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.
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King Kenny didny know whit a non executive director was; an he is wan.
Burnley78
Just asking your opinion ,no need to get uppity.
No way a pleb like me would have superior knowledge to you.
Enjoy the game on Saturday and a Merry Christmas to you and yours HH
Hope its true………..
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1IPKblR7dB/?fbclid=IwAR3HBeZJeCgk6v4GmcUUHnAGzJggMdcH2G5xC6aHdPiwbyb6Cgu4KIxIkXc
TONTINE TIM on 21ST DECEMBER 2023 5:28 PM
AN TEARMANN on 21ST DECEMBER 2023 12:34 PM
Trad88 Siempre
Break down his points, break down his argument from its source to the way he expresses it, I would suggest he is totally comfortable viewing Celtic his way, as I am sure you are yours, may not agree with what be says, but respect his right to say it, that’s all I am saying
===========================
AT-may not agree with what he aays but respect his right to say it,Thats why i was advising Trad88 to breakdown Burnley78 points,its easy to go for the man but arguing/debating over points is the synergy which drives a d directs Celtic TonT.
TonTine-*well having been a blue collar and a white collar employee who has been down at the coal face plus sat at the top table of a couple of the largest corporations of their kind I can see where he’s comin from, might NOT have agreed with him almost 40 year ago but do now and its all about keepin the club solvent.
AT – i can see where he is coming from and from the same perspective as yourself,my focus here being Celtic .Club solvency and continuity was pivotal in 94,it was in the deficit years of 04 onwards from which we have been self funding,enabling us to cope with a banking crisis,the death,liquidation and ending of our near neighbours,covid and living next door to the richest football league in the world
Tontine-Most, if not all, successful businesses have a 25 year plan which is normally visited every 5 years unless something drastic like 9/11 or Covid occurs, and I can say this without any fear of contradiction they all carry out Cost Business Analysis aka CBA before taking on any large venture and CFC are no different.
AT- well i hope they are working hard as this morning there dropped onto their desk a eadical rethink of europe football that with 14 games in season1(and room for expansion) could alter the nexus of our budgeting strategy and from there our club as a whole
Tontine-Plus, one of the most important pieces of information that I was given after swappin hats was always make sure your direct report is kept in the loop to what is going on, as he usually is doing the same all the way to the top, as everyone, no matter how high up the chain they go, has to report to someone and in our clubs case DD has to the shareholders and we still have that power to enforce that change but we have been so cosy in the last 20 years or so, where is the “always look on the bright side of life” and “we are Celtic supporters faithful through and through” spirit, instead all we get now is sack the board etc.
AT- well i hope if european reorganisation occurs we are there and that it make DD more proactive with his shareholding,At the moment the way voting rights occur if a share is not fully updated it defaults to board,hence DD has a majority holding(40+%) not in overall shareholding(100%) but a majority in the 78% of active shares,there are 22% of shares in frames/above fridges/Celtic folks walls which are not updated and default to board by the rules if not updated annually.
Tontine-Tae paraphrase Mrs TT’s oul auntie “be careful what you wish for”
AT -i dont wish for anything other than DD to become more proactive in our club,maybe a bit more dynamic at board level and leading our club forward as a major shareholder should do,Peter Lawwell is the paid lackey doing his bidding as you have said many a time,I know him as a tim and best footballer in my primary school,i never crossed his path professionally as i made for the square mile in London,i recognise his job which there can be no hiding place,well if the PLC had another name making plane parts nobody would give a hoot.alas its our Celtic and our heart always has a bit of Celtic in it.
I have no need to watch out Tontine,i wish for a better Celtic,always,doin what we have done since we left the hall in sep1887 and that is to try get a little better.
God bless the Bunnet
HH
you know it makes sense , shouldn’t have banned in the first place.
Mjallby on a Q&A with ACSIOM guys the other day ,asked about Lagerbielke, he said nowhere near good enough for Celtic
Fanadpatriot
Apologies. Not meant. Just a view. Genuinely not an expert on narcissism ! Or any of that stuff.
We should be paying a retainer to the likes of Mjallby,Lubo etc to scout for us…..oh wait we have the Boy Wonder…
Bada
Curious that the Swedish coach has a different view to Mjalby.
Greenpinata
Is Tax your new “nip”
Thought a labour(whatever tbat .means nowadays) party member would back redistributing wealth from rich to poor.
We will await the ‘tax credit’ falseness intro’d by Broon of the manse,after aligning to Thatchers policies on election last time elected.Pity they shat oot of taxing the rich at source.
HH
:-))))
https://x.com/OfficialParmo/status/1737914262322872404?t=CmWBLMaX-LjpS-3o1KBdPw&s=08
HH
AN TEARMANN on 21ST DECEMBER 2023 12:34 PM
Trad88 Siempre
I have no need to watch out Tontine,i wish for a better Celtic,always,doin what we have done since we left the hall in sep1887 and that is to try get a little better.
God bless the Bunnet
*thanks for all that and I echo it all especially the last piece about our wee saviour
KevJ
You should write a christmas pantomine,put tbat vivid imagination to use.You may have to limit yir white supremacist deliverance banjo stuff,
Refugees are welcome
Burnley’s finally onto something. You DO have to question Lawwell’s motives. What IS in it for him?
Let me guess – his selfless love for Celtic and patrician concern for its prole supporters?
Oh ma sides 😂😂😂.
Keep them coming. Some suckers are still buying. 👍
TontineTim
He is pivotal in resetting Celtic,building a base from which we have had all in around 2 decades of success to follow,but we meep working.
Fergus letter to the old board in 1993 is the stuff of legend.
HH
HH
Burnley – fair play re The Jungle 👍
AT,
You have got the wrong end of the stick Not once have I commented on the pros or cons of the budget. Just commentating on the potential affect to our club and its high paid employees.
As for Fran Alonso, it’s as viable a reason for leaving as any other hypothetical reason given on here.
HH.
Scottish budget set.
“Difficult decisions”
“Tough choices”
Strangely, saving money by reducing the number of list MSPs (that 43% who the electorate don’t specifically vote for by name) did not seem to be considered.
so seems that ceasefires are okay now ?
cameron, starmer and now the PLC ?
will it only be for xmas ?
Peterlatchfordsbelly,
Just because others may hold a different opinion from you doesn’t mean they are “suckers”.
D9Comedy
All opinions have equal validity independent of the facts. Got it. 👍
more power to mick napier…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyaA9MDTHKk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmnVZz2l_zQ
Peterlatchfordsbelly,
In that case there would be no opinion because “facts” would trump any arguement. You know that is not the case, Trump comes out with “facts”, Boris came out with “facts”, and you have come out with your “facts”. The problem is that when people disagree with your “facts” you call them suckers, so I’m not sure you do get it 👍
Kinda glad they tomorrow we get closer to talking about the actual football.
I do hope our manager really has used this week well working with the team. I think it is the first full week we have had to prep for a league game.
One thing about Brendan mark 2 which I think is missing badly this time is a Chris Davies type number 2. His contribution was not as obvious to many but those close to it seem to really have held him in high regard. This time around he inherited the coaches which is fine but having your own 2nd in command may have suited him more as Brendan is clearly changing how we play vs how these coaches had played and coached under Ange.
Burnley78 keep it going, we need to hear the sensible voice on all things Celtic. What an era we are living, decades of dominance on and off the park, a thankless feat for our custodians.The next two games at Celtic Park will determine the title in my opinion. No way the SFA are letting us win it if the buns put their snouts in front. My kiwi daughter arrived in Edinburgh today from Belgium. She phoned me to ask about the tickets for the Livy game. My son in law has never seen Celtic and he is so excited about going to paradise. Hopefully it will not be just his positive energy to lift the team tomorrow. Hope the hoops turn it on for my Ghirl. Hail Hail.
Respect to Usman Khawaja for his support for Palestine message in the first test this week. Crazy he is fined for it though.
Greenpinata.
No Gp,got the correct end of the stick
Celtic in a tax context are a company that are a football club that you and i know n love.
They operate out of Scotland ergo under the tax laws of that country,thereby commenting on tbe budget proposal forwarded a few days back appears an obvious nip,You and i have many a spat i have never known you to comment on tax,and the sub question on redistributinv wealth from rich to poor stands.
Fran is off to the US,to manage in a country that attracted the England womans manager.i doubt Celtic could match the package of benefits offered inthe US,that is viable,best luck to him,hope the wimmin get a similar calibre in.
HH
https://thecelticstar.com/latest-green-brigade-rumour-quashed-by-celtic-the-celtic-star-can-confirm/
https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/green-brigade-raise-thousands-palestinian-28328688
burnley78
Funnily enough the guy that kinda remains of Chris Davies, now at Spurs, (which must have hit Brendan’s ego hard) is whole lot closer to home. Leon Smith, Head Coach to the GB Tennis Team, and not only a Glasgow boy, but a Glasgow Bhoy, told everyone at the US Open in September he was gutted that Ange had jumped ship to London. A graduate of Hutchisons Grammar, and a professional Tennis Coach since he was eighteen. Led the GB to a Davis Cup Victory as Team Captain in 2015, including defeating the USA just across the London Road at the Emirates Arena en route to the final. A top top professional. Don’t know if he would improve us out there on the pitch, but he certainly would improve us out there on the courts!
Back to Basics
Scottish budget set.
“Difficult decisions”
“Tough choices”
Strangely, saving money by reducing the number of list MSPs (that 43% who the electorate don’t specifically vote for by name) did not seem to be considered.
=====================
It would be better if the UK parliament ceded to proportional representation B2B.
Ending the 1st past post system,which leaves the majority of votes without a say leading to disgruntlement witb our so called democracy,bit like we are going thro at moment.
In Scotland our parliament forces parties to work together,all parties exc tories have done this in power,its more responsive to all who vote.
HH
Statemenf from Bayern on souperleage
https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2023/12/statement-from-jan-christian-dreesen-on-the-judgement-of-the-european-court-of-justice-regarding-the-super-league?s=08
HH
great response from Bayern…
Hopefully the English clubs’ fans will protest as they did before…
Happy that my son in law will see the green brigade at their best on Saturday. Bonus.
If Celtic don`t park the bus and play on the break in Europe then they would be as well not going near Europe.
Ange ball hari kari = ass kicked out deservedly.
Brendan ball park half the bus and high press the other half of the bus = Brendan should have been dismissed for making the club look like a clown show can you imagine the protests in the car park had Neil Lennon played that way in Europe whilst throwing away points to the huns domestically?
We are a small club because we are way down the pecking order of those who run the club = thats the fans fault for being lazy suckers of the board.
No playing or management team stood with the Green Brigade this will lead to all of them being emptied with the PLC.
Don`t renew on renewal day and you`ll soon see what the spare £75 million was all about.
Are the PLC going to throw next season under the bus as well?
Pyro is here to stay. And I must admit it sometimes looks spectacular and it does add to the atmosphere.
Celtic were fined for an anti fascist banner that we all agreed with .
Even Biden and Ben Wallace state that Israel have gone too far.
And now those who make football law which is often draconian have been found to be EU law breakers.
I want our money back from these law breaking bassas.We can’t have law breakers making the law.
Let’s all drop the politics and come together for 90 minutes. Our team needs this.
Don’t f@ ck it up GB.
HH.
BURNLEY78 on 21ST DECEMBER 2023 9:23 PM
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.
……………..
So your ” argument/standpoint” about Folk blaming Peter Lawwell etc etc, is NOT VALID…….Just because many of us have ” Never walked in Lawwells shoes” ?
I have never ” Walked in Boris Johnsons shoes”…..Does that mean that I should NOT BLAME him ( and others) for Brexit and other issues such as the damage done to the NHS under HIS watch ?
Are YOU seriously saying that I should NOT BLAME Hitler for World War 2…..Just because I have never ” Walked in Hitlers shoes” either ?
Likewise, I should NOT BLAME Liz Truss either for the damage that she inflicted on millions of Folk and the Brit Economy being rag dolled….Just because ” I havent walked in Liz Truss shoes either” ?
i should NOT BLAME Michelle Mone either ( according to you ), as I have never been a member of the House of Lords……and I have never worn any of Her BRA’S ?
According to YOU….I should NOT BLAME Donald TRUMP either for any of his wrongdoings…..because ” I have never walled in his shoes either ! ?
The list is endless.
IF a Celtic Player scores an OWN GOAL from 40 yards out during a match……According to YOU….I should NOT BLAME the Celtic Player either because…” I have never walked in his Boots by playing for Celtic” ?
Yer aving a laugh….aren’t you ?