We’ve been trailing the Ukraine-Russia Joint League plans, which was due to commence early next year, since they were first mooted in 2012. Political will, met commercial money, and a football desire to put the merger of two large national leagues into the schedule.
Needless to say, these plans are off the agenda, although it’s easy to look back now and see why the political will was so forthcoming. Note to Westminster, if you want to indulge in a bit of togetherness, put your shoulder behind building a relevant nationwide sporting infrastructure.
Instead of a Joint League, what the football authorities in Russia, Ukraine and Zurich are left with is a bit of a mess. Crimean clubs, Sevastopli and Tavriya are midway through a season in the Ukrainian Premier League. Russian minister for Sport, Vitaly Mutko, said, “From the beginning of next season Sevastopol and Tavria wiil join the Russian Premier League”, which will expand to accommodate them.
He told Russian media he had received assurances from Fifa that they would accommodate the change, adding, “We want a friendly relationship with Ukraine and do not want to disrupt their current championship. When the season finishes in May we will be back in discussions to formulate the way forward.”
The Russian media report that Ukrainian FA are less interested in maintaining friendly relations with their eastern neighbours and have written to Fifa and Uefa asking them to ban Russian football if they take clubs from the Ukrainian FA without permission. This claim has not been mentioned in the Ukrainian press, or on the Ukraine FA website – despite this being cited as the source in Russia, so it cannot be verified.
Clubs moving between national associations is a common occurrence, happening every year somewhere in the world, but I’m unaware of it happening without the approval of both FAs. Notwithstanding that, there is zero chance Uefa or Fifa will block this transfer. Two member clubs are in a problematic situation, they have a league which wants to take them. Uefa will approve.
Conspiracy theorists everywhere were confounded this morning when one of Europe’s most connected clubs, Bayern Munich, were issued with a partial stadium closure for their home Champions League quarter final against Manchester United, after fans displayed an offensive banner against Arsenal in the last round. Homophobia was their offence of choice.
Seville – The Celtic Movement:
“After the game I asked a policeman the way to the station and he just pointed ahead…walked on to find myself in Porto Bus area…walked back – asked another Policeman and he pointed other way”.
Order here:
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FA are to allow synthetic pitches in next year’s cup. Way behind the SFA who allow synthetic teams.
bobby don’t you think hoopenany has a better ‘ring’ to it…………..count me in
Sincere condolences to GCT and his family.
Lymmbhoy- I believe your bro is a teacher, we have a mutual acquaintance who teaches at the same school.
Many happy returns to him and Lucy.
CHARLIEBHOY
Good point.
Bring a spray gun with you and see if ACGR lets you make the amendment!
I hope you will make it,bud. And I hope yer lad is up for it too.
I reckon Mark IV might be just a tad too young,but bring him along anyway.
He’ll make a fortune fae the empties!
Roy C
A wee song for the smoke filled holidays ;-)
http://youtu.be/gwOmYNvISnM
HH
Perhaps I am sawing sawdust, having not read back on the blog, but I must comment on the third goal(penalty) scored by Ronaldo. What a cheat that man is! He dragged his leg in order to make contact with the Barca defender and then went down in a clearly simulated manner. He should have been booked, not given a penalty. I know in the heat of the moment it is difficult for a ref to spot these things, but the book is already written on R’s antics. He should be publicly hung out to dry for his actions. Such a pity when he clearly has lots of talent.
His penalty came at a crucial time in the game and could, so easily, have won the game, dishonestly. I hope the Spanish press hammer him.
Rebus
Two years from today on 24 March 2016 Scotland will be celebrating its
first Independence Day
Tiny Tim,
With all due respect to your source. He is making a guess on an outcome . It’s his view , it’s not a fact one way or the other .
I don’t know what the chances are , Peter Lawell and Dermott Desmond don’t know either. So I’ll take your sources opinion as merely that , the view of one man .
What I can tell you is Celtic are very mindful of the overall welfare of Scottish Football . They will not pursue any solution that is beneficial to Celtic whilst detrimental to Scotland , and that’s not opinion :)
The club will investigate all opportunities within that criteria , what they won’t do is waste time on situations that have no chance of coming to fruition , and that’s not opinion either :)
Celtic have more chance of being admitted to the Russian league than they have of being welcomed to play in Engerland.
HH!!
From Henry Winter on Twitter
Billy Davies sacked. No sympathy. Charmless man. Hope #nffc fortunes lift now. Looking forward to going back there to cover games again
Rebus
The Spanish press won’t hammer him, although the Catalan press may well do , although they are too busy ,eulogizing Messi and Iniesta and putting the boot into Pepe , to bother just yet
Tiny Tim
As a poster who thinks that Celtic, and other clubs, will get access to a re-structured league set up, it may surprise you to hear that I am in agreement with almost everything your source says in evaluating the current situation.
The only point on which I would disagree is where he speculates about the unknown, i.e. the future, based on an estimate of what happened in the past.
I am sure we have had several knockbacks in our attempt to secure a more rewarding league set up for us to compete within. I am also sure that t would never be voted for at a time when the existing “Turkeys” in the league we sought to join, were aware that Christmas might be brought forward by such an act.
It will take a financial crisis or a legal challenge by powerful clubs with large debts to break up the antiquated structure of league football that was set up over 125 years ago. That is when opportunity meets the conditions for change.
Nobody who is aware of how volatile and fragile the existing order is, can put any realistic value on the chances of such crises coming about.
Nobody was predicting the outcome of the Bosman ruling till it arrived. Nobody was predicting the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rapid collapse of the communist bloc until the month before it all fell apart.
So, I cannot take seriously any actuarial estimate such as 1% within your lifetime.
The odds may be long or the odds may be short. The factors which govern any decision on the odds are largely unknown.
Remember, movement to an English League is just one of the options that needs to be considered. We can agree that there is little prospect of a quick move; any other forecast is mere speculation.
Tom English’s comment on Billy Davis was perfect
“A hard man to ignore – but worth the effort “
Barcabhoy/SFTB
You both make valid points.
I trust the opinion of the man .
TT
Rat-faced Hun given jotters by Sherwood FC. Lookout, Sally, start sweating.
goldstar10
Yes indeed.
A wee aside……….Mrs LB just returned from a trip home and I’m now in possession of the CQN Seville book…… fantastic work from everyone involved… Take a bow Bhoys.
Another wee aside…… Was speaking to Mrs T G on Skype the other day and she couldn’t speak highly enough of CQteN and everyone there (well apart from whoever spiked her coffee ;-)) her words.
HH
Billy Bhoy 05
13:08 on
24 March, 2014
Two years from today on 24 March 2016 Scotland will be celebrating its
first Independence Day
==
Sadly Billy was woken from his slumber to be faced with the stark bitter reality that the Scots had once again emphatically rejected the idea of a divorce from Englandshire.
I’ll eat my Kinks’ ‘Village green’ record if Celtic go to England. We aren’t needed or wanted. Why should we take the place of an English club? Smacks of the worst kind of cynical Capitalism. Money, money, money.
Bit by bit we are getting there..The Doom-mongers are disbelieved and seen for what they are. Fearties and Unionists
Let know one claim that where it’s the Yes or No canvassing it will make no difference to the way people will vote.
This is trash and the polls and the atmosphere confirm this. You can almost taste the Autumn Air of Freedom that will come in September
By John Curtice
THE No side is beginning to look like a campaign in trouble. In recent weeks, it has seized on many a company’s reservations about independence together with the latest figures on Scotland’s finances to warn us that leaving the UK would be bad for the nation’s economy.
All three unionist parties have made or renewed promises that in the event of a No vote the Scottish Parliament would be given more powers.
Meanwhile, Labour has been making a concerted effort to convince us that the Union offers the brighter hope for a fairer, more equal society.
Unfortunately for Alistair Darling and his team, none of these messages is getting through. Since our last poll four weeks ago, the proportion who think independence would be good for Scotland’s economy has increased by three points to 38 per cent. The proportion who think it would be bad is down three points to 43 per cent.
Pessimists now outnumber optimists by just five points. Last September the figure was 17 points.
The warnings from and about business are evidently either being ignored or disbelieved.
Voters are becoming increasingly convinced that an independent Scotland would be a more equal country. No less than 36 per cent are now of that view, up three points on February and no less than nine as compared with last September. Even those who voted Labour in 2011 are slightly more likely to think there would be less (27 per cent) than more inequality (22 per cent).
Meanwhile, although a quarter of voters fear pensions would be lower as a result of independence, the figure is no higher now than it was seven months ago.
Labour’s vision of the UK as a ‘sharing Union’ is evidently not one that comes readily to most voters’ minds.
Promises of more devolution have been thick in the air in the last fortnight. The former Labour Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, made a rare major speech on the subject, his Conservative successor, David Cameron, renewed his backing for the idea, while the final report of Labour’s Devolution Commission was published last Tuesday.
No less than 68 per cent of Scots agree that, in the event of a No vote, the Scottish Parliament should become primarily responsible for taxation and welfare. But just 39 per cent think Holyrood will actually be given more powers and responsibilities should Scotland vote No.
Even among those who want more powers, only just over two in five (42 per cent) believe the promises of more powers will be delivered. It is here perhaps that the unionists’ credibility gap is at its most striking.
The one piece of good news for the No side is that the vast and indeed increasing majority of No voters (81 per cent) are resolved to vote No even if by September they were to be convinced more devolution was not going to happen.
Even so, 10 per cent say they would switch to the Yes side, while another 10 per cent are not sure what they would do. Small though they might seem, these numbers could still be enough to tip the balance.
If all of the first group were to switch sides, together with half of the second, then bearing in mind, too, the inclination of more undecided voters to back Yes than to vote No, that would be sufficient to turn the referendum race into a virtual dead heat.
The lessons for the No side are clear. Frightening voters with messages of economic doom and gloom is not working.
• John Curtice is professor of politics at Strathclyde University
I just caught the highlights of the Ibrox club’s game vs Brechin. I saw their Number 4 jump into the crowd to celebrate their winning goal but the BBC match report does not list any bookings of Rangers players.
And, yes, I know the penalty not given was an even bigger injustice.
Let me make it clear.
I want us to make a move that would make EPL football a realistic option within 3 to 5 years if moving.
We will never fulfil our potential whilst we remain in the SPL.
TT
Since I seem to have discovered the art of posting, let me get something else off my chest. There have been lots of posts outlining the potential of this team and I agree there are many players that will probably improve with more game time as they settle into the team.
My main concern is an unease that we have not solved the striking problem. I honestly admit I did not like the signing of LG but he is scoring goals. I am just not convinced that Stokes and he will form an effective partnership in Europe. Stokes does not move the ball on quickly enough. His mazy dribbles usually go nowhere(just like Sammi!) but occasionally turn into something brilliant. LG needs someone who can lay the ball off to him quickly so he can test the goallie. I do not see this happening with these two.
In addition, how prolific is LG—he missed a couple of sitters on Saturday? If he is a prolific scorer, why did no big club try to sign him when he was with the declining Wolves?
In playing AS and LG we are giving up height in the attack, yet one of our strengths is the FBs playing crosses into the box. However, I think we shall see these two playing together for a long time, because the manager seems to favour them. Where does this leave Balde , Pukki, Watt and the Icelandic guy?
Maybe events will prove my concerns unfounded, on the other hand we only discover the error of our ways after an unsuccessful Champions League qualification.
Anyone else have these concerns?
Rebus
rebus67
I agree that Ronaldo was guilty of simulation, I also heard an EPL commentator congratulate a player at the weekend for staying on his feet, when he could have scored
and didn’t go down.
Unfortunately in El Classico, Neymar was also simulating, it’s a blight on the game even
at the highest level.
Billy Bhoy 05
And yet nobody is investing big bucks at the bookies, who stupidly continue to offer long and unchanged odds against a YES vote.
Surely, John Cutice has invested his next 5 years salaries on this sure-fire outcome.
Setting Free The Bears
And their winning goal was only “a little bit offside” – we can add this to a “Rangers penalty” as peculiar aspects of the Scottish game.
Tiny Tim @ 12.29 hrs,
Very disappointing news if correct . However advancement is never easy. If at first you don’t succeed then try, try and try again. The fight to join a league more befitting of our status must go on.
Very pertinent article Paul 67.
Double standards and hypocrisy are everywhere.
UEFA punish Bayern Munich for Homophobia, but allow Russia to remain in their umbrella. Hmmmmmm.
Let me categorically state Homophobia has no place in modern society. Racism has no place in modern society in fact all “isms” have no place in an ideal world.
Unfortunately we do not live in an ideal world so the education must go on, but let us not lose our humour and common sense.
Sectarianism is a blight on our society and on Russia / Ukraine’s and is possibly the worst of all as it can remain hidden for much of the time. But when it comes to the fore the consequences can be horrific.
Double Standards : While attending a family birthday last night one relative triumphantly acclaimed the reason his 16 year son was not there. ” He is not long in after spending the whole night and day with a young girl”. He would never in a month of Sundays speak about his 17 year old daughter like that. Fact.
Double Standards : Complaining about hidden agendas and demanding names and yet we castigate a third tier manager for similar.
Double Standards : Not willing to forgive Leigh Griffiths after his apology yet preaching tolerance for a former failed referee who spouted sectarian drivel.
Double standards : Wishing for more religious integration to bridge the divide then questioning the integrity and motives of certain poll bearers.
Double Standards : Signing songs we should not yet castigating others on the opposite fence for doing similar.
Do I criticise for double standards, not really it is human nature and we are all guilty to some extent. But at the same time maybe we should all be less judgemental as we follow and support Celtic in our own ways.
HH, Always in Celtic.
Bourne,
I agree Neymar has this tendency as well. Unless refs act on this, it will continue. As a fan, there are few things worse than seeing your team lose or draw a game because of these kinds of action.
Officialdom seems good at flagging issues but not putting systems in place to deal with them.
Rebus
Billy Davies sacked by Nottm Forest.
For the second time.
No?
As we speak he’s heading up to Pollok for a wee ‘sesh’ with his best bud Tommy Sheridan. Several local ‘lovelies’ on standby – allegedly, of course.
HH!!
Frank Ryan
Look at the evidence Frank….6 months ago we were so far behind the No Unionist Campaign. Now we need a swing, depending on the poll you read, anything between 3 and 6%.
The Bookies are getting it right as we have dropped from approx 9-1 to 3-1 against.
Macjay
Apologies for the time getting back to you but I had to go look up the definition of cretin. MWD slaps forheid with rather large sigh.
TD67’s online persona is cretinous to me. But that is only my opinion. I find him offensive and some of his statements extrememly stupid. But hey ho. He stands by everything he says without fear or favour.
Now take me out and shoot me for having an opinnion, stating it and standfing by what I believe in and say. FFS. The loonies are taking over the asylum right enough.
MWD
SFTB
You are violently pro unionist. Would you mind explaining why?
Micktt
Are u working today? Think maybe a couple pints later
Rebus67
Similar concerns but I structure them differently.
I think it’s amazing that we are as competitive as we are, given the standard of player we can attract.
When we attract or develop a player that proves fit for purpose and competitive at Euro level (Larsson, Boruc, McGeady, Wanyama, Hooper, Forster, Van Dijk and Forrest) we are under immediate pressure to sell them on at a profit and are invited to repeat the trick.
When we attract or develop a player who can compete but not excel at this level (Bobo Balde, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Izzaguire, Lustig or Ambrose) we are under less pressure to sell but also, unlikely to get to the next level with them. These players may help us tread water, which may be the best we can do until our economic circumstances change.
And then we have the players we bought who are not fit for purpose and we take a bath on them.
Who’d be a manager, eh?
“Very close to being offside” words used by Ewan Murray to describe a perfectly timed run and goal.
…Celtic goal, of course.
Roy C and L,
Last one from me tonight
http://youtu.be/6t1vaF50Ks0
HH
GN&GB
Billy Bhoy 05
“You are violently pro unionist.”
Erm, no I am not.
“Would you mind explaining why?”
No, I would not mind at all. it’s just that I am not what you called me.
Billy Bhoy 05
13:34 on
24 March, 2014
Frank Ryan
Look at the evidence Frank….6 months ago we were so far behind the No Unionist Campaign. Now we need a swing, depending on the poll you read, anything between 3 and 6%.
The Bookies are getting it right as we have dropped from approx 9-1 to 3-1 against.
==
Emm now the last poll i could be bothered with even looking at concerned the region where most if not all of utopian Scotlands’ unlimited wealth will be generated. Over 70% of citizens of the NE of Scotland said they will be voting a resounding NO.