The football industry is corrupt. You know this, we all know this. The nature of the institutions who govern the sport, combined with the enormous amounts of money the industry is now worth, is a toxic cocktail.
A few minutes ago the Fifa Ethics Committee provisionally banned Fifa president, Sep Blatter, Uefa president (and Fifa vice-president) Michel Platini, as well as Fifa Secretary General, Jermoe Valcke, for 90 days pending an investigation. Former Fifa VP, Chung Moon-joon has been banned from the game for 6 years and fined. Chung and Platini both remain candidates to succeed Blatter as Fifa president – yes, it’s that dysfunctional.
This may be the beginning of the end for football’s great Oligarch Administrators, who lived like Saudi princes, paid for by the money which slushes around the game, but it is far from assured that football is now on the right path. Blatter, the embodiment of everything which is wrong with sport and business to many, remains a hugely popular figure. Some of the games administrators, themselves untouched by corruption, shed tears when he recently announced his decision to retire.
The core problem is one of democracy. Fifa is a democratic organisation, which on the face of it sounds like a good thing, but democracy has its drawbacks. One member one vote affords the British Virgin Islands the same weight when it comes to exercising ultimate control as Germany. Apart from hosting the World Cup once every 40 years or so, Fifa can offer Germany little tangible support, but the governing body can metaphorically pave the streets of tiny nations with gold.
Fifa executives, and Blatter in particular, have enormous patronage under their control. Blatter is personally responsible for the decision to ‘support the game’ in many small nations and protectorates, by funding the construction of expensive stadiums and facilities. These amenities are great for the recipient nations, often well beyond anything the local FA or government could afford. Blatter has been The Great Facilitator to many far-flung entities. That patronage buys loyalty and genuine affection.
The problem is not limited to the Fifa executive. Administrators at all levels of the senior game enjoy control over a degree of patronage. Merely becoming an office holder at your FA makes you a dignitary of some sort. There will be an expense account, doors will open, facilities made available.
Football’s problem is that its structure made it inevitable that corrupt individuals would eventually take control. Cutting the head off Fifa will not be sufficient to change that, the way football funds itself also needs to change – and that would inevitably mean less money going to poor places in the world. If accountability replaces patronage, Blatter’s largess to underfunded Associations would end. The game would be cleaner, but there are 100 FAs with skin in the game who stand to lose, so assume nothing.
Take a look at the work of Joseph Gormley, a Scots-born artist in the US, who has raised over $170k for various charities. His is another great tale in the story of the Celtic support.
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skyisalandfill
I was informed about your understanding of Scotch whisky – is this the truth?
Fred.C.Dobbs
We don’t need no badges (but you’re still my pal)
Can’t get upset about the SFA 11,great result for MON,a proper football coach.My tip 8 months ago was this would be Broony’s last stint with Scotland,i hope so.Strachan has quit a few jobs in the past,and he might walk too.
Snake-welcome back,you will have seen a fud who posts in the morning before his tablet,is chasing good bhoys away from here.HH
!!Bada Bing!!
who is that?
Snake Plissken,
Forever :O).
Snake plisken.
Nice to see you back posting under your real nom de plume.
Only know it’s called that as I used to have to go to the bookies at the barachnie,
When I was a young lad and had to ask punters going in to put my mums lines on.
Honest mister.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed6Yr81jZ6g
The more things change the more they stay the same
Just discovered that Northern Ireland qualified. Another eye sore for the finals.
Captain Beefheart on 9th October 2015 1:26 am
Just discovered that Northern Ireland qualified. Another eye sore for the finals.
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Well the hierarchy of the SFA will be consoled with a first prize, well a lot of them.
Strange days indeed.
It is God’s story, and an incredible one as well.
That John Lennon dude could not have been any more anti what he Really was… If he tried.
Propaganda…….
Praise Satan all you want, I won’t ever.
Pro Pagan da.
The Intelligence of the Beast is so far beyond Human comprehension.
Yeshua protects everyone of his flock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_i90T5PhH8
Christ Jesus, he is tickling people all over the World.
Give the Good News, Oh…. it is the latest phone you want to talk about.
Prophecy is always happening.
Good Morning Timland.
Didn’t see the Scotland game,not really interested in international
fitba,time for a think tank me thinks…..you know well the SFA get a
few of the right sorts,lock them inside a 5 star facility and let them
live it up large……..then they produce a 500 page dossier telling the
world whit’s whit.
Have a great day cqn, away tae wonder the great plains.
Ps well done Ireland.
Scotland will NEVER qualify again for an international competition.
Fred Quimby`s assertion can NEVER be proven correct.
JJ
Good morning from East Kilbride – currently dry with broken cloud and still mild-ish.
Still gutted over the end of last night’s game. But life goes on, so I wish you a Big Happy Friday.
Anyways, me and Mrs Baldie are escaping, again, in the very early hours of tomorrow morning so you all get a wee break from the ole EK weather reports for a week. Off to Ibiza (Santa Eulalia), woo-hoo!
Jobo
No reason why the SE reports cannot replace the EK reports……apart from their being a little more predictable 0:-)
JJ
The only thing that bothers me about Scotlands defeat and failure to advance to a major final is the effect it might have on Celtic and the wider club game in Scotland. It’s more to do with perception than reality but it does devalue the players and the club competition in.my opinion. Wrongly I might add.
Sorry not defeat – draw
Notice the sun saying it’s all Celtics fault?
Irish racist b…….
Two part post
By ROBERT COLLINS
published
9 hours ago
comments
16
FURIOUS Scotland fans have hit out at Celtic after the club backed IRELAND for the win that knocked Gordon Strachan’s men OUT of Euro 2016.
Scotland’s qualifying dream died after their 2-2 draw with Poland and the Republic of Ireland’s shock 1-0 win over Germany.
If the Irish had failed to beat the world champions the Scots’ hopes would still be alive.
Scotland will now miss out on yet another major finals with the Tartan Army stuck at home next summer instead of partying in France.
Before kick-off Celtic sent out a good-luck message to Martin O’Neill’s Ireland side and that infuriated Scotland fans.
Celtic tweeted: “Good luck to the @FAIreland tonight #ireger #makethematchgreen.”
I didn’t bother posting the gullible crackpots posts who fell for the article, they where as you imagine predictable pash from Neanderthal Huns, .
So it was nothing to do with.
Georgia
Poland
Germany
Just Ireland , funny that eh? It’s as anti Irish routs Celtic as it gets, disgusting behaviour from a daily rag.
Celtic tweeted eight good luck messages to three countries before tonight’s matches. One to Ireland, one to Australia and six to Scotland.
Nice to see big Virgil ripping into the SMSM this morning too, well done big man.
All the bad press crap, VVD , Celtic tweet……you just know things are not well over at Narnia , get ready for a cluster….
Mr & Mrs Baldie….have a grand holiday – Hail Hail
Nye Bevans Rebel Soldier – Keep it lit fella.
WGS…nae luck…MO’N guid luck…well done.
SFA….the football association under who’s watch, one of their major clubs practised an, anti-catholic employment policy for what?….140 years?…canny be bothered doing the math but, I hope that your national football team gets cuffed in’every’ game that they play…I have done since 1982 when, curious to see what these International games were all about….myself and some buddies attended the Scotland v England game at Hampdump…Paul Mariner(Ipswich) scored the winner.
Davie Provan was playing and, every time that he touched the ball you could hear-feel the hatred crackling throughout the stadium as, the traditional Rangers-end of the ground, started to chant for Willie Johnston to be brought on form the bench.
Standing behind us in the old North Enclosure were some middle-aged feckers wi OO ties on as if they were just back from marching.
My buddies and I, climbed the fences on our way round to the Celtic End….10 mins into the 2nd half, we got out of the stadium and vowed to never support Scotland again.
Anybody on here could probably tell you their own stories based on the same stuff.
I hate the country called Scotland…for making me hate.
I’m not sure about this and I stand to be corrected but, I think it was Stevie Murray who told the then, Scotland manager to never pick him again….to come and sit on a bench when, he had just been scaling the European hights in the Magnificent, Mr Stein Celtic teams.
If I had been a professional footballer, played for Celtic and was selected to play for Scotland…I’d hold a media conference and tell the world ‘why’ I would be telling the SFA to stick it!
I remember reading the – Tommy Burns / Twists & Turns book in the late 80’s and, TB(RIP) said something about all the folk in Scotland being Jock Tamsons bairns and that, some of the bairns were treated differently.
I totally connected with what he was trying to say but…fast forward about 15 years and….I came in from work,, put the TV on and, it was announced that, Tommy Burns will be joining the SFA as, Bertie Voghts(sp) no 2…..I felt yon shiver up my spine as if somone had walked over my grave.
What a lot of innocent Celtic supporters who mean no harm, and only mean well have to realise is….Scotland is structured in such a way that…Celtic supporters and those with Celtic sympathies….will always be the interloper-refugee-outcast-underdog….dont let yer guard down, unless your in the company of the type of grand folk who will assemble at a secret location and, grand ole watering hole tomorrow to put on a display of, warmth-humour-love-kindness-charity-fun-happiness…and,in general….it will become a family, all inclusive were you’ll recieve the type of welcome that will probably reduce you to tears of unbridled wonderment and a realisation that, ‘you’ are part of the family of the very, very, very best folk that you’ll never ever forget…wish I was going but, I’ll be explaining myself to BMCUW and, BT later.
Hail Hail Celts….Off oot. YNWA.
Not again? Shirley not? Hehehehehe
Sevco could be placed in administration as early as next Friday, October 16.
At the Court of Session in Edinburgh, in front of Lord Tyre, founding father Charles Green will have his case heard for the troubled club to honour his contract with respect to his legal fees.
Mr Green is one of seven men to go on trial at the High Court- charged with fraud over the asset transfer from Rangers (IL) to Sevco Scotland/5088.
The outcome of the trial could have massive consequences for the club and is expected to be lengthy.
Mr Green’s legal fees were covered in the 2012 IPO which brought in £22m to fuel the Third Division and League One title triumphs.
While there has been a lot of speculation relating to onerous contracts the clause for legal support is on record but is being contested by the current club playing out of Ibrox. Should Mr Green and his co-accused be found guilty the whole status of the club falls apart after listed those assets in the IPO.
True Blue Malcolm Murray was the chairman at the time of the IPO and remained in that post at the time of Mr Green’s departure.
Last month BBC Scotland broke the news that the big ‘anded businessman from Yorkshire was seeking his legal costs to be covered by the club. Despite an almost instant denial from the club via the Daily Record the following day the club issued a statement confirming the claim from Mr Green.
A statement from Dave King statement read: “Charles Green approached the club prior to his arrest and demanded that we pay his legal costs in respect of his co-operation with Police Scotland in its criminal investigation into his time as an officer of the club.
“I advised him that we would not do so. He was subsequently arrested and has now approached the court to compel the club to pay the legal costs of his defence to the criminal charges. This application will be strongly resisted.”
The logic of challenging Mr Green’s claim seems hard to fathom, getting an aquittal would provide the company for a basis for moving forward.
Regardless of the outcome of Mr Green’s claim the finances of the club look precarious with a January war-chest for Mark Warburton’s Champions League plan looks unlikely.
With running costs of over £30m a year funded by just 33,000 season ticket sales, many at concession rates and being paid in instalments, being forced to ring fence Mr Green’s legal costs could be an invoice too far.
On the pitch Warbo is hoping to complete the signing of John Eustace in the next 48 hours.
Read more at http://videocelts.com/2015/10/blogs/latest-news/greens-court-date-casts-ominous-shadow-over-ibrox#dDYCGII9StOm8xVk.99
Kev
I’v been there, but never will I hate my country, I love my country, I was born here, as my father and grandfathers where and all fought for it.
The ones with the OO ties? I laugh at them, the SFA too.
Changes have been made, and more will come and will be welcomed.
But hate my country? NEVER, IM A PROUD SCOTT, with Irish heritage yes, but a Scott first.
Morning all.
Sare disappointed about Scotland. We aren’t a very good team but we have luck at all. The only good thing is that our players may get a wee rest next summer.
Should read: nae luck
Parkheadcumsalford
No luck mate. We get no luck at all unlike other teams I could mention.
Israel, Sweden and Belgium will probably all go.
I think there will be a few Celts there next year.
Kev Jungle
The people you described in the 80s are no doubt cheering on Northern Ireland and England and celebrating a Polish equalizer last night.
No doubt a couple of these eejits will be on clyde tonight telling us they don’t back Scotland because there is a former Celtic manager in charge of the national team and they deserve to fail because they won’t pick a left back whose career achievements include winning division 3 and 2.
Snake
I said to you last night that the hun hacks would be calling for the head of WGS, and right enough, they are.
McLeish will be their choice, even more reason not to support them imo :-)
HH
I must agree, Poland and Ireland, got the luck and the breaks, poor old Scotland didn’t,
Never a truer saying….I’d rather be lucky than good, awe well, it is what it is I suppose.
TD67 I endorse your sentiments I love this country -warts and all, sure there are many things I don’t agree with but like marriage for better or for worse. H H Hebcelt
THE EXILED TIM
That’s pathetic if they are. The same clowns are trying to stir up division over Celtic tweeting good luck to Ireland when arguably our most successful manager since Jock Stein manages them.
The other argument is an even more successful former Celtic manager manages Scotland.
WGS was gutted for his players because they gave him everything they had last night.
The players played for the fans and the country last night and I feel bad for them.
I still think we could and should have made the play-offs but it’s the game in Georgia that’s done us overall.
The hacks and their talking heads blame Celtic for everything. That will never change – it’s their default.
I’m not sure WGS wants to continue. I think he should but he may not fancy it any more.
I’m still supporting Scotland but I’d find it a lot harder if WGS is hounded out by pathetic hacks.
Strachan took us closer than anyone in years. I think if he continues we have a chance to get at least second in the next qualification. Had Germany not had an off night – apparently Muller had a horrendous miss when his miss kicks would have gone in against Scotland. That’s yer luck and Ireland I maintain have had it in spades in this group.
To have only lost to Germany, England, Wales and Georgia is not too bad a record. Sadly four of those matches have been telling.
Beaten Croatia home and away, got good results against a team with the best Striker in Europe and beating Ireland by playing good football into the bargain makes this latest failure harder to take especially as we’ve been total guff for years and this campaign raised hopes and expectations.
Scotland have good players coming through in the next generation and if we harness the talent we have a chance and ironically Celtic are getting these boys experience of European football – Armstrong, GMS, Griff, Allan, wee Forrest and maybe even wee Tierney who I think is an excellent prospect.
If we had a team who could deliver qualification for Scotland these half-wits would still attack our club, players and former managers giving the nation hope.
I hope WGS stays on.
Everyone slated him for playing Fletcher last night and the boy scored one of the best Scotland goals I have seen. People questioned Ritchie playing and he did likewise albeit he gave away that free kick at the end.
The man is no mug and Scotland are on the right path with him. Maybe it will be our turn to finally get some luck in the next qualification campaign.