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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Job done by the DR and Level 5-ban the scum.Wont happen
Paul67: Breithlá sona duit
Sips
I’ve no idea who he is
One minute you are trying to tell me to gtf then next I’ve got directors working for me…
Enjoy the christening tomorrow bud
I’ve a communion Sunday so will be home early tomorrow, honest guv.
Mini missing the communion for the match, she will still be at mass with TOHG
BT
What time and where please?
Mrs is in Edinburgh tonight for a works do.
I’m picking her up from the station later, so I could be off the leash tomorrow.
I mean fairs fair!
Apart from Broonie, who else is missing for Sunday?
JJ
Philbhoy
Any time after 3pm
In BV initially but may move on if too busy.
BT
Sorry, I am assuming all welcome.
No problem if not.
BT….
You’re on the ball yet again :)))
Enjoy the swallyfest tomorrow, acgr will be like a dynamo tomorrow as his Mrs locked him in a cupboard for a week after she saw some of his last posts.
I wish the Dundee United chairman would substitute calum Murray soon .. if he scores a hat trick I might have to splash £3m on the boy
BT
Thanks!
JJ
Biton injured too I think.
PHILBHOY…
Ya wido, mr nice guy ;)))
Charlie McK
A thought occurs. Are you a McKinlay by chance? If so, any relation to Colum and the late Rose?
TT — the Coyle’s you refer to, would one of them have been Phylis?
Neganon
Auldheid and I are doing our very best to tell you something. I know you don’t see how the answer has to be cryptic re the evidence etc but it has to be as this is a public blog.
Perhaps, just perhaps, some people are privvy to facts and circumstances which are not in the public domain as yet.
With regard to the means of delivery, you are correct that is a very important aspect as I have said plainly on here before. The means of delivery has been agreed taking account of all the known factors and the anticipated factors.
If you are asking are the shareholders pushing against Celtic PLC in this? The answer is no.
If you are asking whether Celtic are involved in the process that will deliver Res 12 to UEFA, the answer is Yes.
If you are asking for the detail of the evidence etc to be gone over on a public blog then I’m afraid that won’t be happening – at least not yet.
Finally I will add one more salient fact. Some considerable time ago, it was decided to take matters formal and so the shareholders engaged a firm of solicitors who are one of the biggest risk management and insurance claim legal agents in Europe. They have over 200 full partners throughout the continent and over 800 lawyers working throughout the firm. They are the lawyers to many lawyers and they were chosen for their gravitas, weight, knowledge and for a couple of other reasons that I can’t go into on here but trust me they were neither chosen by accident nor because they have comfy chairs.
They are there for a purpose and are engaged for a purpose.
They say that justice comes to those who wait. It is a nice phrase, however I prefer another one.
Justice comes to those who research, plan and carry out the plan.
Thus far that plan has led the SFA and others to seek external advice in relation to the issues which have been raised. It has led the board of Celtic PLC to change their stance on the whole notion of Res 12, what it is about, what supports it and what can happen with it.
No one can guarantee what the outcome will be, but given what was reported by the Offshore game guys yesterday do you think what lies behind Res 12 is getting easier or harder for anyone ignore?
All good things come to those who wait.
SIPSINI
You going?
What is this a day out?
Philbhoy
Everyone welcome even BRHT and his cowbhoy boots.
HT will be bringing badges for the famine memorial so the more the merrier
Oops
Everyone apart from Soal
Love
Philbhoy
Thanks. Interesting team selection. Armstrong for Broonie and either Allan, Rogic or Christie for Bitton?
JJ
NegAnon2 on 6th May 2016 8:17 pm
Auldheid. Thanks for the response. However I believe the method of delivery is in fact very important. Because it tells us whether Celtic are serious or not about tackling cheating and corruption.
So have they explained/given a reason why they won’t?
===============
Believe what you like.
You will anyway.
Why they wont what?
Res12 is being met by going to UEFA in an effective way that works around the genuine legal concern that has bedevilled progress from the start.
Going to UEFA to investigate the UEFA Licence process in 2011 is all Res 12 could ask of Celtic.
The reason for the Resolution at the outset was no more than a suspicion of irregularity that hardened considerably during and after its maturity. However UEFA, and only UEFA, have the power to investigate and determine events and the outcome.
In taking Res12 to UEFA, Celtic who had thought the resolution was unnecessary at the AGM, have obviously decided that no longer applies, which signals they are serious about tackling cheating and corruption, otherwise it wouldn’t be happening, would it?
BT
I will be there!
But only to apologise to HT for coupling you and his lovely Minx!
JJ
Play the youngsters and Allan!
These bhoys have something to prove.
JJHS
Play the youngsters and Allan!
These bhoys have something to prove.
Oops!
Philbhoy
What would your preferred selection be?
JJ
Neganon2
Its Friday. Buy one get one free day. :)
BT
You never know where the boots may just turn up ………… what was that song by the Skids?
JJHS
I’d play Efe as the holding mid with Allan, Christie and Rogic round about him.
Colin and Griff up front.
Working for the Yankee dollar ? ☘
NEGANON2
You going to the BV?
Blantyretim:
Got a First Holy Communion tomorrow, give my best to the motley crew…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Philbhoy
No Roberts? No McGregor? No wingers? !! 0:-)
JJ
JJ
Roberts plays.
3 at the back, because I think we’ve only got 3 who are fit.
I think mcgregor deserves to start
We need a strong central defence with Rooney upfront
Powerful stuff WC
We need to create our own media…..in the mainstream as it were
PHILBHOY on 6TH MAY 2016 9:21 PM
JJHS
I’d play Efe as the holding mid with Allan, Christie and Rogic round about him.
Sorry no place for efe in midfield. His passing is atrocious, I don’t know if Charlie is fit but if so he’d be a better bet. Although I’d prefer to see one of the youngsters get a run.
BRTH and Auldheid many thanks for the responses.
I still don’t understand why Celtic haven’t taken this up directly and the answers aren’t clear in that respect.
But I am, like many Celtic supporters, incredibly grateful to you for pursuing.
Philbhoy. BV?
I think Mulgrew is injured.
Neganon2
Yes, it would be great to meet you!
I’m hoping to meet other CQN’ers I’ve never met, tomorrow.
It’s always a HOOT!