Two wrongs and a right

The John James blog has of late thrown up many hooks to hang our theories on and provided much food for thought on the Rangers issue.

His casual invective against individuals, particularly Dave King, and often members of the Bench is not particularly SFM-like in its approach, but despite the industrial nature of much of the discourse, the value of his work cannot be denied.

On the subject of revisiting LNS, I find myself in agreement with his conclusions. His argument about Celtic’s attitude to Resolution 12 is to my mind compelling insofar as it serves as a barometer for Celtic’s disposition towards rocking the SPL/SFA boat. Like him, I cannot see any real evidence, (despite the recent statement by the club) that they are disposed to move in the direction of a revisited LNS (although it should be noted that besides Celtic there are another 40 clubs who may have an opinion on this).

His conclusions though should not be confused with his opinion on the rights and wrongs of LNS. Like most of us, he appears to be of the opinion that LNS was seriously flawed on multiple counts.

I saw Bill McMurdo’s remarks too in reference to the same topic. He alleges that the whole SFA house of cards would come down if information he has at his fingertips, information that off-book payments in Scottish football was much more widespread that the RFC EBTs, was made public.

UnderTableIf what he says is true, and he has evidence, he should be expanding on the innuendo.

If he chooses not to, then he is as complicit as those he accuses.

In any event, to say that no action should be taken because others have done it is not the same as saying that no action WILL be taken.

If he means the former, then he is wrong. By the logic of that argument it follows that burglars for example should not be prosecuted because other people burgle houses but didn’t get caught.

I suspect he knows himself that by any objective standard, this view is in error, because when he is called out on it, he reverts to ad hominem attacks on those who called him on it. No defence, just withering, dismissive sarcasm – in the manner of former pundit Jim Traynor when he refers to those who speak of sporting integrity.

If he means the latter, then he should do what he can do prevent it and make his information public. I believe he knows that the £3 note fraternity runs through Scottish football like lettering on a stick of seaside rock, but I suspect he doesn’t actually have evidence.

If there is evidence, then McMurdo is in a unique position to get it out in the open and make life difficult for those he alleges are corrupt.

Then we should go back in time as far as possible to investigate those who participated in “black money” schemes, whether they are EBTs, other forms of tax dodge, or just money in a brown paper bag.

I do not believe that any of us participating in the Scottish Football Monitor would fear exposure of any of our clubs. I think we all know that this is far more important than club loyalties.

If McMurdo’s information is correct, then we also have the opportunity to show that the clamour for revisiting LNS is not an anti-Rangers with-hunt. Instead of reconvening LNS, let’s have Bill’s info, and constitute a wider enquiry. If the info was made public, and it will now be difficult for him to put his genie back into the bottle, could the SFA and the clubs resist the pressure for such an enquiry?

handsMaybe McMurdo’s intervention/revelation may yet be seen as a seminal moment in the campaign to rid ourselves of corruption and incompetence in football.

Our position has always been clear. Corruption is counter to sporting integrity. Therefore it must be rooted out.

John James and Merlin are probably correct in that the clubs will seek to thwart any move for a new enquiry; and there could easily have been a deal done with King last week.

However there was also a deal done with Charles Green about the new club being parachuted into the SPL. How did that one turn out?

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John Cole

About Big Pink

Big Pink is John Cole; a former schoolteacher based in the West of Scotland, He is also a print and broadcast journalist who is engaged in the running of SFM . Former gigs include Newstalk 106, the Celtic View, and Channel67. A Celtic fan, he is also the voice of our podcast initiative.

1,703 thoughts on “Two wrongs and a right


  1. If the proposed awards to our ‘churnalists’ were to be called Walters, then Walter could probably stand for
    We
    Are
    Likely
    To
    Expound
    Rubbish

    I love a good acronym, me!


  2. jimmci 19th January 2016 at 6:30 pm #The SMSM are very consistent,As the build-up to litigation involving the Rangers Biard or their assorted former executives the tactic seems to be ignore, ignore….next to zero comment. Indeed without James Doleman, The johnjames site and phil mac we generally would not even know a hearing was being heard. Actual coverage of the Litigation itself is, perhaps, too expensive or, more likely, too awkward and/or embarrassing fir the media to cover so the journos rely on James Doleman’s excellent Twitter feed. However as soon as the news breaks of a perceived Rangers “victory” it’s all change. Cue headlines of another Glorious triumph with immediate breaking news stories on the web, etc, etc. All very strange and a sad reflection of our media.

    Absolutely jimmci
    Except I wouldn’t describe it as strange and sad. I’d describe it as craven, deeply worrying and rather disgusting.


  3. bfbpuzzled 19th January 2016 at 7:04 pm #The awards should perhaps be called Walters and a life time achievement Walter should go to MR Young and Mr Traynor there may even be foreign language Walters for Those who speak the truth…

    As in Walter Mitty?
    How about the mittys?
    I like rhyming slang as much as nawlite enjoys a good anacronym 02


  4. We all love to extol Rangers we all listen to ex Rangers and so on ad infinitum 


  5. easyJambo 19th January 2016 at 7:33 pm #
    Edit: I’ve also just seen a tweeted image from Station Park with a smoke bomb set off.
    Fans are now taking the piss out of the authorities inability, or unwillingness to act.

    Absolutely agreed. It is beyond pathetic.
    As for the reasoning that the clubs should not be punished if they have done everything reasonable to avoid problems/bad behaviour, that is just nonsense. If they had done everything possible, it would not be happening at all. (In my opinion)


  6. Just lifted this from the BBC

    Get InvolvedText using 80295As someone at the Forfar vs Rose game it was appalling, not the decision to put the game off as the floodlights only came back on at half power, but the Linlithgow Rose fans were abysmal. Flares, smoke grenades fans on the pitch, the plastic pitch was damaged as a result of the flares. Completely shocking. This is from a Linlithgow fan. Something needs to be done about pyrotechnics and football.

    Reality check needed by the football clubs and authorities before rules are imposed on them


  7. John Clark 19th January 2016 at 9:37 pm #

    Starting to look like a chat show in the making, John. 03


  8. jimmci 19th January 2016 at 6:30 pm #The SMSM are very consistent,As the build-up to litigation involving the Rangers Biard or their assorted former executives the tactic seems to be ignore, ignore….next to zero comment. Indeed without James Doleman, The johnjames site and phil mac we generally would not even know a hearing was being heard.Actual coverage of the Litigation itself is, perhaps, too expensive or, more likely, too awkward and/or embarrassing fir the media to cover so the journos rely on James Doleman’s excellent Twitter feed.However as soon as the news breaks of a perceived Rangers “victory” it’s all change.Cue headlines of another Glorious triumph with immediate breaking news stories on the web, etc, etc.All very strange and a sad reflection of our media.
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


  9. jimmci 19th January 2016 at 6:30 pm #The SMSM are very consistent,As the build-up to litigation involving the Rangers Biard or their assorted former executives the tactic seems to be ignore, ignore….next to zero comment. Indeed without James Doleman, The johnjames site and phil mac we generally would not even know a hearing was being heard.Actual coverage of the Litigation itself is, perhaps, too expensive or, more likely, too awkward and/or embarrassing fir the media to cover so the journos rely on James Doleman’s excellent Twitter feed.However as soon as the news breaks of a perceived Rangers “victory” it’s all change.Cue headlines of another Glorious triumph with immediate breaking news stories on the web, etc, etc.All very strange and a sad reflection of our media.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    And
    When the TRFC news from the court is negative it appears under the BBC Scottish News and nowhere else
    But  
    When the TRFC news from the court is positive it appears  …….. under Scottish Football …………and under championship football  …and under the TRFC and Celtic home pages


  10. John Clark 19th January 2016 at 9:37 pm #
    easyJambo- you have a PM.
    =================
    Nothing there, as yet, JC.


  11. It’s been a ‘funny old day’ at the High Court in London. 

    In all honesty I never thought there was much in that interview on Sky with Jim White (Whyte?) that would merit a court hearing.  I kind of bought into the idea that Mike Ashley who had billions at his disposal would engage the best lawyers and QCs to make something of it.  To at least get costs awarded against TRFC.  How wrong can you be?

    Sports Direct team seemed totally unprepared and ill equipped to handle this case.  The judge may be inclined against SD, so what!  Good counsel would make mincemeat against him. 

    To be honest Mike Ashley has embarrassed himself in this case, acting like a bully.  It has came back and bit him in the nether regions.    Remember all the talk of King spending Christmas in jail?  Total nonsense as jj now admits.

    However, the case against King and the SFA is much juicier.  Here there is substance.  It is this one I look forward to.   A ‘fit and proper person’  21


  12. I just noticed that JJ has deleted his blog “Pulled punches on a rainy parade”. I wonder if he has had second thoughts or a solicitor’s letter? His scattergun approach may have recoiled on him.


  13. scottc 19th January 2016 at 9:59 pm
    ‘..Starting to look like a chat show in the making, John. ‘
    ____
    Nothing so exciting, I’m  sorry to say, scottc!
    Me being me, I fire off emails and letters as me, as a private individual , and I have to make sure that I am not acting as any kind of authorised rep of the SFM blog, or using other people’s material without their knowledge,or without acknowledgement!
    So if I reference SFM in my letters or emails, or use the info provided directly on the blog, or sought out  by me from posters,or discussed with any poster, I feel obliged to tell them, and tell them of any ‘reply’ to my letters or emails.
    As for chat show in the making, oh, man dear! How I would love to have the kind of radio voice and temperament to bewitch and beguile the lieges!
    The other week, I listened to Orson Wells, in a programme about his ‘War of the Worlds’ radio sensation. He had a magnificent radio voice.
    I haven’t05


  14. Re the King fit and proper judicial review . 
    I was told by a Director of the SFA ( not PL) that the SFA were extremely diligent in gathering information from the authorities in SA & UK. He claims they asked every appropriate question . No reason to doubt him , he’s not a King or RFC lover. 
    I suspect lack of a smoking gun , possibly due to “not able to comment ” , will be the SFA defence. Remember they have to have proof King is not fit and proper . King did not have to provide evidence he was . Comments from the trial judge aside , it would be challenging to get a tax authority or a Police authority to provide confidential information to a self elected sports body.  


  15. jimmci 19th January 2016 at 6:30 pm #The SMSM are very consistent,As the build-up to litigation involving the Rangers Biard or their assorted former executives the tactic seems to be ignore, ignore….next to zero comment. Indeed without James Doleman, The johnjames site and phil mac we generally would not even know a hearing was being heard. Actual coverage of the Litigation itself is, perhaps, too expensive or, more likely, too awkward and/or embarrassing fir the media to cover so the journos rely on James Doleman’s excellent Twitter feed. However as soon as the news breaks of a perceived Rangers “victory” it’s all change. Cue headlines of another Glorious triumph with immediate breaking news stories on the web, etc, etc. All very strange and a sad reflection of our media.
    ===============================

    The saddest reflection of all on the media in my view is their reaction to what kicked off this entire shambles, i.e the big tax case. When three Judges delivered the straightforward view that guaranteed earnings should be subject to tax you would have thought their front page ethos of slamming tax avoidance/evasion would have saw similar headlines. After all, they often complain that the ordinary beleaguered taxpayer has no choice in the matter while rich individuals and large corporations do all they can to buck the system.  The ‘common sense’ ruling by three judges should have been music to their ears, but it raised another very pertinent question, that being what advantages did Rangers get from this cheating of the system. So suddenly a previous non-interest in the appeals process came sharply into focus. The publicly funded BBC Sportsound even went as far as having a QC on who said the Judges got it wrong, with zero attempt to balance the debate with someone of equal standing who thinks they got it right. A complete outrage in my view. BBC pundits and other media outlets became almost desperate sounding as the appeal drop dead date ran to the wire, then suddenly there was an explosion of relief as BDO announced the move had been made. So now three judges are going to be asked to say three other judges got it completely wrong and allow this appeal. 

    There is something utterly shameful in the Scottish media putting on field success for Rangers above paying the social taxes most of us have no choice but to pay. I myself pay a lot of tax but I am fortunate to earn a very good salary. Like so many others I also realise that payment of tax in full and on time underpins our democratic society. No football club should be above that, none at all. The media’s behaviour over this has been disgusting.  

    Off to work now – I have bills and taxes to pay. Have a nice day. 


  16. ekt1m 20th January 2016 at 12:17 am #I just noticed that JJ has deleted his blog “Pulled punches on a rainy parade”. I wonder if he has had second thoughts or a solicitor’s letter? His scattergun approach may have recoiled on him.
    ==================================
    ekt1m….it is still up on his blog…or at least on the Essex edition… 09


  17. Barcabhoy  20th January 2016 at 6:18 am #Re the King fit and proper judicial review . I was told by a Director of the SFA ( not PL) that the SFA were extremely diligent in gathering information from the authorities in SA & UK. He claims they asked every appropriate question . No reason to doubt him , he’s not a King or RFC lover. I suspect lack of a smoking gun , possibly due to “not able to comment ” , will be the SFA defence. Remember they have to have proof King is not fit and proper . King did not have to provide evidence he was . Comments from the trial judge aside , it would be challenging to get a tax authority or a Police authority to provide confidential information to a self elected sports body.  

    I get your point. But without bringing up any SA action lets remember what position he held within RFC during the Murray years. That alone should be enough to set alarm bells ringing re fit-and-proper. Add in a few SA newspaper articles and that should be more than sufficient to glean enough information to decide that this guy just isn’t a “good egg”. 

    Not sure what the legal position is regarding “proof”. Do the SFA actually have to catagorically prove the guy to be not fit for office? Proving anything is significantly more difficult that dismantling some so-called proof. I would imagine there must be oe of those good old “discretionary” clauses in there that will give the SFA all the wriggle room they need!


  18. Barcabhoy 20th January 2016 at 6:18 am #Re the King fit and proper judicial review .  I was told by a Director of the SFA ( not PL) that the SFA were extremely diligent in gathering information from the authorities in SA & UK. He claims they asked every appropriate question . No reason to doubt him , he’s not a King or RFC lover.  I suspect lack of a smoking gun , possibly due to “not able to comment ” , will be the SFA defence. Remember they have to have proof King is not fit and proper . King did not have to provide evidence he was . Comments from the trial judge aside , it would be challenging to get a tax authority or a Police authority to provide confidential information to a self elected sports body.  

    I would have thought that the publicly available information regarding King’s dealings with SARS, and his subsequent criminal convictions would be sufficient to persuade most governing bodies that King was not “fit and proper”. Wasn’t Craig Whyte booted out of Scottish football on the back of a far superior record of compliance with the law? Not perfect, admittedly, but he’s shining against a dark background when compared to King.
    The SFA are expected to act in a fair and consistent manner. Clearly they haven’t. Everyone coming before the SFA panel is entitled to fair treatment on the question of whether they are a “fit and proper person”. In the cases of Whyte and King, the SFA have simply bent to the loudly expressed wishes of the SMSM and the Ibrox fans, to produce an inconsistent result. That simply won’t cut it if the matter ever goes to a full judicial review.
    However I don’t believe it will ever go to a full review. The current proceedings are simply an application for a judicial review. The first step in that application is to demonstrate that you have a valid interest in the matter. I can’t ask for a judicial review of any decision by a public authority simply because I feel it is wrongly made. I have to show that the decision affected me directly. The courts could be extremely busy otherwise.
    So what is Ashley’s interest in the SFA’s decision? His only connection with Scottish football (apart from flogging sportswear) is a 10% stake in RIFC. He can really only argue that the SFA decision allowed King to become chairman, as a result of which RIFC lost its Nomad and got kicked off AIM, which in turn has reduced the value of his 10%. That’s really a bit thin, I would suggest. The SFA can argue that their decision should be looked at in isolation. The stock market is none of their business, and they can’t be held responsible for what Nomads and AIM decide to do.
    So I will be surprised if this ever goes to a full judicial review- but then I’ve stopped counting how many times I’ve been wrong so far in this saga.


  19. Barcabhoy 20th January 2016 at 6:18 am
    ==========================

    He pled guilty to tax fraud and the Judge’s comments on his integrity and honesty are a matter of public record.

    He was on Ranger’s board for years leading up to their administration and liquidation

    Did the in depth investigation by the Scottish football authorities no include considering matters which were freely available to them, including their own records.


  20. wottpi 20th January 2016 at 9:55 am  
       Sometimes a seat number, name, address, banking details, stadium CCTV, broadcasters cameras, fixed and mobile polis cams, recording equipment on trains, buses, and lamp-posts, banks of photographers along the bye-line, video vans, helicopters with super-duper zooms and infra-red, and helmet and body-cams on coppers is just not enough.14 
       The whole thing smacks of politics, and the SFA’s failure to act being passed on to the government. The SFA already have enough in their arsenal to eradicate unruly behaviour, as this statement from DUFC clearly shows.

     http://dufc.co/news/club-statement-regarding-pyrotechnics/
          “We would also like to remind supporters that if there are incidents of this nature in the future the football authorities have the power to impose serious sanctions including financial penalty and order matches to be played behind closed doors”  


  21. Corrupt official 20th January 2016 at 11:40 am

    League offenses 
    First offense. – Next home game behind closed doors
    Second offense – 3 point reduction
    Third offense – 6 Point reduction
    etc
     (On the basis fans may feel they have nothing to loose towards the end of the season)
    Any offense occurring after the existing split – if first offense – automatic 3 point reduction. If continuing offense pro rata penalty. However both offenses post split carry and automatic minus 9 point penalty into the following season.

    Cup offenses
    If offense occurs and offending teams wins the tie – banned from next round
    If offense occurs and offending team loses the tie – banned from competition next season. 

    Europe
    Any clubs deemed to have been found to have committed a single offense in either league or cup competitions in the previous season will not be eligible to be put forward by the SFA for European competition the following season.

    My guess is that you could dump the earlier proposals and that last one would sort things pretty sharpish but, lets face it no-one has the balls.

     


  22. Surely a points deduction system would be a doddle to introduce and would cut the nonsense out in jig time? I think after a couple of deductions for your team the fans would begin to police themselves quite efficiently.

    They can’t afford to develop the game properly but can afford to spend £4m on nonsense that a pair of sunglasses and a football scarf could defeat. They’ll be banning football scarves next on the off chance you might sing something spicy when you’re in the ground.

    These people must be removed from our game before they kill it.


  23. Firstly an inquiry to our resident (much valued)  authorities. When would court business start in Aberdeen tomorrow? I know it is not likely to be scintillating and revealing but I would like to attend just to be able to claim ‘I was there’.
     
    Secondly and differently, the preamble to the site says something about the site asking questions neglected by  main stream media. Would it be an idea to have a page at the start asking say 20 questions? I have previously noted I think the ‘entry costs’ to this site are high. You need to be versed with  a very complicated story to appreciate some of the contributions. I have in mind something that would allow  the casual reader (or journalist)  to understand why the contributions are so important …
     
     


  24. wottpi 20th January 2016 at 12:03 pm
         ” (On the basis fans may feel they have nothing to loose towards the end of the season)” 
        ———————————————————————————————————-
       You are quite right to point that out as it may render a points deduction meaningless to many clubs(or their fans), but that appears to be the only additional powers strict liability will garner. Punishment for the top teams. (And at their discretion !)….I can see why clubs are anti.
          No they already have the powers to deal with it. An announcement today stating categorically that any future pyro nonsense brings an automatic closed door game. The same with sectarian behaviour. No trial, jury, inquest, or appeal. It is automatic ! 
        This facial recognition malarkey has nothing to do with fitba’ and everything to do with big brother. Unpaid fine?, poll tax arrears?, outstanding warrant?, or done a pee up an alley in 2004?….We can’t nail you in Sauchiehall St for it, but we will get you at the game!……It’s so much easier to whack through a civil liberty invasion when it is aimed at fitba fans.  
       I have seen figures of between £2 and £4m quoted for this technology. Up to 4 x what the BBC pay for the highlights, yet apparently they cant afford to countersink a webcam into the goalposts and crossbar. 
        We really do need rid of these muppets if we are to get anywhere with our fitba. 
    ps. Naw I don’t have any warrants out, but I have shouted a few nasty things at referees. 🙂


  25. With the further announcement of bonkers ideas like the cross border Challenge Cup I can only assume that those who run Scottish Football are no better than those in any other large organisation who cannot see the wood from the trees.

    As opposed to tackling the issues that are right under their noses it is all about change,  innovation, new ideas and blue sky thinking.

    In my experience this is usually a sign that the leaders of the organisation don’t have a handle on their brief or their core business and use all this buffoonery to make it look as thought they are smart and doing something, when in fact they are siting on their hands doing hee-haw in terms of sorting out the real problems that everyone else and their uncle can see a mile off.


  26. Perhaps if the clubs don’t want to be held responsible for the behaviour in their grounds, the answer is simple – don’t sell tickets. 
    The jump to surveillance and data gathering is badly thought through – it pains me to think that the first answer to what should be a simple task to stamp this out is to start collecting yet more data via surveillance. The sanction of closed door games (and not allowing it to be broadcast at all – no cameras, no radio, no press, just a simple scoresheet at the end), deduction of points is the most apposite sanction.


  27. I was reading through my favourite sites earlier – TSFM, The Clumpany, Etims and John james when I stopped midway through an article to make my lunch (Cheesey scrambled egg and fried bacon).  When I returned to the site I was on I thought to myself ‘this guy jj is getting rather witty it’s getting more like the Clumpany in tone’  Anyhow I got to the end of the post only to discover I was on The Clumpany!  032103


  28. BP, there’s a new thread on the Bears Den about a possible protest at Hampden by fans of all clubs against the proposal for facial recognition. I’ve not seen where such a suggestion originated, but that’s not important – what’s important is that EVERY response shows why we’re going to continue to struggle to attract any weight of TRFC* supporters. The thread is titled “Would you go” – if you look in there, you might want to check it out. Isolationalism it is, then!!


  29. Purely thinking through the practicalities of the proposal; let’s just say I am an opposition fan intent on causing mischief and hence a points deduction from my nearest opposition, it’s going to be chuffing difficult (ok probably not that difficult) to get a sing song going.  It is I would suggest a helluva lot easier to pull the fuse on an appropriately coloured ‘pyrotechnic’ and the. Exit stage left in the ensuing melee.

    just thinking aloud.


  30. Let me be clear. I dont think King is fit and proper under any set of circumstances, i’m just passing on what I was told will be the SFA defence.

    Nobody needs to try and convince me King is unfit. I’ve been saying that for years


  31. Wottpi, CO, and Smugas
    I agree that facial recognition can be a problem and if 40,000 turn up with balaclavas will those in the stadium insist they all take them off to be captured before they then all swap seats and say it wisnae me.
    Also like Smugas says a risk that towards the end of the season, should a points deduction be in the offing, fans could turn up in the opposition colours, or without colours, in the opposition end with all sorts of plans (singing, flares, coins etc) to cause a deduction. I remember back in the 70’s when Bertie Vogts was playing for Borussia Moenchengladbach they beat Inter Milan 7-1 in the European Cup only for UEFA to order a replay because an Inter Milan player got hit by a bottle from where the Germans were. Inter Milan duly won the replay 4-2 to progress. However some time later it came to light that the person who had thrown the bottle was an Inter Milan fan! Of course by then the next round had been played and UEFA could not overturn the result a second time – so what chance Regan and Doncaster doing anything worthwhile; don’t answer that!
    As always in football the authorities come up with rules but never think them through enough and before they know it people have found a way around the system. Remember when keepers were only allowed 4 steps before releasing the ball and within the first week a number of imaginative ways of getting around the restriction were dreamt up (even bouncing the ball off the back of the centre half walking in front of the keeper from the 6 yard box until they got to the edge of the penalty area), leaving the administrators scrambling to change and refine the law to stop such abuses they had not thought through properly. The same will apply to any facial recognition.
    If the authorities can’t (read won’t) do anything about abuses now then what chance this is just another squirrel to drive us nuts. All very well Celtic identifying a few idiots and correctly dealing with them, and quite another the Club or Police trying to arrest 40,000 and prove each and every one of them were signing the song they were accused of singing!


  32. Smugas 20th January 2016 at 3:37 pm #Purely thinking through the practicalities of the proposal; let’s just say I am an opposition fan intent on causing mischief and hence a points deduction from my nearest opposition, it’s going to be chuffing difficult (ok probably not that difficult) to get a sing song going.  It is I would suggest a helluva lot easier to pull the fuse on an appropriately coloured ‘pyrotechnic’ and the. Exit stage left in the ensuing melee.
    just thinking aloud
        ——————————————————————————————————-
       Again Smugas, you highlight the stupidity and inadequacy of the SFA, Whereas the closed door punishment already available to them, guarantees that whether you be a genuine(though dumb) supporter, or a trojan horse, it is a certainty that someone, or several, will “have a wee word”…… Scottish styleee.


  33. Interesting discussion on the points deduction etc for setting of pyro at football matches,let’s create a scenario that prob will never happen,team C are due to play team R ,both are level on points but team C have a superior goal difference and with minutes to go team C go ahead in the game,a few opposition supporters had accessed the away end just in case and during the highly charged celebrations of the winning teams fans launch some pyros,thus ensuring of a 3 point deduction,only a scenario ,but there’s  probably only one country this would happen in,any guesses 


  34. Barca – I don’t think anyone thought you had turned into a King supporter. Just suggesting that whatever the SFA think their defence is, they simply have no defence.

    A bit like Hamilton last night by the sounds of it. Cheer up Accies fans, at least it wasn’t 9 2005


  35. Is there not one , just one club owner/chairman got the ballz to come out and put a stop to all this latest nonsense  . As stated by loads of people on here set out a short list of rules and automatic consequences for use of pyros and/or sectarian singing. Points deduction would wipe it out in a few weeks IF applied evenly and consistently across the board . fans would self police . Kick this shambles of an FA into touch before fans leave the game for good . Totally scunnered with how inept they are . Mr. Lawell , Mrs Budge ……….anyone out there ????


  36. Smugas 20th January 2016 at 3:37 pm

    That is what is known in the business as the ‘Chelsea Defense’,  M’Lord.

    PS Like a nuclear deterrent anyone daft enough to try such a stunt, home supporter or trojan horse would most likley be talking their lives in their hand trying to pull of the stunt and exit the stadium in one piece.


  37. I appreciate the stabs at the ‘What if’ scenarios but frankly it just highlights what a ridiculous situation we find ourselves in when, lets call it what it is, mainly the sectarianism between Celtic and Rangers/T’Rangers has been left to fester for decades and still people pussy foot around the issue.

    Of the top of my head can’t think of another sport in the world where this would be acceptable or tolerated.

    We really should be embarrassed by the whole thing and instead of coming up with ways in which solutions may not work, it is our mark of shame that we have totally failed to come up with any meaningful solutions at all.


  38. Lots of posts about ‘punishments’ for doing ‘things’, but that’s the cart before the horse.

    Firstly, what actions/songs etc. (and you need to be very precise in your description) are going to be proscribed? Will that list be fixed or updated every week/month/season?

    Secondly, who’s going to decide that sanctioned events have taken place? Do you trust the SFA/SPFL match delegate (or referee) to be unbiased if required to report breaches?

    Thirdly, there’s already lots of underused legislation regarding behaviour which applies just as much to football stadia/sporting events as to public places. Had the SPFL made a statement about reminding clubs of their current statutory legal obligations & requesting Police Scotland to state a clear policy for standards expected travelling to & from, approaching & departing from & within stadia, then that would have been much more sensible that this facial recognition malarkey.  


  39. Roddybhoy, I think you (and others) are missing the point. Everyone knows that the suggestions on here would reduce and probably eradicate the problem of singing/pyros. The authorities know this; the clubs know this; the press know this. The problem isn’t in finding a solution – it’s in trying to get that simple solution in place!
    It’s no use saying ‘Authorities out and get better authorities in to introduce the right, sensible solution’. The right solution can’t be put in place until the clubs agree it. Lawell, Budge, whoever are the ones refusing to accept their responsibility because they realise it might hurt them. Until they agree that it’s better to take the pain short term so as to have better behaved fans in the long term, it’ll never happen.
    Of course, that kind of antagonistic display toward other teams is what ‘everyone’ wants to continue as it is part of the reason some fans continue to turn up – especially the dafter elements of some supports.
    Don’t tilt at the SFA/SPFL – get onto your club.


  40. Clubs could offer a lucrative reward for the culprit(s) being turned in and then let the courts hand out a respective punishment for endangering life,say upwards of ten years,that would be a start.


  41. Re the latest nonsense from the Hampden Bunker. It is as plain as the nose on my face that there is pure panic at the top of our game regarding Pyrotechnics and Sectarian singing. The latest re Facial recognition is basically only applicable to 2 Clubs/Companies in Glasgow. However until there is an admission and acceptance by the Clubs/Companies themselves then nothing will change.
    What do I mean?
    In the aftermath of the pyro at Stranraer several individuals were identified and have subsequently been banned from Celtic Park. All within 24 hours. No facial recognition needed. Only recognition of a problem and swift action. Sorted.

    However as far as sectarian singing from TRFC fans is concerned it simply has not been acknowledged by the club as being a problem. Old Rangers tried without too much success to get this singing under control. They had, after al,l been threatened by UEFA to get it sorted but the new club seem to believe that this is a part of their history they do not like and will sing what they want when they want. As far as I can remember there has been no admission of guilt, or even that there is an issue, since as far back as Berwick almost 3 years ago up until the latest hate fest against Hibs at Ibrox. Until a spokesman from the Govan Club publicly denounces the songsheet there will be sectarian singing as usual at Ibrox with the culprits happy in the knowledge that the Club/Company, by their silence, approve.


  42. Regan came up here no doubt thinking,I can run the show up here,been in a few weeks,seen the shambles and the skulduggery that goes on and concluded ,I’m going to be the man,started tweeting et al,then something happened to make him cower in fear,drop off the social media platform through a trap door and cower in the bunker,the 64k question,what made the bullish man such a coward in a short space of time,he is without a doubt a very scared man,tried for a few jobs to get out,without any success ,but willing to keep taking the shilling,a sad excuse for a human being.


  43. What did the SFA do about the flares at the recent Scotland v Poland match ? Whom did they hold responsible?
    smoke bombs at a Forfar v Linlithgow match sectarian? I don’t think so. A Monolithic supporter leaving the ground described the culprits as drunken yobs whom he’d never seen before at Prestonfield.
    How many arrests were made, it couldn’t have been difficult, since the crowd was not large.
    Facial recognition should be trialled at the entrance/exit to the bunker at SFA headquarters.


  44. As I mentioned in a post a few days ago, I wish supporters would sing in support of their team, let all the history, politics, sectarian and bigoted stuff go.  As I mentioned wee Fergus at Celtic tried to eradicate this offensive element from Celtic FC.  It has worked to various degrees but let nobody be in any doubt about the club’s view on these matters, no mealy mouthed words here:
    http://www.celticfc.net/pages/corporate_unacceptableconduct

    I don’t know if other clubs have similar statements, I would hope they do.

    Of course a statement of intent is no guarantee that all fans will follow the guidelines as Celtic are continually faced with the problem of flares. 

    I quite liked someones idea that perhaps we should legalise pyros but control them.  For instance letting some off before the game on the trackside or behind goals supervised by suitably qualified people.   I think they do something like this in Norway.

    But at the end of the day why can’t people just get excited at singing about their team/club.  My heart bursts with pride when Celtic come on to the pitch to a cheesey old song by Glen Daly. 02


  45. Re- the SFA Fit and Proper Status
     
    What I think the court case will show and SD lawyers will be at pains to point out is that the SFA circumvented their rules when opting not to submit the vote to the professional  game board. This has never been explained away as far as I am aware. SD counsel will no doubt request the SFA’s reasoning behind this.
     
    Similarly, King was in clear breach of the written SFA rules (tax conviction and sitting on the board of the previous club/company – in liquidation) meaning that the issue should never have been put to a vote (similarly Paul Murray should have failed under the same admin. rule). SD will undoubtedly want to make a point of this.
     
    DCK was passed having given “assurances” and docu. evidence of agreements with SA Authorities (allegedly). In view of the Craig Whyte fiasco under the F&P and considering the altogether more serious nature of DCK’s crimes a competent QC would run a coach and horses through any argument put forward by the SFA’s application of “discretion” when applying their rules. 
     
    Side issue but one that has irked me however regarding the Professional Game Board vote. Those persons who the DCK vote was eventually put to  (excl. Doncaster and Regan of course) should have had the gumption themselves in refusing to vote insiting instead that the correct rules were followed. They are as culpabale as the aforementioned whether they abstained or not!


  46. Just a complete off the wall suggestion following a listen in to tonight’s sportsound.  What about offering clubs the opportunity to self police unruly behaviour with points deductions?  Even an announcement to fans that following clearly audible songs at game x that the club were quite prepared to forgo any points from game y should there be any repeat. You can bet game y would be pretty clean, with even more impact the more important the match. I accept it reintroduces two ‘strikes’ but just thought it wasn’t the worst idea out there.  And doesn’t cost £4m either.  


  47. Facial recognition for every mirror at SFA headquarters,and questions to ask when looking in mirror.
    who am i.
    what do i do.
    what is my purpose.
    who do i serve.


  48. I think regular listeners to Radio Clyde are aware that they play to a particular demographic. However, even by their own amazingly low standards tonight’s Superscoreboard surely excelled itself in their wish to never knock Rangers; especially when Celtic would be the winner.
    The host opened by asking who is the better striker? Leigh Griffiths or Martyn Waghorn – both on 27 goals for the season.
    One of the guests, Chris Miller, current St Johnstone player contrasted the goals scored. He mentioned that while both on 27 Griffiths goals were all at the highest level, including Europe. Waghorn, on the other hand playing in the second tier plus 10 of his goals coming from the penalty spot. So he went straight for Griffiths.
    The professional “journalist” Mark Guidi, on the other hand, just couldn’t make up his mind who was better. They both had differing qualities he opined and, he noted, to be fair to Waghorn he’s no had the chance to play at the top tier in Scotland. What? Even by Radio Clyde, often labelled Radio Rangers, this was quite an astounding comment. Proceeded to tell us the bold Martyn would sell for at least M£1 with Griffiths probably a M£2 player, ( Would suggest Griffiths more valuable, no?) Btw, how did he value Griffiths at just M£2?
    How, in God’s name any professional football observer could, at this stage, not immediately opt for Griffiths almost defies belief but I guess there is an editorial agenda which seems to be ; cause no offence to the bears. Radio off. Silence in the car better than that tosh and shame on Guidi.


  49. With the greatest respect to posters on here who still listen to Radio Clyde’s reporting of anything to do with Scottish Football, I wonder why?  I stopped listening about 5 years ago I think.  Hugh Keevens, and funny man DJ just did it for me.   If I were to describe my feelings for that pair BP or Tris would put be back on the naughty step so I will refrain.

    BBC Radio Scotland on the other hand are a lot more polite about their bias.  (after jim the expert on everything traynor left. DG)   I still like Stuart Cosgrove and his Motherwell supporting pal.  And their live reporting of matches are quite good.  (Except that ‘open all mikes’ carry on which does my nut in) 

    I kind of get where R Clyde and the Evening Times are coming from,  the Ibrox support in the west of Scotland is marginally bigger than Celtics but for goodness sake tell that to your advertisers, do we not eat as many tunnocks tea-cakes?  pints of lager?   

    You haven’t thought of that have you?  So sorry to hear your circulation is going down the drain. 

    Don’t say you were not warned.

    You deserve all the redundancies coming your way.


  50. jimbo 20th January 2016 at 6:44 pm #

    I quite liked someones idea that perhaps we should legalise pyros but control them.  For instance letting some off before the game on the trackside or behind goals supervised by suitably qualified people.   I think they do something like this in Norway.

    Also done to great effect at Murrayfield


  51. On the Challenge Cup becoming a cross-border competition, this should be easier than when, in 2012, it was allowed to become a cross-industry competition as a firm of Glasgow property owners entered a team that year.

    Also, if we’re struggling to make sense of the SPFL output, maybe someone could introduce faecal recognition?  Do the police no longer have jurisdiction inside football grounds?  If someone’s breaking the law, lift them.  If there’s thousands doing it, get as many as you can and let others see it.  Maybe some want to see airport security at football grounds, I don’t.  Maybe thats where this is going (if it’s not a large, clumsy, argument-ending, problem-avoiding squirrel).


  52. “Faecal recognition”!! Brilliant FA – glad I wasn’t mid-drink or the screen would have got sprayed.


  53. Lets face facts
    We ARE a bigoted wee country and we dont care who knows about it
    So lets go the whole Hog
    Lets have an official Sectarian Singing League
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    SFA Fourth Official required to consult TV Company, view tape of sectarian singing, and reach consensus with TV pundits on whether or not an incident occurred and whose fans were involved. The issue gets included in  after press briefings as a mandatory comment by each Manager
    Sectarian singing league table then getscirculated weekly by the SFA alongside the normal league table. All clubs are required to publish the league table in their programmes
    TV money gets deducted at the end of the season pro rata to points  awarded 
    The money deducted goes to charity
    This way
    The problem gets quantified club by club
    The issue gets ongoing publicity
    The offending clubs get shamed and shamed and shamed
    The TV Media are sucked into the solution


  54. As CEO of a professional sports league, one would expect Doncaster to be highly visible, highly vocal and
    permanently proactive when it comes to addressing any negative PR about “the product”… 

    …you know, to protect the image of the game whilst simultaneously making the game as attractive as 
    possible to potential sponsors and to maximise TV options…

    But that would be stating the bleedin’ obvious! 


  55. Gooseygoosey – tragically, I can see the spin-off TV show being more popular than the football highlights package.  Judges spinning their chair round if they recognise the song, a dumbed-down public phoning in to vote, the money going to an anti-sectarianism charity so it’s all ok.  The SMSM would have something else to write pish about (I realise the irony as I write that).  


  56. ## SPOILER ALERT !  ##

    The “Old Firm” moving to England is supposedly worth talking about – again – by the SMSM, courtesy this time of a Lithuanian club wanting to join a Polish league.  191919

    :weeiconofmebangingmyheadagainstabrickwall:


  57. Scottish league bosses have ordered investigations into fan behaviour at Ibrox and Tynecastle.
    The Scottish Professional Football League has acted following two games between Christmas and New Year.
    In a brief statement, the league said: “Following a review of the match delegate reports, the SPFL has instructed that formal investigations be undertaken in relation to the recent Rangers v Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian v Dundee United matches, where incidents of unacceptable conduct have been reported.”
    Rangers fans were heard singing sectarian songs during their 4-2 win over Hibs on December 28, including the Billy Boys.

    They took their time10


  58. Breaking News
    Due to alledged trouble of one drunk Arab having confrontation with stewards at the segregation zone Ann Budge is to rename the Tynecastle club to Heart of Squirrelothian.


  59. Cluster One 20th January 2016 at 8:08 pm #Facial recognition for every mirror at SFA headquarters,and questions to ask when looking in mirror.who am i.what do i do.what is my purpose.who do i serve.
    ____________

    You forgot the most important question, Cluster.

    ‘Do I like what I see?’

    There can be little doubt that Regan and Doncaster would answer with a resounding ‘Yes’, as they admired their reflection, but we can hope that some self awareness exists within the footballing boards that would, at least, ellicit an ‘I’m not so sure’ from some members.


  60. Today is a very special day for this forum. I think we should arrange some sort of annual event to mark it-

    https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/squirrel-appreciation-day/

    Red, grey or even black, what’s your favourite colour of squirrel? Squirrel Appreciation Day reminds us to enjoy these nut-burying, scampering animals respectfully and with consideration. Why not visit your local park and spot some squirrels?


  61. Just for the record, as reported,  I am in no doubt there will have been Hearts fans behind the dug out giving Mixu some abuse given his past employment record. Was at the game however on the other side but did not hear anything untoward in my area. In fact can’t recall Mixu getting much of a mention at all. A weak second half performance had our attentions elsewhere for fear of only getting a draw against a poor Utd side.

    Good natured banter is fine, but hurtful and offensive verbal attacks are not.
    If someone or a group has been up to no good behind the dug out  at Tynecastle I also have no doubt they will be sorted – and sharpish.
    I am all for a zero tolerance approach. Just find it somewhat convenient that when the ‘big trouble’ rears its head, suddenly everyone gets dragged in to make it look as though its an epidemic.

    Remember how McCoist had a long list of footballer betting
    Remember how many other clubs were supposedly operating tax dodges. 
    Remember those benefiting from state aid  etc etc


  62. I only attend Tynecastle when Celtic are playing so my experience is limited to just those games but I can tell you the atmosphere is very unpleasant.  The bad natured ‘banter’ between the fans is to be expected I suppose but the level of abuse directed towards any Celtic player who ventures off the pitch to retrieve the ball or take a throw in is beyond the pale.


  63. Has the kidnapping with ransom demands been sorted? Wasn’t it just last week that we were reading of that heinous crime being committed by those Perthshire thugs? Those so powerful, greedy mobsters who somehow fooled a young footballer into signing a contract with them, then refused to let him go for anything less than his value (actual or just what his value is to them).

    I’d have thought that the eventual outcome of this epic story of provincial scullduggery would have been given as much media coverage as was given during the heady days of the siege, where the forces of good were held at bay by the city walls and mighty army of the not so saintly St Johnstone. Surely the public has a right to know whether or not the poor victim has been released, or does he remain in the wicked clutches of that dastardly club? If he remains a captive, surely the public have a right to know how it could be that the forces of all that matters (to the SMSM) failed to raise the necessary ransom money!

    In other news, the SSPCA has announced that they are relieved that the squirrels of Perthshire can now return to their state of hibernation 21


  64. I’m one of those in favour if strict liability but I do also agree with [the view that] the first major problem it would face.
    And exactly the same problem would apply to the suggestion of improved CCTV capabilities.
    Namely: I do not trust those who would be given the powers to use them fairly and appropriately.
    Sometimes it seems like our authorities and clubs throw the book at almost randomly selected victims in what appears to me as desperate face saving attempts to appear pro-active and incisive.
    Often these victims are those least able to stand up for themselves.
    These bouts of tough action are then interspersed with complete inaction when some of the worst misbehaviour happens.
    So before we give more powers to the SFA and SPFL we need to be able to trust them 100% and we are a long long way from that trust, with no one making any effort on their behalf to regain it.


  65. Allyjambo 21st January 2016 at 9:20 am #Cluster One 20th January 2016 at 8:08 pm #Facial recognition for every mirror at SFA headquarters,and questions to ask when looking in mirror.who am i.what do i do.what is my purpose.who do i serve.____________
    You forgot the most important question, Cluster.
    ‘Do I like what I see?’
    There can be little doubt that Regan and Doncaster would answer with a resounding ‘Yes’, as they admired their reflection, but we can hope that some self awareness exists within the footballing boards that would, at least, ellicit an ‘I’m not so sure’ from some members.
    ==============================

    Professionally, it doesn’t really matter what Regan & Doncaster think of themselves: they’re buoyed by the indisputable fact that the (majority of) clubs they represent like (as BFDJ might say) ‘the cut of their jibs’, or they’d be removed from post.

    In their personal life? That’s a different matter, but since they’ve proved time & time again that they couldn’t get a red neck in a sauna… 


  66. Jungle Jim 21st January 2016 at 11:07 am

    Agree that the Hearts v Celtic atmosphere is not the best. 

    What you are bringing up now is what Darren O’Dea was getting at the other day on the radio when he said he was more ‘hurt’ by individual shouts and comments as opposed to the community singing.

    However, a la Cantona and numerous examples, you can see individuals raging and gesturing at players from the first few rows in every televised game week in and week out and this has been around for ages as well. Even more so if there is a foul involved around the touch line. I would suggest that it is an issue at nearly every single club, not just at Hearts v Celtic games.

    For me that is one for the stewards and or Police to deal with given the localised nature of the abuse and the club informed. This is exactly the type of action Ann Budge took earlier in the season and will no doubt do again if the abuse allegedly given to Mixu is proven.

    Community singing, pyros and the like however can be dealt with in another manner by the wider footballing authorities. 


  67. Allyjambo 21st January 2016 at 9:20 am #Cluster One 20th January 2016 at 8:08 pm #Facial recognition for every mirror at SFA headquarters,and questions to ask when looking in mirror.who am i.what do i do.what is my purpose.who do serve
    .,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    I can just see them talking to themselves

    Mirror Mirror on the wall
    Who is the most corrupt of all ?
    Is it Donkey or is it me
    Or is it him wie the EBT?


  68. I must admit that when I see news that TRFC or Sevco are in court I have an image of Captain Blackadder in Court accused of murdering Speckled Jim. Just cant erase this mental picture.


  69. It’s taken 9 years for Litvenenko’s death to be attributed to murder ,probably authorised by the ex-KGB president of Russia, Mr Putin.
    It will not, I expect,  take quite so long for the cheating successively of SDM and CW  to be again, as first it was,recognised as having resulted in the death of Rangers FC (1873) as a football club entitled to be in  senior professional football in Scotland. Or for it to be recognised publicly what a  nonsense it is to suppose that the new club created in 2012 and admitted for the first time into professional football (on its first application, too boot!) can possibly be the Rangers of old, or even entitled to claim to be the Rangers of old and try dishonourably to claim their pedigree.
    Those views were and are so ridiculously unsustainable  that Mr Regan’s only official observation, some time ago, was to the effect that it was a matter for the supporters. He perhaps better than anyone knows with what care the black and white of every legal reference to the new club is careful to distinguish it from RFC 1873.He knows that in the 5-Way agreement he was dealing with two quite distinct entities:RFC(IL) on the one hand and ( without prejudice to current criminal cases)   ‘Sevco5088 or Sevco Scotland’/Rangers 2012/ TRFC Ltd.)on the other hand. Not with ONE  club that had merely changed its name!
    We will get there in the end. Of that, as evidence on other matters begins to emerge, I have no doubt.
    A grave wrong has been done . It will be have to be corrected. There is a way back, but that requires courage on the part of those who erred, and on the part of those who now realise that they were dragooned into unacceptable actions and behaviour of which they are now ashamed as individuals looking at themselves in their bathroom mirrors, and anxious as businessmen at the way they have let themselves be tagged as being complicit in Sports cheating.

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