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Corruption, police, government, Sydney Cup

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

No one in football likes losing.  When it happens, no one likes accepting the reality that they will lose again.  That’s football.  You and I didn’t want to lose the league in 2021.  Celtic were able to do something about it – within safe margins of risk and the law – and spent money to arrest the situation.

But what if safe margins of risk are not sufficient?  Do you jeopardise the club, sail close to the wind legally, lean on the government and police to get what you want?  We saw what happened when there was a power struggle at Newco, the police instigated what was eventually established as wrongful prosecutions, costing the taxpayer over £50m and counting.  We still see the blind eye the Scottish Government is turning to this scandal.

In Italy, the poster child of maleficence is at it again.  Juventus, who were relegated for match fixing in 2006, are back in trouble.  Their board resigned last night with questions hanging over the club’s recent financial statements.

The Turin club won nine league titles in a row before losing out in 2021 (I know!).  Instead of taking their medicine, they employed accounting practices which led to yesterday’s resignations.  Whatever plans were put in place failed.  Finances were already disastrous, the club made a loss of €254m last season, a figure that seems likely to be revised up.

Juventus are owned by the Agnelli family.  Andrea Agnelli, who was chairman until yesterday, is the great grandson of Gianni Agnelli, founder of Fiat.  His grandfather Edoardo bought the club in 1923 and made it one of Italy and Europe’s most successful.  The family have been remarkably successful in industrial, commercial and political life in Italy.  There is a great Sky documentary film on Gianni, “Agnelli”, worth catching.

Those of us who like our sport clean will celebrate yesterday’s news.  We must always be on our guard against the corrupt, who twist and bend the laws.

Speaking of the law, as we predicted earlier, Sydney Super Cup promoters, TEG Live and Left Field Live, have filed papers against Newco for £1.6m compensation for their withdrawal from the competition.  Newco, upset and humiliated that Celtic’s commercial team negotiated a package around twice as high as theirs, withdrew under fan pressure.  This not only denied them a nice payday, but they will also have to face down a fresh legal challenge, so soon after settling with Sports Direct and with Elite Group administrators on their case.

Newco’s termination apparently cited the lack of the phrase “Old Firm” in promotions for a game against Celtic.  Celtic and Newco jointly own commercial rights to the phrase, an agreement Celtic came to in order to give us a veto on its use.  Celtic, as they always do, vetoed any use of the term.  “Own it and kill it”, is the strategy.

You will still find some people who try to mislead fans that Celtic’s co-ownership here demonstrates the club’s affinity for the term.  Know who you are dealing with whenever you read this.

Maybe pick up on Newco’s new manager “Mick” tomorrow.  They could have done worse, not that we should be worried.

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  1. Saint Stivs on

    I have been to Morocco, it is in North Africa, the people I work with consider themselves Arabic Muslims, like all places there are local accepted prejudices and racism.

     

     

    If they win the world cup all of africa and arabia will probably be happy.

     

     

    ————————————————–

  4. An Tearmann on

    But what if safe margins of risk are not sufficient? Do you jeopardise the club, sail close to the wind legally, lean on the government and police to get what you want? We saw what happened when there was a power struggle at Newco, the police instigated what was eventually established as wrongful prosecutions, costing the taxpayer over £50m and counting. We still see the blind eye the Scottish Government is turning to this scandal.

     

     

    Polis- Are the Scottish Govt turning a blind eye?

     

    (My answer- what would they be doing that is so different Paul? I mean Scottish/British it doesn’t matter,the symbol of your union liquidated in 2012

     

    and your poorly associating that with ‘turning a blind eye,’ just like signing a Catholic had the eye turned.

     

     

    Tell me Paul was it Scottish or Uk company law that had its eye blinded over the two clubs 150 years? Save yourself the wee political sniders,and you are Paul,you don’t need it.Ask yourself why nothing was pursued previously….over the 150 years?

     

    The scottish/british govt will do whatever their persusion(unionist,not unionist) and kick it down the road in court terms,trying to point score Paul is your own sense of unelectable marketing getting an airing.

     

    Nowt to do with Celtic…not that our plc would comment anyway Paul.

     

     

    HH

  15. ‘GG on

    Just got in from a doc appointment to see CCV is playing.

     

    How has he done first half? What does this do to his market value?

  21. Saint Stivs on

    https://www.thirstybooks.com/bookshop/walfrid-a-life-of-faith-community-and-football

     

     

    BOOKSHOP WALFRID: A LIFE OF FAITH COMMUNITY AND FOOTBALL

     

     

     

    Walfrid: A Life of Faith Community and Football

     

    £20.00

     

     

    Andrew Kerins [Brother Walfrid] [1840 – 1915] was one of the most significant Irish immigrants to Scotland. He was an outstanding individual in relation to Catholic education and charity in Glasgow and a major contributor to the emergence of organised sport in Scotland in the late nineteenth century.

     

     

    He was but one individual, amongst countless thousands of victims, who survived the catastrophe of An Gorta Mor in Ireland, only to be forced to leave behind family, community and homeland in the hope of finding a better life overseas. Over one million others perished owing to the prevalence of starvation and disease during Ireland’s darkest period. Kerins left for Glasgow as a fifteen-year-old boy and the spectre of hunger, accompanied by a concern for the spiritual and physical well-being of others, are motifs which endured throughout his long and impactful life.

     

     

    Dr Michael Connolly’s research points up three major themes which motivated Walfrid’s actions in life with the Marist Brothers – namely, his Catholic faith, communitybased charitable action, alongside a close and enduring association with football, and Celtic FC in particular. He played a leading role in originally founding Celtic in order to support the impoverished Irish Catholic diaspora in Glasgow. Later in life he did the same work in London’s East End.

     

     

    ‘Managed to read this lovely book on long haul flights this week! Who knew that when my children were cheering on Glasgow’s legendary Celtic football team that the club’s foundational story was of an altogether different kind of heroism and one that richly deserves this scholarly telling. History has for too long overlooked the seminal role in Celtic’s narrative of Brother Walfrid, a humble Irish monk whose life was one of utterly unselfish but visionary service far from home. Michael Connolly in this beautifully told biography, makes Brother Walfrid visible again as he deserves to be. Congratulations and best wishes for its success. I loved the book!’

     

    Mary McAleese

     

     

    ‘An extraordinary book on an extraordinary man. The definitive story of Brother Walfrid. . . ’

     

    Hugh McDonald, journalist

     

     

    ‘I would like to congratulate Dr Michael Connolly for this excellent and definitive biography.’

     

    Peter Lawwell, Celtic Football Club

     

     

    ‘. . . a well-researched and fascinating account of Brother Walfrid’s life. ’

     

    Alison Healy, journalist and author

     

     

    ‘Michael Connolly’s research provides fascinating and important information on the life and work of a man who had a significant impact on the development of the city of Glasgow. . . the combination of his Irish heritage, Marist formation, passion for sport, and religious faith brought improvement to the lives of the poor children.’

     

    Brother Brendan Geary, F.M.S., PhD.,

     

    Provincial of the Marist Brothers, 2010 – 2019

     

     

    ‘Walfrid is the poignant, authoritative account of an Irish migrant who transformed society by his dedication and commitment to the poor. Dr Michael Connelly has provided a narrative that goes well beyond the Celtic story, with timeless thoughts for this age as well as of years past.

     

    Bart McGettrick

     

     

    ‘In this biography, Dr Michael Connolly explores Walfrid in the context of late Victorian Scottish life and in the process explains the reasons why Celtic, a football institution in Scotland as well as a socio-cultural Irish diasporic symbol, means so much to so many. This book adds to knowledge and understanding of charity, education, Catholicism, Irishness and football in modern Scotland and further afield.’

     

    Dr Joseph M Bradley University of Edinburgh

     

     

    ‘This is a story which requires telling and re-telling down the generations and Michael Connolly has made an outstanding contribution to that endeavour.’

     

    Jeanette Findlay, Chair, Coiste Cuimhneachain An Gorta Mòr

     

    (Famine Memorial Committee)

     

     

    ‘The book engages deeply with the masculine worlds of Catholic religious Brothers and football players but it also explores struggles to support Irish multigenerational immigrant communities with education and basic living needs.’

     

    Bronwen Walter Emerita Professor of Irish Diaspora Studies Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge

     

     

    ‘A charitable conscience and a caring work ethic are attributes that helped Brother Walfrid create one of the most powerful charitable sports organisations in the world. Michael Connolly’s fascinating account of his life will help deliver that mission globally.’

     

    Paul McStay, former Celtic and Scotland captain

  24. Parkheadcumsalford on

    As a wee aside, imo, Br Brendan Geary was the Marist Provincial when we celebrated our 125 year. He was born in Parkhead and his granny was one of those for whom Celtic were founded.

  35. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Watched large parts of that game.

     

     

    CCV absolutely strolled through it.

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