“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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To get away from them for a moment. I am sure more of us would hope to see the Jamesie moment from yesterday being used more often in the games to come, viz., getting to the bye line and cutting the ball across the face of the goal to one of our men running in on goal. It was done to perfection yesterday and it certainly beats a high ball aimed at the wee striker from the 18 yard line.
Rangers Issue Ultimatum to Football authorities to ‘move on’ from EBTs tax case
By Chris Mc Laughlin, Alisdair Lamont and Tom English
Rangers have issued a strongly worder ultimatum to Scottish football that they should move on from last week’s Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs) ruling for “the greater good of the game”.
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs won its appeal against the club’s former parent company’s use of a controversial tax scheme between 2001 and 2010.
The Scottish Professional Football League’s board has since discussed the Court of Session verdict.
“There is no need for further SPFL consideration,” the club ominously warned.
“They should be saying it is time for everyone to move on and work together for the greater good of the game. Scottish football has suffered enough.”
Questions have been asked about whether the scheme gave Rangers an unfair sporting advantage.
A previous league investigation it was categorically ruled that it did not, and that ruling is considered infallible by Rangers Football Club.
In February 2013, a £250,000 fine was imposed for non-disclosure of player payments during the EBTs period, in which Rangers won five titles.
“It is our irrevocable belief that this club’s history, including its many successes, is beyond debate,” added the statement from Ibrox.
“Rangers cannot countenance or accept any talk, attempts or actions designed to undermine what this club has achieved throughout its long history.
“Rangers has made it clear it wishes to reach out and work with all clubs to help revitalise Scottish football , which only we can and we are still prepared to do so, which has also suffered in recent years. There is much to be done and Rangers wants to be part of the way forward but if this continual nonsensical jealousy keeps darkening our door then we are considering not to help. Our game has to become more attractive to potential sponsors and partners if the finance levels required to keep the rest of Scottish football in business is to be generated but this can only be done if we present a coherent and united strategy. Therefore, a line must be drawn now if you wish to survive through these bleak times. “
From the JJ site
The EBT Decade
I read Keith Jackson’s article in the Daily Record today. As I have stated on several occasions, Mr Jackson is one of a select few journalists who is prepared to write articles that would not be approved by Level 5. Scottish journalists have long been influenced by ‘poachers turned gamekeepers’ who now ply their insidious trade in PR agencies. Journalists are as prone to indiscretions as those from other professions. When PR agents become aware of these indiscretions they can unduly influence journalists. As we have seen at The Herald Group, a commercial arrangement to promote season ticket sales will often be accompanied by a positive story on Rangers. This is no accident. Chris Jack’s output is marginally better than that of Derek Johnstone or Barry Ferguson. There is often little more than a cigarette paper between his views and their pro-Rangers articles, despite the fact that Chris Union Jack never actually played for Rangers. If you are looking for balanced reportage, I suggest you look elsewhere. I’m in no way recommending the Record. It is a shoddy red top rag that does not appeal to the ABC1 demographic which The Herald pursues.
Keith Jackson is a former Rangers player (under 14s) and his affection for our club is evident in many of his articles. His detractors suggest that he is influenced by Phil Mac Giolla Bhain. Mr Jackson makes no secret of the fact that he follows Phil Mac on Twitter. This practice of monitoring the Twitter feeds of others is now commonplace in journalism.
Mr Jackson provided a piece of information that was unknown to me. David Murray charged Rangers £500,000 per annum as their EBT consultant. What an outrage. Not only did he benefit with a £6.3m EBT of his own, he bought a book written by Paul Baxendale-Walker and then charged Rangers for the privilege of using his tax evading strategy.Would anyone be surprised if he paid these fees to himself via an EBT? In the decade in question he paid himself a minimum of £11.3m off the books.
Mr Jackson articulates a view that our criminal chairman would go ‘nuclear’ if any attempt was made to strip Rangers of 13/14 trophies from an era that is now being referred to as the EBT decade. He did not expand on what nuclear options were available to the individual on licence for Contempt of Court charges. How this could play out is that the SPFL will establish a new commission. As I revealed yesterday, four of the participants in the SPFL board argued robustly for this option. Given that some members have threatened to resign if no further review is instigated, I am persuaded that this is the most likely course of events.
Let’s assume that there is no artifice by Campbell Ogilvie’s former colleagues at the SFA and that those with a self-preservation agenda do not pervert the findings of this commission. If they arrived at a conclusion of title stripping, Rangers would appeal to the SFA. As we have seen with the ‘fit and proper’ decision on King, four existing members of their board of seven will do everything in their power to protect Rangers.The appeal would be upheld and the commission would be told to look at other sanctions that do not include title stripping. You would have to be very naive to believe that the SFA are not subservient to the interests of Rangers.
It will be the perfect fudged compromise. A review that adds legitimacy to the SPFL board and assuages the consensus for title stripping, followed by an SFA veto.
A cynic might suggest that the SPFL and the SFA would engineer this outcome as their default position should the commission ‘go native.’
Just catching up from yesterday.
A couple of hours before kick off yesterday, a poster warned that the ever ready to be offended would be on full alert during the pre match Remembrance Sunday minutes silence.
I couldn’t give monkey’s how high mikes were turned up, it is unforgivable that some numpties, for numpties they were, gave the media an opportunity to have a go a Celtic.
I am no poppy punter, however I do respect other people’s beliefs.
The numpties I refer to would be the first to proclaim their being aggrieved because no one respects them.
Our semi will probably be on the Sunday as sevco, if they are till around, are at home tae fawirk on the Saturday
Similarities between Track and Field cheating involving Russia and tax cheating involving Rangers(il) astounding.
Latest pronouncement from BBC journo
“There is no point in having procedures that are fit for purpose if the people who administer them are corrupt”.
Campbell, Campbell come out, come out wherever you are.
Hideandseekcsc
Just read the Newco statement. It’s just about perfect.
They have legitimised the title stripping question by offering an opinion on it. Everyone else is now clear to examine the same question. This gives the issue a focal point.
I’ve spoken to Celtic over the years when they have an urge to make a statement but hold back from it as they would only become a lightening rod for the inevitable reaction.
I’d bet money Newco have been inundated with demands for a robust statement to defend titles Won on the Field. Silence would have been interpreted as coalescence with the way the tide is moving, but they should have held their fire.
Grandstanding gives them a 20 minute fix with the support but now lots of people will be asking the question, “Why should they get to decide if a disciplinary matter should not be investigated?”
That’s now the question.
I hinted at this on Saturday but if an internal investigation process proves that the SFA were in any way complicit then it would open the door for customers and ex players to sue. Never mind teams domestic and European teams. Everything will need to be pinned on the company in liquidation..
SO THAT IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. THE SFA COULD BE BANKRUPTED. SOMETHING CELTIC PLC DOES NOT WANT UNLESS THEY HAVE AN ESCAPE ROUTE ASSURED.
A COVER UP IS ON THE WAY.
HH
O.G.RAFFERTY on 9TH NOVEMBER 2015 2:21 PM
Scottish football has suffered enough.
They really did write that.
Wow
In THEIR arrogance which has been nurtured for years by the SFA and the media, THEY honestly believe that THEY and THEY alone are Scottish Football.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/doncaster-on-maintaining-a-fair-league-competition/comment-page-3/#comment-2715803
Awe_Naw…,
Trick being, enough supporters get together and take out a class action there is nothing the member clubs could do about it.
The only way justice will be done regards the cheating . Is if the whole thing is investigated by an outside independent body not of the SPFA SPL or Sevco,s choosing . Ala LNS. . And it must be done Asap before they get the time to collaborate with there friends . Very interested to follow the the lengths the athletics administrators are going to to clean up their sport . Without fear or favour . Same with cycling same with snooker . But it won’t happen in this case , in this country , until it s taken out of their hands totally . As we all know this mob can’t do anything honestly .
AWE_NAW_NO_ANNONI_OAN_ANAW_NOO on 9TH NOVEMBER 2015 3:47 PM
I hinted at this on Saturday but if an internal investigation process proves that the SFA were in any way complicit then it would open the door for customers and ex players to sue. Never mind teams domestic and European teams. Everything will need to be pinned on the company in liquidation..
SO THAT IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. THE SFA COULD BE BANKRUPTED. SOMETHING CELTIC PLC DOES NOT WANT UNLESS THEY HAVE AN ESCAPE ROUTE ASSURED.
A COVER UP IS ON THE WAY.
Will the SFA not be insured against being sued.
If not, Is’t bankruptcy a tried and trusted route out of financial difficulty.
HH
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/doncaster-on-maintaining-a-fair-league-competition/comment-page-4/#comments
jimtim on 9th November 2015 3:53 pm
But it won’t happen in this case , in this country , until it s taken out of their hands totally . As we all know this mob can’t do anything honestly .
As I have posted several times.
It all came apart when THEIR preferential banking arrangements fell into English hands.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/doncaster-on-maintaining-a-fair-league-competition/comment-page-4/#comment-2715811
Attempting to take the titles of Sevco legitimises their stolen history. That is why I suggested asterisks for the dead club and no complaints about the 5 stars Sevco uses EVER it is also a reminder and history for the rest of time.
i hope i’m correct here in saying that “Most” members here are stating they want an “Independant inquiry” into the cheating and underhanded payments made to the deceased club.
Question i have is: where are you going to find these “Independant people” in the country you live in?
Strange outbreak of commonsense from an Ulster Unionist commenting on the Ulster Rugby team not wearing a poppy yesterday –
“Doug Beattie, an Ulster Unionist councillor and former army captain, said he believed remembrance was a “personal thing”.
“The Ulster Rugby team had a remembrance service on that day, they had a minute’s silence before the match and everybody is complaining about the symbolism of wearing a poppy, well I just don’t get it,” he added.
“I don’t like the word poppy fascism or poppy Stalinism, there are people who are passionate about the poppy and remembrance and me and Robert have got more in common than we don’t, but on this issue I feel that people should wear the poppy if they want to wear the poppy if they don’t then they should not.
“I would rather stand beside somebody who is wearing it for a reason than somebody who is wearing it because somebody has told them if you don’t you are unpatriotic.””
The FFin’ statement:
“I like it. Says grow up and get on with it. But also says if you keep on this route we won’t stand for it.”
——
“At the moment it is all that needs to be said. They know if they pursue their nonsense that [Sevco] fans and the club will mobilise against Scottish Football and give them a fight that they will never forget.”
——
“The statement makes it clear that we will not tolerate any moves to strip titles won fairly on the field of play. It also offers an olive branch. I think the balance is just about right.”
——
“I have no doubt that the SFA/SPFL have been told behind doors that if they do try anything then all bets are of and it is better to move forward than try and go back.
We have a shedload sitting in the fighting fund read to go for this scenario, the club knows it, we know it and they know we will fight this to the bitter end.
Perfect statement for me”
——
“Not bad subtle, [Sevco] are thinking of the game in general and are moving on if other parties want to once again drag the game into the gutter it,s their fault, [Sevco] are have nothing to answer for and will not lower themselves to take part in the hatefest.”
——
” ‘Scottish football has suffered enough’
More like we suffered enough!”
——
“We are Scottish football.”
——
” it’s the opening salvo to try and defuse the nonsense that has started since the last anouncement. We are bating the SPFL and they now need to respond. Should anything escalate from this, then I’m pretty sure the tone will not be as conciliatory.”
——
“I think it says exactly what we think but at the same time their is a veiled threat”
——
“Now, …. that is not a logical argument given that it must mean all and any scheme where salary sacrifice is made for tax benefit would suffer the same ‘common sense’ incursion of tax liability…. Childcare vouchers as an example are surely a similar thing.”
——
“It’s like someone smoking a cigarette in a restaurant 20 years ago and being held to account for it now….This is nothing but a bigoted attack on our club by all concerned.”
——
“Threaten them with Force Majeure”
Force ma jobby mair like
The SFA license issued to the Oldco is now defunct I thought, so the license issued to the Newco was a new licence. So would any appeal or attempt to challenge any sanctions relating to the EBT’s have to come from the Oldco? Would Craig Whyte have to do it?
Awe_Naw…,
Originally I thought similar, no need for tainted titles, simply asterisks to show the world cheats got their goal.
Now, naw, everyone who was defeated by the cheats should be awarded their rightful prize, asterisks are not a punishment, they don’t get the award and neither does anyone else, no good enough, stripped and rewarded to the rightful winners is the only way justice can be served.
16 in a row says more than any asterisk interrupted run.
Moyes sacked. I put this on at the end of the last post after the new article klaxon had gone off.
Davie Moyes won promotion with Preston from league 2 to league 1. He then lost the play off in league 1, 3-0, to Bolton and lost out on successive promotions. The following season was relative consolidation and he went to Everton having won under 50% of his total games in charge of Preston.
In over 11 years at Everton he won 42% of the games in charge. Given the size of the club and the competition faced, each person will have their own opinion on how successful that record is. He avoided relegation with Everton by a whisker in his second season. In his 3rd season he took Everton to a CL spot where they lost out in the Qualifier to Villarreal, going on to finish 11th in the league.
He went on then to finish either 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th in the remaining 8 years of his time there, accumulating no more than handful of European fixtures in the 3 other years of that rein in which Everton qualified to play in Europe.
A 53% win rate at Man U got him the sack in a role that was always going to be a challenge given the predecessor but a 28% win rate to date in Span sees him teetering on the edge.
Davie Moyes seems a decent bloke to me, he found a niche in Everton where relative success is afforded patience and fallow periods. His siege mentality and steel won him friends and admirers, I’d suggest more than his actual managerial record.
He has no trophies to his name at all beyond the Preston NE League 2 title 15 years ago.
He is perpetually mooted as a candidate for the Celtic job. We have recruited a young manager with no real European experience and none at a Club the size of Celtic. The league title and one domestic trophy (rather than a treble – you cannot legislate for events such as the ICT semi) should buy him the time to learn and develop. The alternative is to recruit a manager with a track record of success at a big club and perennially in Europe, and we are not able to compete in that market. And in any case, Moyes isn’t in that category.
QUONNO on 9TH NOVEMBER 2015 3:42 PM
Agree with every word written. Your still mental though :-)))
Ssn going ballistic with the Russian doping allegations less than a week after saying very little if anything about the ebt verdict
with them on the rack firmly palpate to reach the single best end
Canamalar,
not so easy what about prize money reallocation, what about the loss of kudos and career path due to not finishing first or higher ? and repeat customers (i.e ST renewals), European qualification money, Is there any instances where the team that came in third got more points taken off them by the huns than we did ? they might have an argument that they should be given the title… or that they could not hold onto the player due to hun EBT inducement ?
Not that easy.
HH
They need to be told, look you’re a new club and this has got nothing to do with you. Someone in authority needs to step up and spell it out for them. But unfortunately I cant see anyone being brave enough to do that.
Honestly bhoys if we want the other clubs to positively take part in exposing the SFA then they are not going to do it so that we can hunnishly proclaim 16 in a row.
HH
Shortest and simplest solution is to strip them of the leagues and cups, no need to award them to others.
That’ll be Alex Thomson firing all guns. Blazing he is. Blazing:
http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/rangers-cheated-football-fraudulent-silverware/10066
Anytime I hear a sevconian say “For the sake of Scottish football…” I immediately translate it for them: “Because you are selfish, triumphalist illegitimates who want to lord it over us all,”
I don’t think they really do humour but after that club statement I might have to rethink that.
parodyclubCSC
CQN Corner Stats 2015/2016 (Europe)
Games: 10
Goals/Corners For: 6/54
Goals/Corners Against: 4/47
CQN Corner Stats 2015/2016 (Domestic)
Games: 15
Goals/Corners For: 2/120
Goals/Corners Against: 1/51
Alex Thompson Blog
http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/rangers-cheated-football-fraudulent-silverware/10066
have a great night Celts :-)
HH
Isn’t it strange that ‘Mr Black’s’ words were not widely reported in the SMSM; we know it wasn’t a level playing field, Scottish football is waking up to it and ‘Mr Black,’ who maybe connected to MIM, admits it.
plainandsimplecheatingCSC
Good evening friends. Still bucketting doon…
Awe_Naw…,
Use the rules, every game the hun cheated 3 points is a 3-0 to the opposition that sorts out the league fixtures. 16 in a row :)
Cup competitions are much more difficult but it can only be judged on the finals the cheated their ways to, else replay the competitions not a starter however every team who were cheated in a cup competition should be recompensed by a fixed agreed sum by the SFA who were/are responsible for compliance, lets sat £10K a game.
Now clubs like Livingston, Gretna, Dundee who have suffered financially during those years due to the malfeasance of the SFA should be offered more or special mention due to the harm done to their clubs.
As for the 16 in a row, why should we be careful demanding justice ?
I expect there would be a majority happy for Celtic to get those titles or at least unlikely to give a monkeys as a GIRFUY to them that would claim to be the most successful club in the world.
Oops
Or even a point
Paul/ WC
The site’s stalling repeatedly with long scripts, this one the latest:
Script: http://cdn.doubleverify.com/avs484.js:44