The European Court of Justice (ECJ) this morning ruled that Fifa and Uefa acted illegally in blocking the proposed European Super League (ESL) in 2021. The ESL was a ham-fisted attempted cash grab by a group of ‘elite’ clubs who despite operating in the world’s most lucrative football cartels, wanted more money.
Uefa responded today with a statement saying they updated their rules in 2022 to reflect European law and assert the football pyramid, although they don’t explain how they accommodate the ECJs central point that this is a restriction on trade.
None of that matters now. What happens next may not be the ESL, but you can be sure football is about to change more radically than it has since the introduction of the offside rule. It is inconceivable that this ruling will not lead to the breakup of the national league structures in their present format.
The ESL was opposed by virtually all football fans for one reason only – it subverted the meritocratic principle that football was built on. A group of ‘elites’ would never be relegated and would forever be assured a wealthy financial dividend. This was unnecessarily greedy and betrayed a lack of understanding of what the game is all about. The next proposed iteration may or may not make the same mistake.
US Bank JPMorgan Chase were to be the source of ESL funding. Such funders now seem twee. Since then, LIV Golf, the Saudi Pro League and the pending award of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia (they are the only bidder) has seen a wealthier-still actor invest in the sport.
What does any of this mean for you and me? On Saturday, Liv Football means 10 men behind the ball for 90 minutes, as Livingston try to resist Celtic’s attempt to win the league and compete again in the Champions League. The domestic environment feels like a sub-par preparation for the European objective.
In European football, meritocracy only really exist in the abstract sense that teams from Budapest, Vienna, Prague or Glasgow can theoretically compete at any level. In practice, a series of national cartels exist to deny competitors access to lucrative TV markets. In the UK, it is not even a national cartel, we have a dominant England and Wales regional cartel that denies access to competition from clubs in Scotland.
You and me? We are enjoying an unprecedented period (generations) of domination in Scottish football and the breakup of national cartels threatens this. So potentially fewer wins against Livi. But can you think of any club in the world with more potential upsides from the breakup of the national cartels?
The game we know was shaped more by the son of a French grocer who never played, than Pele, Cruyff or Messi. He was an administrator with a plan, they named the World Cup trophy after him. Oh for an administrator with Jules Rimet’s vision now.
198 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- »
https://news.sky.com/story/primark-apologises-after-belfast-employee-warned-over-irish-christmas-jumper-13035689
So let’s fast forward 2 weeks.
Despite the horrendous backdrop of negativity and bad energy somehow we manage to get through the festive period with Celtic still 2 points ahead and having played a game more than our rivals.
2 tricky away games in that lot and a home game v our big rivals.
The same negative energy is floating around and the same level personal abuse directed at the club chairman who almost certainly was not the instigator of the current manager being at the club.
The current manager has a 4 year contract in place and this time he also does not have all his own team. Eg no Chris Davies (who was more instrumental than many realised and a really tough character). He is though clearly at the club at the behest of the current CEO who concluded the deal and the owner who presumably approved it.
It is likely the manager will be backed despite the farcical game playing of the past few months. Despite the rock bottom energy in the camp amongst players whose motivation seems almost nil vs prior year.
We will progress with a window where players who last year were stars and part of the solution will be devalued and seeking exits and players who were brought in and not given any chance will be traded. We do of course know the manager is no transfer window genius and we know January is tricky.
Why would our chairman bother. Surely not for the paltry financial rewards for a non exec chair. Surely not for the personal and family abuse taken for decisions which are not even of his making these days. Surely not for some kind of legacy ? He will already have presided over the most successful period in terms of trophies in our history against a cheating opponent for half of that time. His legacy like Fergus will come a few years after he leaves. Why would he stay ? Honestly I doubt the guy needs it.
Not sure who really would be bothered to do the job mind you.
awful huns BD
World football is in for the biggest change in it’s history after this judgement,, whether its for the better or not is the question.
It could take us out of this cheating to benefit one club wee football World that exists in Scotland , as I think it will force UEFA to look seriously at a European League of 3 or 4 divisions within a pyramid system.
Whether EPL teams would be open to join that set up is questionable.
The possibilities for change are limitless, both positive and negative.
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 21ST DECEMBER 2023 5:13 PM
ZIGGYDOC1 on 21ST DECEMBER 2023 4:44 PM
Clement is a amateur, slippy G started after game number one saying refs have been against the huns for years 😳
____
I think he’s a far sharper guy than Gerrard (not that it would be hard). He got out of jail very early with the Hearts game and the pattern of assistance. Probably can’t believe how it is here. Let’s burst his bubble next week.
Why would our chairman bother. Surely not for the paltry financial rewards for a non exec chair
Maybe the £17 million he’s already taken out the Club will get him by the winter….
!!BADA BING!! on 21ST DECEMBER 2023 6:01 PM
https://news.sky.com/story/primark-apologises-after-belfast-employee-warned-over-irish-christmas-jumper-13035689
_____
You can be sure that’s down to the individuals involved i.e. The gaffer or whoever was dishing out the warning. Probably not a fan of power sharing in N.I. at the moment 🤔
DD, PL, etc, etc, the names on the gold plated pension paying PLC board seats don`t matter a damn!
What matters is 58,000+ succulent lambs who lazily shamelessly sheepishly slavishly ensure that there will be no democratic processes `ever` deployed within the PLC board room which would make the executive operatives answerable to the mainstream turnstile fodder sector of investors in the club ie: season ticket holders.
Some will say that shareholdings will ensure executive democracy, what like the CST who proved that they can`t be trusted?
I would say show me the evidence of board members ever being held to account at a single AGM which didn`t have Brian Dempsey rattling the cages?
Sleekits will throw Robroyston at the mention of Dempsey`s name without factoring in that Robroyston would have served the club far better than Kerrydale street.
It wouldn`t have been the first time that the club had moved stadium would it?
Sleekits will continue with “Dempsey didn`t have the money…” which Dempsey proved he certainly did have when he went onto Scotsport and presented a bank account statement from The Bank of Ireland belonging to Brian Dempsey and John Keane for £7 million, £1 million from Keane £6 million from Dempsey, this was to challenge Fergus McCann`s sniping from the Celtic View`s centre pages because in 1999 Dempsey highlighted the dangers of Celtic`s future with at that time McCann`s departure time nearing with yet no finalisation of what would then happen to Celtic when McCann was to depart, out the side door as well…very telling!
At a period in 1999 Brian Dempsey was warning the fans that the club could be in danger because McCann`s word could not be trusted after McCann had already gone back on his word to Celtic fans by reneging on his promise to give the club back to the fans which almost 30 years layer – still hasn`t happened.
Is that Brian Dempsey`s fault or Fergus McCann`s?
PS `Audited` Balance sheets can be purchased doon the Barras for £20-ish and presented to the planted AGM sucklings with thur Bible`s sticking oot thur pockets with considerable ease…one would guess.
The Tims who are incapable of getting over themselves and the little bubbles that they live in will dispute all of this of course even though the evidence speaks for itself and that is that Celtic supporters are even further away from any control of Celtic than they were in 1994 and just think of all of the millions of ching ching £`s which have been ploughed into Celtic only to make the dodgy rich even richer!
PS Brian Dempsey challenged McCann, whilst holding up his and John Keane`s joint Bank Of Ireland statement with £7 million in the account so that it could be read on the screen, challenging McCann to a head to head exchange `live` on Scotsport, chaired by Jim Delahunt, so that Celtic fans could see who was telling the truth and who was taking the piss.
But as we`ve all seen recently on other issues on these pages, no matter how much evidence is presented, especially by the stabbed in the back excellence of, CANAMALAR, on Ukraine, Covid, Covid Vaxx, etc, etc.
KevJungle`s angle on the MSM suppressed INFO on the MSM`s misleading narrative about Brexit never how it would benefit working people always disaster this, disaster that, with the majority of Tims swallowing every media narrative sadly.
Brexit was racist etc, never a mention about the millions of African`s who are to this day, STILL COLONISED, by the EU`s leading mega mouth, France, yes that`s right, the French slave trade is rampant but being repelled by evil Russia lol this is beyond belief that Tims still believe the media.
KevJungle`s angle about the present day invasion of Ireland courtesy of the EU ffs!
KevJungle`s angle about Brexit no deal = immediate united Ireland without the need for a border poll because UK would have reneged on the peace deal agreed in the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Never mind the poster who pointed this out just let it digest, a huge number of Irish pissed off people want IREXIT and that number is going daily as well.
All of these 2,700 Celtic votes would have seen the ensured promises by a Jeremy Corbyn led UK Government, just think of the power that would have given Corbyn to drain the Labour Party swamp of planted warmongers etc, just 2,700 Timmy votes, voting for Corbyn as opposed to voting for Labour was the shrewd trick which Tims missed as they were too busy joining in with MSM and SNP smearing of Corbyn as unionist racist vermin, IRA Terrorist etc, none of it stuck so the establishment in their desperation to stop Corbyn, saw the establishment play the Zionist trick!
Dim Timmery can certainly cause some damage….but think how you could change that by admitting to yourself that you were wrong about Corbyn…nobody looking for witch hunt themed confessions…just confess to yourself that sometimes even you can be wrong…but next time you`ll do things differently… maybe…no witch hunting here looking for to shame people that`s what fake Liberals do…but sometines a word in the ear is needed so admit to yourself first then take it from there…division will lead to us all getting dead….think ffs!
SNP dumbing down the education curriculum for 15 turgid horrible years has led to Tims denying Corbyn the votes which went to the thoroughly disgusting Tim hating SNP.
These crucial votes would have given Mr Corbyn the mandate for a peaceful united Ireland solution and to FULLY recognise the state of Palestine, and outlaw billionaires, especially from football clubs, diminish UK ties with USA until acceptable changes were made in USA imperialism approaches, etc, etc….
These fingers in the ears shouting “na na na na” type of Tims have a lot to answer for but… as always it is never too late for theses types of Tims to redeem themselves…no public confession do it to your soul in private a soul which has been misled by MSM poison needs to be cared for better…good luck Tims.
HH
!!BADA BING!! on 21ST DECEMBER 2023 6:40 PM
Why would our chairman bother. Surely not for the paltry financial rewards for a non exec chair
Maybe the £17 million he’s already taken out the Club will get him by the winter….
*he NEVER took it out of the club, he’s no ronnie biggs, it was given to him by the big mhan fae the rebel county as part of his remuneration for keepin the club on the right fiscal path
If PL could have the same level of success as he has had,in the past, in the future,I would gladly pay another £17 million into his hipper.
Or anyone else’s who could deliver.You would have to be some kind of numbnuts not to.Then again,reading the posts on here most days,seems like there is plenty about.
SPEND THE MULLIONS,
HOW MANY,?
AWE THEM.
Certain we DO have the players to get us out of this hole, not so sure about Brendans’s way of playing, way too negative.
he goes on and on about aggressive attacking football , yet we see little evidence in play style.
Only December, we’ll be ok
KinGlUbO
See the Scrooge’s at our club have forced Fran Alonso hand ,not funding the girls team he s contemplation on leaving ,what I would like a lot of shareholders to do is ask why they the directors get all the freebies and that includes people like Rod Stewart and Billy Connolly yet they can’t funds for the girls team ,what a shower of bandits I would like to call them what I really think of them ,but I’ll leave it at that
TIMBHOY163 on 21ST DECEMBER 2023 7:22 PM
See the Scrooge’s at our club have forced Fran Alonso hand ,not funding the girls team he s contemplation on leaving ,what I would like a lot of shareholders to do is ask why they the directors get all the freebies and that includes people like Rod Stewart and Billy Connolly yet they can’t funds for the girls team ,what a shower of bandits I would like to call them what I really think of them ,but I’ll leave it at that
*mibbees just mibbees like Ange, and ,lot of expats on here, he just wants out of this 3rd world country, who knows but lets blame the club eh
T163- Alonso away to MLS
United we stand, divided , we fall
KINGLubO
Bada 7.29pm. Ref Fran Alonso
Blame the bogey man lol.
Are you sure about £17m. That sounds high to me.
Never was great on the numbers though !
Re Alonso seriously not a huge loss imo.
Evening all.
Super League must surely equal Super Ref’s !!!!!
Yours,
Hugh from Bonkle.
Bada Bing
Seriously though in his shoes honest question. Why bother putting with the crap from punters who really don’t understand what goes on and really do think as Timbhoy suggests.
Punters do really blame him for Green Brigade issues and Rodgers return etc. Crazy that anyone would be bothered to put up with that crap. Listening to the abuse week in and week out. Dsy in day out even.
Using ´Burnley78´ as a moniker doesn´t suggest someone with Celtic´s best interests at heart
I better GTF then
Burnley is Celtic daft like the rest of the posters on here…well the vast majority, because there is no doubt there are Huns on here EVERY day.
B78 – Tell him to GTF then.
If he thinks we are a bother to him.
D. :)
T88
Joe Bradley who wrote ‘Celtic Minded’ is a very good friend of mine fyi. Happy for you to give him a call and confirm that.
Latchford
My guess is I have probably stood in the jungle about 150 times. More than some and less than others. All through seasons from 76/7 to the centenary season (87/88 in case you are unaware) when I drove / flew up from London most weeks.
RimTim
I didn’t really ever recall seeing you on here after many Celtic wins but to be sure Burnley78 was a real low point for me in my Celtic supporting years. We had finished 5th with 36 points from 36 games the previous season. We beat Clyde in the Anglo Scottish Cup 1st round and then lost to second tier Burnley in the second round. Whilst Rangers weee beating PSV and Juventus in the first 2 rounds of the European Cup. 3 days before I dogged school to go down to Burnley (80 or so of us on a 54 seater bus) we had beaten the Huns 3-1 at home and with Big Billy back as manager we were full of optimism only to see it disintegrate in a rubbish night on and off the park at Turf Moor and then back at CP. It’s was the all time low for me, even worse than black Sunday or Raith at Ibrox. This made the ultimate triumph of winning the league 4-2 with 10 men only 9 months later on Monday 21st May (my last day of school) watching from the jungle about dead center on the halfway line even more sweet. I use Burnley 78 to remind me how bad times were and therefore how good that they are now. What I would also say is I wish the team today showed even 50% of the commitment and effort that pretty average bunch of 78/9 did to force their way to that title that season.
Hearing GB back on Saturday.
Hope it’s true.
D :)
B78- a bit of Gaslighting there,don’t think I’ve read anywhere that Lawwell has anything to do with the GB getting banned? I would say the majority of supporters want to see them toe the line ,not re Palestine issue,but pyros certain banners amongst other things,I hope it gets sorted,but I fear they will get 1 more chance and mess it up
David 66
Ref tell him to GTF
You say little else that’s constructive anyway.
Any thought why you are not doing his job ? If he is so bad and you are so clever. It certainly ain’t a privileged upbringing in his case. That is for sure.
Bada
Not gaslighting apologies if it comes across as such but there are many seem to see it as that in my circle. It may not be representative.
I 100% agree with you re the views on GB
Superbru Round 18 update
A week that saw the SPFL race close up at the top, also saw a close competition at the top of QNQS, in fact we have a triple tie at the top and 3 yellow caps awarded.
1= Billy Bhoy- 7.5 pts
1= Hopeful Hoops- 7.5
1= OneMalloy- 7.5
At the bottom, the points gap was tight too. Three posters managed zero points but, since they did not predict, there’s no surprise in that. So, from those who did predict, the posters whose selections were as good as Brendan’s last weekend were:-
1= Jobo Baldie (computer awards the wooden spoon to our MOTM pollster)- 1 pt
1= Gutenberg- 1 pt
3= maccargo, The Token Tim, McCaff and BelmontBrian63 (Mr. Consistency) – all on 1.5 pts
This leaves the picture on the overall leaderboard as :-
1.BC Milan- 106 pts
2. Leggy- 104.5 pts
3. Billy Bhoy- 104 pts
Our wooden spoon contenders are :-
1. Friesdorfer- 55.5 pts
2. Cosy Corner Bhoy- 56.5 pts
3. wee McCaff- 60 pts
With 3 sets of fixtures left to complete before the first set of prizes are due, I am looking for some input from Sentinel Celts, Celtic Quick News and La Quinta Brigada, to nominate one charity each to receive our money this Christmas. We raised £721 with our minimum £10 entry and as usual, we will give an initial half to charity and half to the prize pot (much of which gets donated to charity by winners anyway). So we will have £360 for the prizes (£100 between the 3 December winners and £260 between the 4 end-of-season winners). After the 30th December fixtures, we will award our half way leader- £50, 2nd place £30 and 3rd place £20 in return for their £10 stake. That will leave £260 for the end of season prizes (top 3 plus best single week score- currently held by Big Jimmy from week 2).
**** Important Announcement
Normally we pay out money to our nominated charity as it comes in but our previous chosen charity, Sean’s Trust has closed to donations this year, so I am asking permission from contributing site owners:-
BMCUWP and Mahe on Sentinel Celts
Paul67 on CQN
& the host of La Quinta Brigada
that each nominate one charity according to the preferences of their blog contributors and I will conduct a poll of the 67 members of our Superbru group to determine the preferred choice of our contributors as to where the £361 we have raised for charity should go. I will check in with each of our 3 sources above to see if this is OK with them and proceed from there. I hope to have 3 nominations within a week or so and hold the poll on the Superbru site (Banter section) in the run up to our match on 30th January.
Our next deadline for Superbru is Saturday 23rd December with 5 kick offs at 3 pm. Many thanks for your support. I will speak with the ever busy Celticrollercoaster to see if we can get a Last Man Standing competition going early in 2024 as this was the reason, we reduced fundraising on Superbru, so we could include other fundraising efforts within our groups.
Burnley78
Maybe your pal is a narcissist person who knows HH
Narcissistic 🤷♂️
I think we will need 2 strikers in if 4 of the front men are called up, and hope none get injured
We need to go back to the 4 2 3 1 formation
Fill the midfield and play 1 fast winger
Don’t know why we are playing 4 3 3 without the inverted wingers to add extra bodies in midfield
Other Celtic sites are saying the GB met club reps during the week to discuss situation.
2 game trial, Livi and the huns.
Philbhoy
That would be good.
O Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou, Romeo?
Amane for all seasons ?
One to Shakespearehead our midfield renaissance ?
We need all the help we can get this next 4 games.
Much as I hope Celtic FC will be part of the new CL format for 2024-25, and we really need to focus on achieving that, I will not be shedding any tears for UEFA or for FIFA after the decision by the Star Chamber. I’m not the only one on here to have described the CL as a cartel, based on and heavily weighted on 5 FAs (maybe the original 5WA) who share the gravy, and leave the other 50 FAs scrambling around and below the top table for the crumbs. And they had the nerve to talk about meritocracy, they would not know the meaning of the word, even if the word itself lacks merit. And look not further than the expansion of the Euros, to 24, and the WC to 48 to see the empire building on view, not to mention FIFAs 32 World Cup tournament next year, at least you knew where you were with the Empire Exhibition Trophy, and the European Cup, and you knew where to find them…….Celtic Park.
BURNLEY78
Indeed!
May give the team a lift.
Fanadpatriot
Not sure what kinda narcissist would enjoy the abuse and shite hurled at them from folk who have never walked in their shoes and often don’t even understand the difference between a non exec chairman and a ceo never mind any kind of business strategy. Folk who seem to just need someone to blame and shout at for their problems.
I am no psychologist though so I will leave that to your possible superior knowledge on this subject.
You can’t blame the club for everything. Possibly Fran Alonso was thinking about leaving for a long time and the Scottish budget was the tipping point.
I would imagine a personal tax burden of circa 70% tax would be a disincentive.
. Who really knows but I bet dosh was forefront in his decision making.