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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Scotland were genuinely unlucky. They more than matched Ireland and Poland, but Ireland’s incredible result tonight – and a dreadful off-night in Georgia – have made the difference.
I hope WGS stays, he strikes me as the right kind of manager for an international team.
Well done MON – always a hero of mine.
Finally, for the Nats on here , I now understand what you mean when you insist we are so different from our comrades in Wales, NI and England.
Absolutely right, Tony, not again, as this would be Sevco’s first Administration, they being a new club ‘n’ all. A 10 point deduction in the event of it happening would be a welcome, and very public, admission of this by the Scottish football ‘authorities’.
Pardon me for saying so but all this talk of administration – is there really anything to it this time?
It seems this story comes around almost as much as Celtic playing in England.
” Everyone slated him for playing Fletcher last night”
Not me, Snake, I was delighted, especially as I couldn’t see any evidence of supplies of cotton wool and bubble wrap in the Scotland technical area for LG if he had been required to come on.
Hope WGS stays on as Scotland manager. Has us playing something resembling football after years of turgid defensive no risk football under the school teachers and the media darlings.
There’s no obvious replacement if he leaves, although the smsm would no doubt be touting McLeish to return.
beatbhoy
I have to admit I was torn on that one as to whether Griff came on or not.
He’ll probably play on Sunday but that game will probably be played at walking pace. Total dead rubber.
Snake
You know about them facing paying Charles of Normandy’s potentially huge legal defence costs, right?
https://johnjamessite.wordpress.com/
beatbhoy
Thanks for that.
It still remains to be seen but it would be rather funny.
SNAKE PLISSKEN on 9TH OCTOBER 2015 9:13 AM
Pardon me for saying so but all this talk of administration – is there really anything to it this time?
It seems this story comes around almost as much as Celtic playing in England.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/banned-its-head-chopped-off-but-fifa-remains-dysfunctional/comment-page-13/#comment-2694800
I knowwwwwwww, but it’s fun, playing at being Level 5 for a day :))
Snake,
The admin talk has stemmed from 2 main sources – Phil saying they only have 170k in the bank. And a Sevco bloogger (johnJames) saying they cannot afford to contest Green’s court case.
Ultimately, it’s impossible to say because their finances are opaque and we don’t know the motives of some of the main players (especially Ashley).
However, given their main source of income is season books, and given we know they required £9.5million in shareholder loans last year (starting from about now), it is reasonable to suppose that cash is getting tight again.
I think the court case has possible holed their strategy. The plan was to float round about now, convert existing loans to equity, and provide enough capital to see them into the top division. The court case questioning the validity of their entire IPO and ownership of assets prevents them from listing. Therefore they need alternative exterior sources of funding.
They have no bank credit. The 3 Bears are maxed out (almost certainly). That leaves King or Ashley.
Their one hope (IMHO) is Ashley moving to protect his merchandising income via another soft loan. This would give him complete ownership of IP, badges, etc. and probably spell the end of King and his men. Even if the ownership of assets remains unclear Ashley would effectively own what many people now call “Rangers”.
But I could be completely wrong…
it would be poignant if they went into admin on 1 November ‘Day of the Dead’
ItaliaBhoy
Thanks for the breakdown.
It could get interesting.
Ashley has the cash and that might still be telling.
I’ll put the kettle on.
I’m wondering if Ashley would be allowed to take anymore control of the club than he has.
I think the SFA may have something about that?
On second thoughts, yi know what Ashlys the man, what was I thinking there?
Teenager John Souttar could be the next Dundee United star to head for Celtic.
It’s understood the Hoops are considering snapping up the 19-year-old – if he does not sign a new deal at Tannadice.
With his contract up next summer, they could do that as early as January by way of a pre-contract agreement.
Scotland failed due to letting in simple goals due to group defending failures in the main.
10 out of th 13 on the pitch last night were developed in the Scottish league.
3 at Celtic and 3 at Hibs (4 spread across 4 teams).
Irish players are all developed in the English league(pretty much).
Not sure if this is an element in Ireland over achieving on results vs perf but we do seem to lose a lot of ‘unlucky’ goals. not luck if we do it all the time and Ireland don’t
Snake
I agree, I would be delighted if WGS stayed on, but I doubt he will, what with the media cranking it up against him, and they have started already, I reckon he will walk.
As for the future, I honestly can’t see much of a change, there are good weans coming through, but unless they are allowed to play football and not the hammer throwing pish that is allowed, and indeed encouraged in scotland, they will fall by the wayside i’m afraid.
If the suits had ambition to dine at the top table and qualify for tourneys, they would rethink the game in scotland, and encourage flair players, we have them, but until the hun decide that football is the way to go, it will be the same old, same old.
Sort the referees, sort the problem
HH
It was very predictable that Scotland would put on a good performance and get a “result” against a “top” team like Poland last night.
It was predictable, even at the point that the draw was made that we would slip up against Georgia, who along with Malta, were the “makeweights” of the group.
Whether it is WGS, or someone else at the Helm for the next qualifying campaign, the Scotland manager that can understand this fact, and more importantly prevent the obvious slip on the banana skin, will be the one who will successfully navigate a qualifying group since nineteen canteen.
Hunderbirds sloppy post Gibralter not Malta 1998 not 19 canteen, apart from that pretty accurate
I hope he takes the job, it suits him and he has grown into it, but! There is a Wee cartel of Huns unemployed right now, apart from a couple of outsiders it’s a Hun seat, and we all know it, but as I said earlier, times are changing, let’s hope I’m right, if not? I’m still a Scott even though I tweeted my Irish friends well done last night, and I didn’t feel any anger or animosity to them either, but then again I’m not a Hun working for the Sun.
Lurking Huns GIRFUYs
There is no doubt that Scotland have played some fine football in this European campaign but the team dropped seven points in their last three matches while the ROI have achieved full points against Gibraltar, Georgia and Germany last night. I was not that hopeful of getting a result last night t as we were missing four of our best players in Coleman, Whelan, McClean – all current EPL footballers and Wilson. Some pundits however including Martin ONeill felt the Germans were vulnerable in defence.
The Germans did dominate the first half but did not really threaten the ROI goal. Martin tweaked a few positions at half time and brought on. Shane Long who is a superb goal poacher and it was a different ball game. The Republic has the best defensive record in the group and the only defeat has been ironically against Scotland. Perhaps it was payback time for Angela Merkel and the German bondholders.
Yesterday Isaid it was going to be 0:4 and I joked of course.
I understand it must be awful feeling lose goal in last minute of the game and bury one year hard work. The Scots played well and deserve huge respect.
Oot n aboot in a sunny , windy mid 20s Sciacca .
2 elderly gents having an espresso and a grappa in a wee sea front bar .
Gent # 1
” Watching the game tomorrow ? ”
Gent # 2.
” What game ? ”
Gent # 1
Azerbaijan v Italia . Qualifier for Euro 2016.
Gent # 2 .
“No -you can stuff that shit back up your arse .. I’ll wait for the real thing and watch Italia being eliminated by a team like Iceland or Slovakia “.
Italian media have clocked that the Ref is a guy called Collum . Cue them digging out film of Collum’s legendary performance @ Fenerbahce v Lazio and the then Lazio Manager -Vladimir Petkovic -Ranting about Collum being the worst Referee he had ever seen.
Well well
Lovely morning here in the Republic of Southern Eire
Panzer Divisions of the unbeatable German Forces Repelled.
Pesky Poles to be dealt with now
Oh Scotland if only you had hung on to your 2 1 lead last night we could have dragged you into the play offs by beating the poles and repaid you or Gary McKays winner against Bulgaria all those years ago.
Not to worry laddies,as the graffiti on Gasnevin Cemetery used to say ” EIROIMID ARIS”
What a great night of football last night. Watched the Scotland match, like Wales in the last campaign a world class player put the kibosh on our ambitions to get to a major tournament.
But a great game and two superb goals from Scotland, if Spain had scored those goals we’d be raving about them.
After the disappointment of Georgia it was always a big ask for Scotland, so in some ways I’m glad it’s over before the last game.
Well done Ireland, two teams qualified. No to bad for one nation!
WGS, he’ll stay, he loves Scotland, he loves Scottish Fitba’ and so do I.
Hail Hail
I doubt Scotland will ever improve as a team, unless there is a clear out at the top. Get in football people who will encourage the game to be played properly, cleanly and fairly. Overhaul the whole refereeing set-up, which might mean bringing in foreign refs for a season or two, and chase the folk who want Scottish to be run for a deid CLUB.
Let Scottish football flourish. Let the Scottish football establisment wither and die.
ZBYSZEK @ 10:33 AM,
Thank you, it was a great game, that’s what footballs about, well done Poland and you know, with a dedicated team and a World Class player you never know where this could end.
Good Luck
Hail Hail
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD @ 10:49 AM,
Well I agree with your post almost com
HEBCELT
Funny, I paused unsure, as I went to type Malta, but could not be bothered to google it. Also correct I thought it was 1998, but not totally sure, but was scared to get it wrong on here, with the predictable corrective posts coming my way so went with the lazy canteen option. As you say sloppy work. Keep on at me, it is the only way I can attempt to improve a little every day :-)))
Hail Hail, Love Celtic ⚽️
Bad luck Scotland. I wonder if Sir Walter will get the call?
Well done the Free State.
Even more well done Norn Irn.
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD @ 10:49 AM,
Well I agree with your post almost completely, the biggest disappointment for me was the Armageddon thing. Scotland qualifying would have put a dent in the Scottish Football needs a strong Rangers.
Our technical ability at this level at times is embarrassing, top quality professionals that can’t trap, control or make a simple pass to feet.
But they are quality Footballers, if the SFA, take off their blazers, roll up their sleeves and start progressing Scottish Football, we might start producing a generation of good Scottish Footballers, the kind of Footballers who were my Heros when I was a boy.
WGS must stay, it would be good if Sir Alex could get involved. Scotland is a great Footballing nation and we deserve better than the SPFL and SFA delivers.
———————————————-
WC I’m on an I phone, that’s a few times when I’m typing a comment, it randomly posts while typing and sends me to a betting app….
Hail Hail
Wee radio item re Blatter and Platini and their Favours for Votes policy . Journo underlining the point by referring to Gibraltar’s presence ( population 29,836 ) in the Qualification Round for Euro 2016 . Gibraltar’s record ? . Played 9 , lost 9 . Goals for 2 , Goals against 50 . Goal Difference -48 .
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1iAYhQsQhSY
For the lightweights doin sober October, lol, good tune mind yi :))
SoT
Who knows, Gibraltar may get that long awaited first win against a demoralised Scotland in their next game ;-)
Parkheadcumsalford
Another huge issue for me is the management in our leagues.
By and large the same people get the same jobs and so few of them actually get their teams to play real football.
For Scotland to improve it isn’t only the folk in Hampden and the refs who allow brutality to go unchecked every week, some other things need to change.
Developing teams who play the ball on the deck and producing players of skill is what is required for me.
Take Celtic to one side because we have always tried to play the game in ”the right way”.
John Hughes always tries to get his teams to play the ball on the deck and I like his enthusiasm for the game.
Jackie McNamara had his team playing some of the best football in Dundee since the 80s until the team were sold on.
Hamilton have a good philosophy.
Hearts were trying to play until they played us.
It’s not enough.
Ironically I think the up and coming young talent in Scotland could yield good things in the future.
Armstrong, GMS, Allan, Forrest,Henderson, Griffiths and now Christie coming into Celtic or coming out of our development squad could be a very good thing for club and country.
Add to that – Jack, Shinnie, Mclean, Pawlett, Walker, Souttar, Gauld, Robertson and Bain.
The talent is there. It needs to be harnessed.
Too many managers in Scotland prefer the big physical side of the game rather than the beautiful game for me.
Ironically WGS tried to get Scotland to play the right way and it didn’t work out whereas Ireland have banked much on defending, set pieces and the more physical side of the game – certainly as I saw them play. Their goal last night was just a long ball up the park – often frowned upon by the purists but it was effective. I don’t think their players are better than ours or any better positioned to develop because things will always come in cycles for small nations due to the numbers available.
Getting the most out of our players is more important and I think the coaching in Scotland for too long has been all about not being beaten or stopping the opposition from playing rather than trying to win and play.
Sorry, but can’t muster any deep sorrow in Scotland’s demise in qualifying for the Euros. Don’t get me wrong I’m as patriotic a Scot as the next man, unfortunately I remember our players being booed by the so called Tartan Army, Hun players being capped before better Celtic players eg McKinnon for Caesar the clogger Greig for anyone, Danny McGrain being played out of position to accommodate Jardine, I could go on.
Hail! Hail!
Phone conversation with a pal in London . Maryhill born and bred , Polish parents ..
Reminiscing re his old man taking him to a World Cup Qualifier at Hampden in 65 . Scotland 1 Poland 2 . Huge crowd . Scotland Manager was Jock Stein . Scotland 1 up at half time .-Billy McNeill scored . . Terrible defending saw Poland scoring twice in the last 5 minutes . Pal said he can still hear the silence that greeted both Polish goals.
Snake
Maybe a factor in the absence of the ‘beautiful’ game in Scotland is the state of the pitches on which we play.
How do you play the type of football you’d like to see on that Hamilton pitch at the weekend, where players were slipping all over the place, or on the type of pitches you get, especially in Winter, at places like Fir Park, Dingwall, even The National Stadium too at times?
Those pitches encourage physical play, and the use of the long ball, as WGS himself often admitted when explaining team selection for away league games.
new article posted.