The entire football world should be delighted at the arrests of six Fifa executives in Switzerland this morning on warrants requested by US prosecutors. Fifa has successfully resisted reform, actively opposed transparency and supressed reports into corruption at the top of the world’s most lucrative sport.
No one will be surprised that president, Sepp Blatter, who was not one of the six arrested today, is deaf to calls for accountability at the top. He plans to stand in Friday’s election, no doubt keen to guide the Federation through its dealings with law enforcement agencies. Those arrested have yet to be charged with any crime, never mind successfully prosecuted, so Blatter has plausible deniability of wrongdoing on the part of Fifa, but under any properly constituted organisation he would step aside to let fresh blood reinvigorate the game.
The news that Swiss police are investigating the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process is even more welcome than the arrests. This investigation is separate to that being carried out by US authorities and may ultimately be more pivotal in freeing the game from the grasp of bribery and corruption.
Mike Ashley is getting his Rangers International PLC (RIPLC) General Meeting, on 12 June, at which, the directors of Rangers International PLC have decided to titillate shareholders with details of Rangers Retail Limited’s shareholders agreement, between the club and Ashley, although they note this agreement is subject to confidentiality agreements – and details appear to have been leaked today.
In an eye catching move, the directors of RIPLC are considering disapplying voting rights of shareholders who hold shares in other football clubs, in this case, Mike Ashley, who owns Newcastle United.
It’s worth saying this remains no more than bluster for now. They are “considering” disapplying rights and will lay out a “timetable for presenting a resolution for shareholders’ consideration”. I cannot believe they would be so self-harming that they would actually try to remove Ashley’s voting rights. Mike has the resources to destroy them in court, and it’s a tad futile to risk enormous legal consequences to disenfranchise someone when you and your supporters control the majority of shares. Ashley could easily circumnavigate any such act, should is be successful, but selling his shares to a trusted third party.
As such this element of the debate is futile, not even King is stupid enough to waste time and energy on it. He would lose heavily, and even if he won, Ashley would accommodate the outcome without breaking sweat. This is some tough talking but I’d like to see them try it (I genuinely would).
Two resolutions are proposed: the first by Ashley, that his £5m loan is repaid “as soon as possible”, in return for the release of security over RIPLC’s intellectual property, Murray Park, Albion Car Park and Edmiston House. Ashley is happy to hand this back, he’s a retailer, retail rights are what he’s interested in.
The second, proposed by the board, asks for shareholder approval to demand all of the club’s relationships with Sports Direct group companies, the loan, securities and the lucrative retail rights, are “renegotiated on a basis that is fair and reasonable”.
Here we get to the crux of the matter. Dave King told us months ago that Mike Ashley was a businessman, and that he would recognise the hand King dealt him and fold. The contrary view is that Mike Ashley is a businessman who will not be dictated to.
There’s a scene in Groundhog Day when lead character Phil, realising he can act without consequences, as even after death he’d pop up the next day as though nothing happened, drives onto a railway track.
Nodding to the oncoming train he says “I bet he’s going to swerve first”. Mike Ashley is the oncoming train. Trains don’t swerve. Groundhog Day looks increasingly likely, 06:00 will strike with an away day at Brechin under a provisional membership.
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Dena29: I’m not a fan of horse racing either but it can be a great day out as long as the bookies don’t take all your hard earned cash. Greyhound racing can be exciting too.
Re FIFA
Have UEFA grown a set?
The UEFA Executive Committee met today in Warsaw and issued the following statement:
RELATED ITEMSDistribution detailsClub payments agreedNations League formatMilan to host 2016 UEFA Champions League final
Today’s events are a disaster for FIFA and tarnish the image of football as a whole.
UEFA is deeply shocked and saddened by them.
These events show, once again, that corruption is deeply rooted in FIFA’s culture.
There is a need for the whole of FIFA to be “rebooted” and for a real reform to be carried out.
The upcoming FIFA Congress risks to turn into a farce and therefore the European associations will have to consider carefully if they should even attend this Congress and caution a system, which, if it is not stopped, will ultimately kill football.
The UEFA member associations are meeting tomorrow ahead of the FIFA Congress. At that point, the European associations will decide on what further steps need to be taken to protect the game of football.
In the meantime, the members of the UEFA Executive Committee are convinced that there is a strong need for a change to the leadership of this FIFA and strongly believe that the FIFA Congress should be postponed, with new FIFA presidential elections to be organised within the next six months.
©UEFA.com 1998-2014. All rights reserved.
Clogher Celt
Wife and daughter heading to County Louth next week to visit friends who live near Carlingford.
Cant remember the name of the place, need to ask, as I have never been.
They are flying to Dublin from Glasgow on Tuesday and getting a bus to Newry, where they will be picked up.
I’m dead jealous.
HH!!
The SFA and corruption.
If you have been incompetent but instead of owning up to it you try to hide it, does that make you corrupt?
*THE KING VIC 67*
20:51 on
27 May, 2015
It’s safe to assume were on the
Same page HH
Absolutely
HH
greenpinata
Three/Four separate questions I think.
Would them coming back be good for Celtic? No
Would you like them back? No
Did they ever go away? No
How come they can come back when they never went a way?
Their culture never went anywhere except a wee bit dormant during their own “asterisk years” – and they therefore never went away.
This bit courtesy of another poster…
Their club is sevco (small s) and it is a new club and it has never been where bould bhoys go, so they are two games away from being in the top Scottish Division for the first time.
They should consider themselves very lucky and not very plucky – to have gotten this far.
Watch out for kids with a bat and a blindfold :o)
mike Tony visited Glasgow recently upsetting the gentry
I thought it was just a poor No reservations with bad intel
offski episodes of House to re examine…
Prawn sandwich freeloaders on sponsers jaunt taking their time to return to their seats
Or is the stadium half empty?
If I was a Hun, thank god I’m not, I would be more concerned about big Mick’s reaction to today’s press than a match against Motherwell !
Pissing him off will have serious ramifications…?
Anyone Here at the PFA Writers awards on Sunday have any explanation for the Cardigans speech and the lack of any mention of it anywhere? Bitter bitter man
Almore
20:51 on
27 May, 2015
Dena29: I’m not a fan of horse racing either but it can be a great day out as long as the bookies don’t take all your hard earned cash. Greyhound racing can be exciting too.
I dont gamble much a few pounds on the National is my limit so not much chance of the bookies getting much of my cash
H
Mike
Ha ha! Yeah, I’ve seen the t-shirts.
Great craic!
celtic dawn,
That pub was probably The Big Tree. Maybe Sharkeys, it opens in the evenings.
If you ever come back, please give me a shout.
In the meantime…Clogherhead…
http://youtu.be/UqYpi7-j_ko
Sorry, copied the sweary
Word from text
Message. Apologies folks
Auldheid
I think the answer to the Uefa cojones question is…
What would they do if they had corruption in their organization?
It’s very easy to offer advice about other peoples problems (as we know from this blessed place) but what if your mob are less than clean?
The SFA haven’t grown a pair, although they are full of …
Hope you are well and I enjoy the SFM, glad that the new way has been well supported.
dwill7
Now you can’t tease us with that comment about the bitter cardigan and walk away..
Spill the Beans CSC
Tallybhoy,
I was in Carlingford today for lunch. A lovely spot. Try and get yourself over.
Is Ken Barlow wearing a sevconian tie in Coronation Street tonight?
dwill7
20:57 on
27 May, 2015
Anyone Here at the PFA Writers awards on Sunday have any explanation for the Cardigans speech and the lack of any mention of it anywhere? Bitter bitter man
What did he say ?
HH
dwill7
20:57 on 27 May, 2015
Anyone Here at the PFA Writers awards on Sunday have any explanation for the Cardigans speech and the lack of any mention of it anywhere? Bitter bitter man
What did The myth say?
https://www.facebook.com/CelticFC/videos/972303752809530/
UEFA awarded a major tournament to Poland and Ukraine. Neither country is renowned for its ability to fight corruption. Hence, how can UEFA lecture FIFA? Anyway, corruption is unavoidable because football makes lots of money.
Rwe – Well his opening comments about being the “token prod” and Craig Gordon, John Hughes and the rest of the top table being “one of them” then having a rant about the financial state the game is in for 40mins without a hint of irony or any mention of Ebt’s it was really bad embarrassing and loads of people actually left their seats. Not a word from any writers at their own awards!! Not surprised tbh
Rwe,
I take onboard all that you say. I have been waiting for what seems like an eternity for them to disappear forever.
How many times on here have we gleefully debated their imminent implosion. We have speculated that they cannot reach the end of the month for years.
I have accepted that we will now face some team with the word Rangers in its title. No more will I waste time contemplating when liquidation will mean no more.
They are a new club and we will eventually face them.
While it is always good to laugh at them, I will waste no more time on them. I will focus on our club, and what is best for us.
No matter where that route leads.
HH to you.
Wikipedia will be even more unreliable than usual as evil Webmistress Tracey Barlow has gone completely batsh1t [agane]
Another laugh for you Burgas.
FIFA vote to kick Israel out of world football conveniently blocked by US intervention
http://stopwar.org.uk/news/fifa-vote-to-kick-israel-out-of-world-football-conveniently-blocked-by-us-intervention
Bacca for Seville. 3-2
Wow. Goal city!
Sevila Bacca in the lead 3-2!
Hh
What a lucky goal for Sevilla……but well taken
67Heaven
The power of music and pictures…
As Scott Brown lifted the trophy in that montage, the music and an image of a fan in the North Stand raising his arms in acclaim made me think of all the pain and hurt endured by so many of those Celtic fans who went before us.
Thanks for posting. What movie is the choon from anyone know? The one used in this..
https://www.facebook.com/CelticFC/videos/972303752809530/
KTF and HH
wagamamas.
Good Scran, but unable to lean back.
What’s with the benches?
At the check-out in Tesco’s today the cashier says to me, “That will be £16.90 please”.
“Oh! Better give two plastic bags please”.
“That’s £17.00 exactly”.
“Thank you”.
Am I being awfully childish when I do something like that?
Clogher
Cant remember the name of the place it was a while ago, all I remember it was at the top of a road leading down to the beach and we sat outside almost on the pavement.
Will probably be over in july, will let you know
Wish I’d bet the card count – 7 yellows and a few more likely.
Gene
Whimp!!!
Sevilla will kick themselves if they don’t win this.