Two important issues to discuss today, Exploiting Hillsborough and Tax Justice Network. Do you think newspapers are above exploiting the Hillsborough tragedy? Think again.
Exploiting Hillsborough
Last year Celtic announced they received permission for safe standing at Celtic Park from the start of next season. The club hasn’t spoken about the matter since then, but season ticket renewal information was published yesterday, including details for those in what will become safe standing areas.
Some sharp-eyed operator spotted an opportunity. A bereaved Hillsborough mother was called, information put to her which led her to believe Celtic HAD made an announcement this week, before commenting “It’s insensitive to announce that right at this time, a week just after the verdicts”.
Readers were then treated to comments from Peter Lawwell to hammer home the point, “Celtic has worked tirelessly on this issue and we are delighted this permission has finally been granted”.
That comment was made in 2015, but was printed in the context of being made a week after the Hillsborough inquest. If you want a Celtic comment contemporaneous with the Hillsborough inquest, you’re out of luck, none was made. A comment was taken from the past, dressed up as new – and insensitive to the Hillsborough tragedy – then put to a bereaved mother.
This beggars belief. This coverage did not happened by accident, it was planned and executed with a clear objective to undermine Celtic, and the chief executive in particular. It was a vile act.
Tax Justice Network
Tax Justice Network (TJN) are an international activist think-tank who push to “‘change the weather’ on a wide range of issues related to tax, tax havens and financial globalisation”. They train journalists on how to cover illicit finance and tax havens, and last year launched The Offshore Game, a look into football ownership and transparency. Their testimonials are impressive:
“TJN has done more than any other organisation to put fiscal justice at the center of the policy agenda. Tax issues should not be left to those who want to escape taxes! Changes will come when more and more citizens of the world take ownership of these matters. TJN is a powerful force acting in this direction.”
Thomas Piketty, author, Capital in the Twenty-First Century
“Founded at a time when tax was a Cinderella subject, the Tax Justice Network was one of few voices challenging the status quo. Since then, its energy and international reach have greatly magnified its influence as the issues it championed moved up the political agenda.”
Vanessa Houlder, The Financial Times
“In some ways I feel responsible for TJN’s creation since I suggested in a 2000 OECD Observer report that civil society needed to have a stronger voice in the international tax debate. Well, over these 12 years it certainly has achieved this, moving tax issues up the political agenda.”
Jeffrey Owens, former head of tax, OECD
“The Queen has asked me to thank you for your letter of 4th November from which Her Majesty has taken careful note of your comments and concerns about taxation and offshore financial secrecy.”
Queen Elizabeth II (cough)
So that’s the OECD, The Financial Times, the Queen and Tam Piketty. When a body with a list of testimonials as authoritative as the TJN turn their focus on Scottish football, we should all take note. Yesterday evening the TJN released their report into the SFA, Rangers and governance in Scottish football, entitled ‘Doing SFA for Fair Play?‘
Their extensive report’s conclusions are:
Issue 1 – The SPL inquiry into rule breaking at Rangers
The first concerns the judge-led Commission set up by the SPL into alleged rule breaking by Rangers in the run up to their collapse.
The Commission considered whether Rangers should be stripped of a series of league and cup titles. The documents reveal that the then President of the SFA, Campbell Ogilvie, misled the public and the judge presiding over the inquiry, which led them to make a material error of fact in their judgement.
The fact that Mr Ogilvie (former Rangers director and SFA president) had previously been one of the longest serving officials in the history of Rangers Football Club clearly raises questions as to the motive behind his statements – since the inquiry’s own findings imply that, in full possession of the facts, they would have to have reached a different decision and possibly have stripped titles from Rangers.
Issue 2 – Rangers’ licence to play in Europe 2011/2012
The second issue concerns the grant and retention of a licence to play in Europe to Rangers in the 2011/12 season, when the finances of the club suggested it was on the verge of imminent collapse.
UEFA rules are clear that in order to get a licence to play European football a club must prove that it has no overdue payables to tax authorities. Our analysis of the evidence shows that Rangers clearly had an overdue payable as defined in the UEFA rules and could not have met that test.
However, regardless of this, the SFA did grant Rangers a licence. Although the SFA were informed by Rangers of an on-going issue concerning a large tax bill, they accepted Ranger’s erroneous argument that this did not break any UEFA rules.
It appears that the SFA did little to test the explanation regarding the status of the bill given by Rangers, and subsequent correspondence reveals an unhealthy degree of co-ordination between Rangers and the SFA over the PR around the decision.
As history unfolded, Rangers were knocked out before reaching the group stages of the Champion’s League. Had they managed to achieve victory in the qualifying rounds, they might well have gained the resources they needed to keep the company afloat and pay the overdue tax bill based on Champions League income, thwarting the very purpose of UEFA FFP Articles in respect of overdue tax.
Instead, Rangers went into administration and other Scottish clubs were denied a chance to play European football. That was not only unfair, it came at a cost to those clubs. Also, had Malmo and Maribor, not won their qualifying games against Rangers, for them, the consequences of this breach in the fair play rules would have been far more serious.
On the SFA
Regulators also have a duty to ensure fair play, over and above the usual rules that govern competition between companies. To ensure that competition stays on the pitch and doesn’t retreat behind the closed doors of the boardroom, regulators must make rules to ensure clubs do not gain unfair and unsporting advantages over others.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, in order to execute these functions, a regulator must itself be fair. To preserve the integrity of the system, the regulator must be beyond reproach, and behave in a way which does not produce any suspicion that that they might be exercising their power unfairly, in favour of one team over another.
It is on this last point, that The Offshore Game team have serious concerns about the behaviour and conduct of the Scottish Football Regulator, the Scottish Football Association (SFA).
In conclusion
The two cases that are dealt with in this report, which have nothing to do with the matter under consideration by the criminal court, call into question whether the SFA can be considered a fair and impartial regulator of Scottish football.
This is a question that the SFA has, thus far, flatly refused to answer. And that itself points to a much bigger question: is the SFA an organisation capable of fixing itself and adopting the required standards of transparency, accountability and fairness that fans of Scottish football deserve?
The evidence presented in this report does not amount to proof of corruption, and we do not allege corruption at the SFA. But the evidence does strongly suggest that the SFA is unable, if not actively unwilling, to ensure fair play. Major changes in personnel and governance structures will be necessary if the SFA is to show itself fit for purpose.
The first step to restoring confidence would be for the SFA to engage with UEFA over the clearly misleading returns Rangers’ submitted to them in order to get a licence to play European football in 2011.
Secondly there needs to be a fully independent inquiry, including substantial fan representation, to assess the role of the SFA and the actions of key, senior staff in respect of each issue outlined in this report; and with a mandate to learn from more accountable sports authorities in other fields and to recommend sweeping governance changes to the SFA if deemed necessary.”
No attempt was made by the SFA to tidy up their reputation, they refused to engage with TJN. They are not the first sports body to recently avoid examining issues of financial probity, but in the current climate, this line is becoming increasingly difficult to hold.
On a related matter, more work has taken place on the Resolution 12 issue than anyone will be able to quantify. Unable to go into any detail, I marked your card on this last month and can do so again now. The process does not have long to go.
My expectation is that the TJN report will reach Uefa today, irrespective of whether the Scottish media collude to suppress such a story. The ducks are aligning.
Thank you to everyone who donated to our Mary’s Meals appeal yesterday. “Gerry”, who won the Magners tickets, hasn’t checked his email yet!
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Paul67 …Why oh why oh why do Celtic not start defending themselves , it beggars belief how we just continually turn the other cheek . Stand up to the media stand up to the crooked SFA stand up to the Lies from the dead club . Everytime there is a negative story about Celtic it hurts us the fans too…..do they not get that !!!!! For Gawd sake Celtic grow a pair
North Cyprus (formerly Baku) Bhoy on 6th May 2016 2:33 pm
Thanks for sharing.
I’d say lots of worried people among those 20,000…
HH
Roddybhoy on 6th May 2016 2:34 pm
Its easy to say things like ‘grow a pair’, when anonymous bloggers on Celtic websites have had their anonymity compromised and been threatened by thugs.
Read between the lines – things are playing out slowly but surely…
HH
Paul67 – many happy returns! Next year’s the big one – a trip to Portugal is in order.. :-)
We NatKnow very excited here as I bought her a ticket for Sunday and it’s her first visit to Celtic Park. I expect I’ll be applying for an overdraft Monday morning after we visit the superstore prior to the game…
Happy birthday paul , & thank you for creating this great blog ,I am mostly a lurker but feel as though I know most if not all of you wonderful Tim’s hail hail &God bless you all
TRADITIONALIST88 on 6TH MAY 2016 2:35 PM
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Aye, hopefully, and not before time! :-)
HH
PAUL67
Buon compleanno!
HH!!
PB-Roddybhoy-have the SMSM got something on PL? Why let us get punched from pillar to post on a daily basis?
North Cyprus,
Aw man, what a riposte to their reply. I can see me using that :)
HH
Happy 67th Paul….;))
Left the polling station yesterday and bumped into a Labour Councillor, a great Tim. Looked him in the eye and said, ‘Just voted against the Offensive Behaviour at Football.’We both smiled and I walked away.
HT. you will know how big a gesture that was for me. But the last months in which four different sources in the SNP sent me the same letter in reply to my letters complaining about the OB Act left me no option but to vote against the party locally.
Let’s hope that the opposition will unite and have this wretched Act thrown out for good.
With regard to those suggesting that supporters stop buying the Dirty Record and whilst I am in agreement with that having refrained from purchasing that Rag for years, I see a slight problem. What about the advert for this Rag that is all round the stadium? In a recent interview at Celtic Park I was informed that it was difficult to have it removed as sponsors wished to see as many pictures of games so that their logo would be seen by as large an audience as possible.
Tontine,
Good post. I was in Toronto last year when the games were on. It’s a great city, I would highly recommend it for visiting. Was just reminded of the Pan-Am games lanes on the Don Valley parkway that required more than 3 people to be in the car, I saw one guy get pulled over by the cops, he had put two dummies in his car, nice try!
NORTH CYPRUS(FORMERLY BAKU)BHOY at 2.33pm
A fine post and thank you for contacting The Offshore Team – something which I intend to do this afternoon. Level 5 and its lackeys in the SMSM are doing their best to keep sturm, deflect and hope that the searchlight goes off them. But if we continue to spread the word we can lance the boil. It is up to us now.
All the best and Hail, Hail.
Seems no traffic lights are working at the Raith Interchange,avoid…
Why has the Record story disappeared!?
Methinks someone maybe has grown a pair.
Just because there are no statements and wailing doesn’t mean there isn’t action happening.
HH
GEORDIE MUNRO
Let’s hope that what you are suggesting has come to pass. I’m not normally in favour of curtailing free speech as long as it is not malicious or calculated defaming but it is certainly not license to continue the gutter attacks on CFC. Ban the adverts for the rag.
Any more lying “journalists” withdraw their freebies. They can pay and sit in with the away fans where they will feel at home- preferably right under Plod’s window. HH
Bada Bing …Ive often thought that ,pure wild speculation on my part though , but just doesnt make sense why we continually let these people say whatever they like about us . I and Im sure the rest of us dont want any preferential treatment but when a lie is told ….challenge it , simples . Never in a million years would there be a “story” about Hillsborough and safe standing areas if it involved the manky mob , we all know that, Celtic know that, so challenge it . On another note , sounds promising about what Paul says about ” the ducks lining up ” . I have been very critical of Celtic with regard to res 12 . I would be absoloutely delighted to eat a HUGE slice of humble pie ….go on Celtic dont let us down , it would after all benefit the whole of scottish football not just us
Since it is P67’s bday, and it is Friday, I thought I would get us started with the lovely Ms. Grogan wishing P67 a happy birthday…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t1vaF50Ks0
An teach,
Celtic can always do more. Can’t we all? But to think they do nothing all the time is inaccurate.
I know for a fact cfc tried very hard to suppress the broony sausage suppergate story before the final last season.
I’m not one for demanding statements willy and indeed nilly, but in this instance (Hillsborough) I hope they do.
HH
Geordie,
It’s one thing to have a cheap shot at Celtic, quite another to ‘exploit Hillsborough’ in the way Paul explains. Given the role of the media in the whole Hillsborough tragedy to contact a bereaved family member in this way is dreadful.
I wonder if an apology will be forthcoming? (as a minimum).
The article is still gone btw. Fair play to whoever contacted the newspaper.
http://www.celticfc.net/news/10450
Sonas ort inniu Paul.
Árd Macha
Clogher,
100% neebs.
But that’s how vile these guys are.
First and foremost, I hope the Hillsborough campaigner has been informed of the truth.
HH
Why would CFC want to give the DR oxygen when it’s dying on its feet, CFC know the game and don’t bite or have knee jerk reactions to a red top tabloid, as long as we know the score that’s all that needs done, to challenge an article written by alias who ever, is like a grown up making a Christmas list to Santa, (no disrespect Nic)
Ttr,
Great stuff.
I’d rather it was halftime though.
HH
Well done Patrick!
http://www.celticfc.net/news/10462
This is the way you answer the DR arse wipe, it’s called class.
http://www.celticfc.net/news/10450
What a brilliant performance from our unbeaten Development squad this season in winning the League with tremendous stats :
Celtic P 32 W 28 D 4 L 0 F 71 A 15 GD 56 Pts 88
Wonder how many will get a chance in 1st team under our new manager ?
Happy birthday paul67.
I was going to shout squirrel but I do agree these are important matters.
But some questions need asked.
The hillsborough story manufactured by the press is a prime example of Scotlands insitutional racism at wor. We all know it exists. You and others are right to call them out on it. But as ever why is it down to the Celtic supporters to point it out. What are Celtic doing about it? Nothing as ever?
Doesn’t that just fit the picture of the board happy with its place?
I hope something do,es from the sjn stuff but I’m not holding my breath.
As for the res 12 stuff, well it’s more jam tomorrow I’m afraid. The singular question that can’t be answered it seems is what is the reason that Celtic will not pursue this themselves?
If I was a real conspiracy theorists I might even think that negative press stories were designed to galvanise the Celtic support to “rally around the board”. In which case I might be able to explain why the board don’t do anything about them. Mmmmmmm.
The Invincibles!
http://www.celticfc.net/news/10464
Geordie,
I hope so too and I think she will be. Most of all I hope that she gets the peace she deserves and is allowed to move on.
If she was contacted in the way it would appear I think this is a new low for that tabloid.
Till later.
MiT
Imagine getting Wee Clare Grogan for your birthday!
‘Doesn’t get much better than that Ted…..!’
HH jamesgang
Jamesgang … just remember … my birthday is in November! :)
Paul67 et al
Great stuff from the TJN, albeit some time behind your efforts on here.
As to your other main story, it really is such a shame, but wholly necessary, that you have had to address a Hillsborough – Celtic linked story but no surprise that the Daily Record have attempted to run with it. Once again they have shown that there are no depths to which this rag will not sink on all things anti Celtic. And they are in good company with the Sun and the Telegraph.
Anyways on a less serious note I hope you and yours share a very happy birthday indeed!
Keep fighting the good fight!
Justice for 96 ynwa HH
Neganon2
“If I was a real conspiracy theorists…”
ha ha brillant…
Neganon
Bollox mate
.since when did the the telegraph become part of the scottish story.
Its the british establishment styoopid
You, who smear without foundation, now tries to blame good ol fashioned british (intelligence) establishment smearing on Scotland.as I say its british sectarianism owned lock stock and barrel by british establishment and its subjects.confirmation of which you defended in union.
HH
Neganon
The answer to that question on Res 12 is straight forward though the answer at this moment in time has to be slightly cryptic but is not in any way part of any great deception or part of the board ducking issues.
It has everything to do with the rules of evidence and the legal advice given to the club at this time.
There is however a workaround.
The club are fully engaged re Res 12 and the ball is in play.