“The tax default and reporting rules are an integral part of maintaining a fair league competition”.
Neil Doncaster, SPFL chief executive, November 2014.
“A fair league competition”. Strong words. I wonder if Mr Doncaster is keen to apply his ethics as evenly when it comes to a team with more than a couple of thousand fans. Don’t bet on it.
I suggested last week you ignore the comments coming out of Hampden about there being little appetite to look into the enormous levels of cheating which we now know went on is our game for over a decade. There is very little appetite from those occupying executive positions at Hampden, but they will not decide what happens.
Ultimate authority at the SFA and SPFL lies with the clubs, and more than just Celtic are alarmed by what went on, and the apparent flippancy show towards it in recent days by those paid to protect the honesty and reputation of our game.
Instincts exist within any organisation to protect itself. We’ve seen this play out in the Church (against their own), the police (against their own), Fifa (against their own), so it should be no surprise that those who worked, and became friends with, some of the architects of Rangers EBT scandal had little appetite to open an investigation.
An SFA or SPFL commission could lead to the disciplining of two-term SFA president, Campbell Ogilvies, or Sir David Murray, men who have made friends in the game for decades.
It would inevitably lead to the examination of the Resolution 12 issue (how Rangers were granted a licence to compete in the Champions League in 2011 when they didn’t meet the criteria). And this one is current enough to involve many still active in their roles.
And then there is the weighty matter of dealing with the consequences of what went on in our sport for all those years.
The demand of an investigation into what went on sounds reasonable but you cannot look into something corrupt without consequences, and that’s where corrupt systems work against fair competition.
Rangers rigged the system, their practises are as clear-cut a case of Financial Doping as you will find. They were playing by different rules, different tax rules and different player registration rules.
They failed to disclose information which should have been disclosed, but could have incriminated them. Unlike Craig Whyte, who was banned from the game for his duplicities, the directors who embarked on this great subversion have never been called to account.
Nor will they unless voices are heard across Scottish football. Don’t lose focus on getting angry (not yet, anyway), right now, we need fans of other clubs to share our concerns and let their voices be heard. Winning allies is the first part of winning this debate, and that’s easier done by calmly making our point.
11 clubs suffered financial consequences of Rangers Financial Doping. Motherwell lost a minimum of £2.1m from not gaining access to European competition. How would they feel if they were a cyclist half a mile behind Lance Armstrong in every race? Would if be OK, as he didn’t get caught?
There’s a Christmas toy collection for Maryhill Foodbank at Wild Cabaret, THIS Saturday, 14 November, from midday to 4:30. Families who don’t have money for food don’t have money for Christmas toys. If you have something you can donate, drop it in. There’s mulled wine and mince pies on the go.
You’ll find Wild Cabaret at 18 Candleriggs (0141 552 6165).
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‘GG on 10TH NOVEMBER 2015 2:59 AM
Neil Lennon
And was there any follow up from Mr Doncaster.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes, read the first sentence in Paul67’s article above!
Barcelona are closer than ever to leaving La Liga.
The Catalan parliament has today voted to take the first steps towards independence in a “declaration of secession”.
They believe they will be free from Spain within 18 months.
And that means that Barca’s days in the Spanish top flight could be numbered.
In September, Javier Tebas, the head of La Liga, said: “They would not be able to play in La Liga because legislation would not allow it.”
So where will they go?
The Prime Minister of France seems to think they could head to Ligue 1.
“All things considered, Monaco play in the French League, so…”
The blog has got awfy sweary lately.
Still dark in Bishopton.
http://realbusiness.co.uk/article/32197-experts-split-on-hmrc-win-over-rangers-fc–but-agree-decision-impacts-those-operating-ebts
Good morning friends from a very wet and very windy and very yeuchy East Kilbride.
A wee overnight work related trip to Laaaandaaaan later so no EK weather report tomorrow morn ;-)
Gooood morning CQN
Anyone looking for a LG 55″ curved 4K ultra HD TVs – cause I know where you can get one :-)
Have the tax dodgers paid their tax yet ?
Will the league cup Semi’s be played at Hampdump as usual ?
If so let’s just take 5k tickets max, so the team gets support, leave the other 45k seats empty
Arrange with other 4 teams to join in
Send a clear message to FTSFA we’ve had enough of their underhand ( probably Masonic handshaking) ways
Oh Jobo, I’m on the red eye from Edinburgh tomorrow morning :-(((
Paul Lambert? GTF!!!!!!
Demoted?????????
Old Firm???????
Nice to finally be able to log on after weeks in the wilderness.
The MSM ‘nothing to see here’ solidarity is impressive and disgusting unequal measure.
Using my living, breathing litmus test that is my Dad I’m sure he’ll have noticed the many reports on Russian athletics and failed to see the non existent equivalents about the asterisk years.
Rwe. Like you Sir I wouldn’t touch these tainted titles with a barge pole. An empty space tells the bigger story most eloquently.
HH jamesgang
https://johnjamessite.wordpress.com/
So there are about 12 ebt recipients that Mark Daly didnt reveal in his programme.
I’ll bet there are referees politicians journalists agents etc.
Davy Murray cany be sleeping well.
I also don’t believe that he has any interest in tata steel.
I think he’s skint and all the stuff about his business dealings in the last few months are via jack Irvine. He’ll never get away from Irvine and his monthly invoice because he knows Irvine would destroy him.
His knighthood will be removed within a year.
Morning all.
Yet again wild, wet and windy down here. Hope there is some improvement. I don’t think it could get much worse, apart from maybe a lot colder.
Any attempt by the SMSM to confront the deid team’s follow followers with the reality of their situation? Nah, didn’t think so.
Just wondering out loud; could it be that the lack of reporting of the Court of Session verdict by the wider British media is that there are a lot of very powerful people down south who have been receiving or paying the ole EBTs. Maybe a lot of folk are feeling a tad discomfited besides those employed in Ibrox.
Mock horror in the voice of phil on radio scotlandabout the athletics doping what about financial cheating right under your nose do your job ffs
Boycott, when? Guys want to see thier team in the semisp
Is there any point in Celtic making noises about the cheating until we KNOW there will be no appeal?
Is this also the reason why Fan Groups have not united in making sure supporters` voices are heard?
JJ
FESS19
That’s the problem with a boycott. It isn’t one if people ignore it.
While personally I wouldn’t boycott Celtic,I agree with the call to boycott this semi-final.
But I doubt it is achievable.
Can I be the first to say I’m bhoycottin’ the ole bhoycott?
Sorry , blooming phone. Expect semis to covered by sky and bt. Buy your tickets BUT don’t take your seat until after kick off. This will be shown worldwide and people will ask whats this all about?
Fess19 on 10th November 2015 8:48 am
BBC Scotland has exclusive League Cup TV rights. One semi will be live on TV, the other will be highlights only
DONTBRATTBAKKINANGER
Parnell will be birling in his grave at that…
League Cup semi final attendances at Hampden are generally so low it looks like there’s a boycott every year.
BMCUWP- ach, Kitty will give him a cuddle and he’ll be sorted.
Good Morning from a bright(ish) North East Fife
After hearing the Radio Scotland sports report at 8.30 and their discussion of the athletics doping scandal, I think there’s quite a bit of cognitive dissonance in the air at the BBC studios.
I’m now changing back to Radio 6 – as i really like Shaun Keaveny.
I think Darren O’Dea is being set up as a target or hung out to dry – I also think India might not be far enough away for him to be safe from some.
The end of the drive as long as the gate is locked should be safe enough for Paul Lambert without him hurting himself, I think.
DONTBRATTBAKKINANGER
Aye,he’s easy pleased.
BIG NAN
Darren was always a hunskelper-unless played at right-back!
Nice to see one of our players with the balls God gave him. So to speak…
Pat Eddery RIP
Visiting Bayern Munich fans to Arsenal recently made their protests clear against Arsenal’s ticket prices boycotted the first 5 minutes of their CL match.
I am not sure whether a wholesale boycott of matches is the way to go as there are always fans who will go and support their team no matter what, but if fans groups were to boycott televised matches and arrive 14 minutes into the match (14 tainted titles/trophies), it may highlight fans anger at the EBT scandal.
Can there be any more ZOMBIE like actions than their “greatest player” laying a commerative wreath at bootom of staue to himself
Saint Stivs, 6:56 am
Tinfoil Graham has been getting all pally with that guy. Essentially he highlights the gulf between the first two hearings of tax experts and the third hearing with lawyers.
He gets bogged down in the deliberately complex application – the trust could technically ask for the money back at any time, so it’s a loan – as opposed to the common sense understanding that no matter how they dressed it up, it’s tax free earnings (disguised).
Corruption ..
Not much surprise in Sicily re the news that some of the Judges and some of the bureaucrats involved in the confiscation and eventual retail of Mafia property and businesses have been helping themselves to some of the proceeds..
Mid 20s sunny -way down south ..Bad night’s sleep in consequence of 2 Nightjars having a let’s see who can make the most noise competition..I much prefer the sound that owls make.
Ooooops
My 917am post was in reply to DHARMA BAM. Apols for sheer stupidity,I canny help it.
Are there any intelligent huns out there who can see beyond rampant self interest and realise that what they did was just plain wrong on so many levels?
.Boicottaggio ..
A significant number of Roma and Lazio Ultras boycotted last Sunday’s Roma Derby . Boycott was a protest re safety measures being implemented on the Curva Sud and the Curva Nord..
Not content with simply not attending the game some of the Ultra Ultras from both sides subcontracted the obligatory Derby violence to affilliated Ultras from London , Poland , Greece , Holland and Bulgaria.
Hi everyine if you don’t mind can you sign this please it’s from Henry Clarson who posts on here and can you pass it on to others who are on Twitter or in your contacts who don’t use the internet ?
Cheers everyone.
https://t.co/3ixzgKDFZ5 #StripTheTitles
My wee mums favourite jockey.
Went through a wee gambling phase many years ago and would put a wee bet on for my mum too if she felt like it.
She picked every single Pat Eddery mount that day for her placepot bet……cue some ribbing for her choices from myself and mate before we left to place the bets.
He rode the 1st 5 winners that day and was perhaps only denied a clean sweep when his final horse of the day got stuck in the stalls and also perhaps denied my wee mum a tidy sum and the chance to have the last laugh.
Guess she got it anyway :)