME
From Phils blog Resolution 12
BILLYDUGJULY 13, 2018 at 20:28
From Phils blog Resolution 12 …… “It would appear that the ‘Resolution 12’ case being considered at Hampden is of the slam dunk variety.”
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So obviously no connection whatsoever with efforts to undermine and frighten SFA/SPFL officials……
“The Scottish FA is firmly committed to the principles of good governance: we ensure that fairness, transparency, equity and integrity are at the heart of all we do. We endeavour to maintain robust and relevant rules, policies and practices by implementing a process of continuous improvement, taking on board views of key stakeholders and the constantly evolving cultural and environmental landscape within the game.”
Scottish Football needs strong administrators to do their job. Properly this time.
BILLYDUG
JULY 13, 2018 at 20:28’From Phils blog Resolution 12 …… “It would appear that the ‘Resolution 12’ case being considered at Hampden is of the slam dunk variety.”’
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There will be some who are afraid that , if shareholders ask the police to get involved, it may end up with some folk being at risk of being dunked in the slammer!
There was quite a lot of money slid to a quarter to which it should not have been slid, and there appears to be reasonable grounds for believing that porkies were told by at least one party, with a second party strongly suspected of knowing that porkies had been told in order to get that money.
There is no time bar in relation to prosecutions for common law fraud in this wee country of ours.
And I would not be at all surprised if (almost regardless of what the SFA or any football club may do) a number of Celtic plc shareholders are already preparing a submission to the PF.
UPTHEHOOPSJULY 13, 2018 at 08:45
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Yet another hatchet job on Murdoch Maclennan by the Daily Record today. The willingness of the Daily Record to do Rangers dirty work for them is appalling. People may not want to click the link but I’ve left it here. I can see no other way for Maclennan other than to resign, if he values his safety and peace of mind.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/missing-murdoch-maclennan-require-cave-12907268
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BILLYDUGJULY 13, 2018 at 20:28From Phils blog Resolution 12 …… “It would appear that the ‘Resolution 12’ case being considered at Hampden is of the slam dunk variety.”
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Do fans on here actually believe the World Cup in 2022 is going to affect the SPFL?
#ScotlandAreMince
The ibrox club had until the 26 june to reply to the compliance officer if i remember correct?
I would believe something would be happening with that by now.
King facing TOP 20th july.
Retail hearing the end of the month.
next Thursday, Vaporized is back in court in their breach of copyright case with Vapouriz.
That partnership with ibrox could be vaporized before it gets off the ground.
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so much to do,so little time