There are a bunch of Norwegian journalists walking around Glasgow today asking, “What, they cheated all those years? What are the FA going to do with them?” So many titles, so many trophies. Then they ask about tonight’s crucial Europa League game between Celtic and Molde.
I have concerns for tonight. Jozo Simunovic looks unlikely to feature, a fresh injury on the back of a lengthy injury absence. Dedryck Boyata and Mikael Lustig are definite starters, but you can perm any two from four for the other two places. Uncertainty in defensive selection is seldom regarded as a positive.
What I’m really hoping for is a tight game. One where we protect our penalty box and allow Molde to make the mistakes. They did this when Kris Commons pounced two weeks ago, so there’s every expectation they are far from impregnable, but Molde will have examined the mountain of evidence which suggests you can sucker Celtic in and hit them on the break.
If we keep it tight, we’ll win. If we try to sweep Molde off the park, as Fenerbahce did in Istanbul, any result is possible.
Late yesterday we ran an article on the boundary Lord Nimmo Smith’s SPL Commission put on their ruling. It’s worth a reprise today:
The Commission wrote:
“The Tax Tribunal has held (subject to appeal) that Oldco was acting within the law in setting up and operating the EBT scheme.
“The SPL presented no argument to challenge the decision of the majority of the Tax Tribunal and Mr McKenzie (solicitor acting on behalf of the SPL) stated expressly that for all purposes of this Commission’s Inquiry and Determination the SPL accepted that decision as it stood, without regard to any possible appeal by HMRC.
“Accordingly we proceed on the basis that the EBT arrangements were lawful. What we are concerned with is the fact that the side letters issued to the Specified Players, in the course of the operation of the EBT scheme, were not disclosed to the SPL and the SFA as required by their respective rules”
Lord Nimmo Smith was clear: the possibility that Rangers operated an illegal tax scheme did not enter his consideration as to whether the sum total of their activities amounted to a sporting advantage.
The SFA’s Sandy Bryson, in evidence to the Commission, saw no sporting advantage in an administrative lapse over an otherwise legal tax arrangement, albeit a lapse which the Commission found to be deliberate.
The question of a deliberate falsification of submissions to the SFA and SPL over an illegal scheme designed to prevent the payment of tens of millions of pounds of tax, has not been considered.
Ignore the PR coming out of Hampden today that this matter has been dealt with. Former directors of Rangers brought the game into serious disrepute, and their friends still walk the corridors of Hampden, but it’s the clubs who will have the final say on what and who is investigated, not a PR man, or football body chief executive.
It is critically important that fans of all clubs let their custodians know their feelings on this matter. Celtic pushed themselves to the brink of what was financially responsible during the EBT years. This cost our club the opportunity of building a sustainable strategy (like we’ve been building since Rangers liquidation).
More than this, the division and recrimination amount the support as we pulled back from spending ever-more, while Sir David Murray’s splashed inordinate amounts of cash, never completely resolved.
Had Rangers been submitting legal tax returns, the entire landscape of what was possible for others in Scottish football would have changed. Hearts, not Celtic, were the biggest financial losers of this fiasco (figures next week), but dozens of others lost out on cup runs, trophies and higher prize money.
Right now those in power at Hampden have no idea what the clubs will demand of them, they do not even have plans to discipline those who brought the game into such complete disrepute. If the clubs want to put honesty and integrity at the heart of our game, they can do so. I know one club who will put this case very forcefully.
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jimtim-I’m sure Jack Irvine’s mob were on Sky’s payroll ,i could be mistaken,maybe Jabba’s clowns have cut his grass on this gig too,zero about this on SSN tells you someone is trying to blank the story.HH
JP Taylor is the SLO at Celtic park, I’m a supporter, he’s the go to guy if you have a problem, belittling his job? That I don’t get.
BTW Tony’s photo was taken at the Celtic v Real Madrid game in August, 2012.
Venue was Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (Home of the Eagles).
Martin, Tony and I went with a family friend from Charlotte, whose father played for Real Madrid for a couple of years. In truth he only made 2 first team appearances but still…
We had great seats right behind the dugouts and Real Madrid bench was directly in front of us. However, we were also completely surrounded by Latino Real Madrid fans. They were great guys and they even translated all their Spanish sweary words for us.
That was also the game where Dylan McGeouch was knocked unconscious and broke his jaw.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RYhVlhC36c
Some Freudian slip at work maybe, as the commentator actually says “There’s a Rangers player down”
Dylan was Celtic’s MOTM in this game and I hope that he is a success at Hibs.
OK, naebdy fancies a sing song.
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma on 5th November 2015 1:20 pm
Er every single business that traded with Rangers in that time may have paid for credit insurance and/or gone into any deals based on credit reports. These reports are based on the accounts. The accounts which were false.
This is not just a massive tax case now. It’s a massive fraud case.
The Point made by BRTH regarding the huns submitting False accounts and being granted a license on these accounts should , Imo , see them banned by the SFA…..and if , as they Will, they play the old club / company nonsense, The honours won while Submitting False accounts should be striken from the history of the club that won them while being run by the old company…
Seems Fair to Me
…
BADA BING. I believe that if this is not sorted out properly and that includes the big wigs at hampden who have bent the rules to keep the new Rangers playing and may also involve our own club being complicit Scottish football will not recover.We need strong men to step up and say enough is enough and why are the Government not involved for me Glasgow Rangers Cheated and the Rangers are cheating but the Establishment turned and are still turning a blind eye and if it is not sorted why would anyone want to spend there hard earned money on watching corrupt Scottish football. H.H.
Professor Green – 28 days.
PhilBhoy
That has been my fathers song of choice for sing songs since I was a nipper.
I love that song.
LB
Hello John,
The sole purpose of this email is to let Celtic FC know, via your office, that I can be added to the many Celtic supporters who want our Club to raise the issue with the SfA/SPFL to ensure that those bodies act upon the new judgement that the EBT`s used by Rangers were illegal and therefore did give them an unfair advantage.
Thank you,
Gary67
They don’t do logic – they only do cognitive dissonance.
Great job in showing their hypocrisy at work even as we get ready to watch Scotland’s only team in Europe.
Turning things over in my mind, I found my attention turning towards the argument that once a player was registered he was registered, presumably regardless of inaccuracies on the form. What has happened in the past when a team has knowingly lied about the country of origin or age of a player? Also where does sporting advantage come in to it? Is it specifically mentioned in the assosiation’s rule book? What sporting advantage did Spartans gain not signing a form twice?
Time for a glass of wine, well two actually, then the bus at 3 pm. Love those euro nights :0)
Phyllis
Many thanks. So need to apply pressure for the next 28 days to the powers that be.
Another thing that should be stripped is Murray’s knighthood, not exactly shining armour is it, well from the waist up anyway.
Molde won’t like playing in a proper stadium, on a proper surface, they’re use to synthetic sterile football. They never seen a pitch as big as ole Parkheed, and they’ll get stage fright.
They won’t like up them CSC
TD67
Well said, totally agree.
As far as I’m concerned the only person who can give the go ahead to lodge an investigation from our club , is our absent landlord . So not much chance there I fear .
Prove that Rangers wouldn’t have won the prizes playing players they could afford. You can’t. That’s why prizes must be stripped but not re-awarded
That is one argument.
The other is that they deliberately fielded ineligible players and all results should be retrospectively re-scored as 3-0 defeats.
There are flaws in both with regards to consequences. That’s why if anything does happen it won’t go beyond stripping the prizes.
Wonder if the man with the magic hat will now desist from using the dignity term!
weeminger on 5th November 2015 2:28 pm
Prove that Rangers wouldn’t have won the prizes playing players they could afford. You can’t. That’s why prizes must be stripped but not re-awarded
That is one argument.
The other is that they deliberately fielded ineligible players and all results should be retrospectively re-scored as 3-0 defeats.
There are flaws in both with regards to consequences. That’s why if anything does happen it won’t go beyond stripping the prizes.
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True – it would be impossible to say what would have happened if…etc.
As pointed out already, what is completely clear is that they cheated. And in sport, when it’s found that you cheated then you are disqualified. Anything you won is removed from you – no complex arguments are necessary.
They cheated – so they should have any titles/trophies removed.
And another thing ……….
When any company comes to renew its banking arrangements, the bank are meant to go over the accounts and see what is what and how strong the company are in terms of assets against liabilities and so on.
Just think on that for a minute.
Silver City 1888
It was curious that even though the SFA had the relevant paper work for Jorge Cadette they held that transfer up and ultimately it cost Farry his job. Yet, when Rangers have side payments and all manner of dodgy goings on they slide through the SFA system quicker than a referee awarding them a dubious penalty.
I think the SFA have missed a chance to put a statement out as soon as this decision was made yesterday. Like their referees they fail to take control of a situation from the outset. Releasing a statement of intent to investigate, readdress their previous comments on the matter, speak to the relevant experts or both football, finances and tax systems or just a holding statement to allow everyone to know they are aware and will make an announcement in due course would have look professional and taking control to say ‘We are in charge – We know the verdict – We have a decision to make – We need to consult with experts, clubs and possibly hold a meeting of said member clubs.
As usual the SFA appear to be useless. Their silence is a sign of incompetence. They have an air of guilt and association about them regarding this matter mostly of their own doing. Celtic fans have long held a gripe with the governing body and their is indeed a list as long as your arm over decades of SFA incompetence on and off the pitch regarding Celtic and also the rather advantageous incompetence that appears to favour Rangers. This was highlighted by the Farry incident mentioned earlier and of course via the honest mistakes list which is easier to document in the all singing all dancing multiple TV camera internet age.
The SFA are not fit for purpose and I believe an independent body should be brought in to make a decision on this matter and the SFA would have been better suggesting that themselves. They could have their own conclusions on the matter but an independent FA/UEFA/FIFA (really? – Maybe not) could be rbought on board to review the information and make a judgement on the whole Rangers (Oldco/Newco & EBT) situation.
The SFL/SPL – They are no more. I found it curious that was rushed through. I think you can no understand why. I believe rightly or wrongly that they were dissolved and brought under the one banner so that this very situation could be swept under the carpet due to both governing bodies no longer existing. The SFL had been around since the 1890’s and then all of a sudden it was gone. No big fanfare. No gnashing of teeth and wailing from the usual romantics of the game of the loss of an institution of the national game they so much love (yes Chick I am talking about you). The SFL was gone and incorporated into the brand new SPFL. Now did the SPFL buy the history of the SFL? I doubt it.
The SPL itself was eaten up by the all new SPFL that was so well organised the trophies were not even changed and new ones issued and there was no sponsorship in place. This was clearly used to fool us all how much we needed Rangers/Sevco. It did not fool anyone.
The media almost from Sevco inception into Division 3 and the lie has grown to fact. Rangers are the same club. The company went bust not the club. Does it really matter? Haven;t they been punished enough? Bla, bla, bla. People have been weak and yes I am talking about all fans here. People started to call them Rangers and started to talk about them winning trophies again and getting back to where they belong. Talking about when they get back to the top league AGAIN. All contributing to the myth that they are the same club.
Rangers are not the same club. You can not fail to pay bills and then start again and be the same. They were not demoted. The rules were broken to let them join the SFL with no 3 years of accounts as was in their constitution but just straight in. Same stadium, same badge same colours etc.
The spin was that Rangers were happy to be demoted. No you liquidated. There was now a journey. Swally even stated they wanted to start there. remember that Swally? How does yer garden grow?
Now they had to start again in Division 3 because some ludicrous clown at the SPFL wanted them to just start in the top league. They then wanted them to start in the SFL top league which at that time was the 1st division. They bottled it and in another show of complete weakness asked the clubs themselves to vote.
Now there is a decision to make and the SFA/SPFL/SPL/SFL whoever you want have two decisions to make.
A – Bring in an independent body to go over all the information reach a verdict and report the findings.
B – Get the clubs to vote on whether Rangers should be stripped of titles and honours.
The governing bodies in this country set a precedent. Let’s see what they do next. I have a feeling it will be related to the SPL/SFL no longer existing but how this plays out may affect the attendances at all football grounds for the years to come.
On tonight I just want Celtic to get 3 points. No matter who takes to the field will receive my full backing as always and I fancy super Griff to keep that good run going.
LB
There athletes from all over the world in widest varieties of sport, whether it be Male, Female, or even a horse, who in there line of sport have cheated, and while doing won nothing, nada, but they where punished, this is the point the SMSM the SFA SPFL are missing, as a matter of fact, one of this teams players cheated not to long ago, caught gambling, so did his line not come up?
Not the point he broke the rules of the game and was punching shed, now it’s his teams turn to take there’s .
Punching shed? Lol, punished
Bsr,
True. And I’m not disputing neebs.
But if ye can win in Turkey you can win at crisis hit Celtic.
HH
RWE
Well done on the award.
A real TONY.
Celtic 6/1?
Bookies throwing money away.
If the SFA are not involved in trying to aid and abet the tax cheating club, you would think they would have planned for this eventuality, actually using common sense tells us this was the plan.
Hail Hail.
Livibhoy
Sorry for the late reply!
It is my favourite too!
Still brings a tear to my eye!
Hope everything is going well!
tonydonnelly67 on 5th November 2015 2:49 pm
Punching shed? Lol, punished
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I like your first idea Tony – a “punching shed” would be perfect for the kind of punishment I have in mind.. :-)
I am still waiting on a ladbrokes trader calling me back to give me odds on Sevco going into administration by the end of the season. That’s been a week now, I’m not holding my breath.
Hail Hail.
It is not beyond the realms of possibilities, for all fans to form a legal entity to fight this cause.
It will have to be a new and stand alone organisation, run professionally, and well-funded.
Let’s take a leaf out of the Liverpool supporters’, who fought doggedly for justice after Hillsborough, book, to have a more catastrophic injustice overturned.
I am NOT comparing their heartbreaking loss with ours!
If we don’t ‘dig our heels in’, we’ll get snowed.
Let our anthem be:
“WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN”
On last thing from me on Rangers.
Some of the players they gave EBT’s too were run of the mill SPL players.
One who springs to mind is Nacho Novo. Now Nacho was brought in to speak to Celtic in what looked like a PR excercise by SDM. He made a show of himself going in the front door in full view of cameras and press. No doubt they were given a heads up. He then exited the same way and was no sooner off to Ibrox to sign a contract. In short we had been done like a kipper. We had been used to get an off the field result for SDM.
He looked like the man who could schmooze players and convince them that Rangers were a better option than Celtic. He had used such a carrot to entice a former fans favourite at Paradise from France to Ibrox with the incentive of settling his tax issues in France and therefore gazumping his teams rivals and securing a top class striker who had already given his word to sign for us.
Novo was enticed to sign a deal at Snake Mountain through the use of an EBT. Every player has a value. Most clubs will know what that value is and bid accordingly both in salary and fee. in this case the selling club would be Dundee and not hard to deal with. Now the salary bartering would take place by player and agent at each club and in all honesty wouldn’t have been miles away. Now if Celtic offer Novo around £10k a week which would be the norm around that time for a player of his value then Rangers could offer the same and he has a decision to make on which team/manager/team mates/etc fit his style and also which team he feels he can play at more. The wages are the same. It’s a matter of which club you prefer. In most cases players will go for the club they support but Novo was a Spaniard and in all honesty wants the best deal.
The EBT now comes into play. Playing for Celtic for £10k per week may result in £6k take home pay. Not too shabby for a player who whilst whole hearted was no Maradona. Now the same deal at Rangers with an EBT kicker results in almost £10k a week in monies to your bank account. Hmmmmm. Easy decision to make.
Celtic may have held talks with other players and so have possibly other clubs who wanted to buy a player especially free agents but if that does not provide an advantage then I don;t know what does. It is financial doping to attract players to one club rather than another and the subject of this example being Nacho Novo is neither here nor there. It is a fact that Rangers could offer said player more take home cash than Celtic due to an EBT thus they held an unfair advantage in the negotiations and SDM’s grandstanding via the media was one upmanship as pathetic as the for every fiver……….statement of all those years ago.
LB
Rwe,
Congratulations
HH
Geordie
Molde will fold, when they see Hoopy the Huddlehound.
Nobody can move like ole Hoopy just watch their faces, they’ve never even heard Glen Daly singing
Nothing can save them from their fate.
Mr Pastry on 5th November 2015 3:05 pm
It is not beyond the realms of possibilities, for all fans to form a legal entity to fight this cause.
It will have to be a new and stand alone organisation, run professionally, and well-funded.
Let’s take a leaf out of the Liverpool supporters’, who fought doggedly for justice after Hillsborough, book, to have a more catastrophic injustice overturned.
I am NOT comparing their heartbreaking loss with ours!
If we don’t ‘dig our heels in’, we’ll get snowed.
Let our anthem be:
“WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN”
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/molde-concerns-lns-commission-action-from-clubs-needed/comment-page-3/#comments
……………………………
We could get The Sun newspaper to back us.
Leaving in less than an hour for game. Hopefully Simunovic makes it, if not play Blackett. Tierney should start with Armstrong down the left. Forrest wide right then it’s a toss up between Rogic or Commons to play belong Griffiths.
Lustig should be instructed to play deeper than normal, giving us three at the back to cope with the breakaway. They will play as they did a fortnight ago and hope we are as bad as we were. Keep the ball in midfield and don’t give it away cheaply.
Gordon
Lustig Boyata Simunovic Tierney
Bitton Johansen
Forrest Rogic Armstrong
Griffiths
3-1 Celtic, Griffiths double and Rogic