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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weebobbycollins
No
HH
Dwill7…when it comes to Walter Myth, the smsm journos are very cowardly…
praecepta-was looking for a 2nd half penalty,no offers..
Talk about Celtic ‘investing’ in three players to get to Europa final this year.
I assume three costing around £20 million in total – they would cost some £6 million/year.
Over 3 years that’s £38 million for a £5 million return, if losing in the final.
With crowds of south of 40,000 at most home games – we would end up in debt to the tune of £30 million.
We have no alternative other than to carry on with the current model.
A Scottish club incurring that kind of debt would be committing hari kiri.
FIFA: God bless America!
dena29…I didn’t think so either.
FIFA corrupt?
What position does Hugh Dallas hold in UEFA?
Why is his son being fast tracked?
Why given what the US authorities are investigating, can Scottish Football call King a ‘fit and proper person ” to be the chairman of a new Scottish club.
Having spent a bit of time in the US, I am convinced many of these guys would be led away in handcuffs.
Murray, Whyte, Greene and many more
According to Paul67 it’s not about players but the system
Weebobbycollins- could not agree more mate he actually was only supposed to say a few words and everyone just let him keep going on and on. Tam Cowan was on after him and thanked him for his happy upbeat speech and thanked him for clearing the room.
America Fu** yeah
Walturd Smith bemoaning the impoverished financial state of Scottish football?
Surely not the same Walturd who threw around the Bank of Scotland (and ultimately us mug taxpayers) money at the likes of:-
Daniel Prodan (£2.5 million transfer fee and £15,000 per week wages) – 0 games
Staale Stensaas (£2.5 million)
Oleg Salenko (£2.5 million)
Sergio Porrini (£4 million and £20,000 per week)
Peter van Vossen (£2.5 million)
Erik Bo Andersen (£2.5 million)
Gary Bollan (Best part of a million quid!!!!)
Remember this was the best part of 20 years ago! Who knows how much Walturd would pay for this shower of clowns at today`s prices?
In terms of sheer brass neck material, Walturd Smith bemoaning a lack of money in Scottish football is on a par with Peter Sutcliffe moaning about the scran in Broadmoor.
dwill7
21:11 on 27 May, 2015
Surely someone must have footage of him.
The hurting hun syndrome obviously came to the fore, how he mentioned the referees Catholic sounding name and got away with it, tells the story… Some folk need to open their eyes.
Suppose, I’m just paranoid after all, all those years with a chip on my shoulder, was of my own doing…so every hun I know tells me :))
Regarding the arrests today among the FIFA ensemble.
The first question hat should be asked is Cui bono.
Aah! close season is upon us,
Sevco swoops, Celtic struggle,
Jetting ins for Zombies,
While Celtic targets head up the
M74,
Happy Celticing
Sweet dreams Timmy
The glorious balance sheet- exactly mate hunbelievable brass neck of the highest order.
Celtic Dawn,
Thanks for coming back.
I think that is Sharkey’s.
If you are coming over e mail me at dublin2016@mail.com.
Clogher
SFTB
Very good!
#lovefootballhatefifa
https://twitter.com/r_0904/status/603660120329957377
Good Evening!
Stewart Regan came out with some great quotes today about the need to reform FIFA. I wonder if he realised that the general gist of them could equally be applied to the SFA?! Here are a few thoughts on it…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/05/27/the-irony-free-zone/
Enjoy the rest of the evening!
S S
The 2 cans and string dont work anymore!!! 0)
Regarding Regan and the SFA’s hypocrisy, they had this late man’s details, but I don’t remember him being sued.
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/109094-raith-director-we-are-being-bullied-and-lied-to-over-rangers-situation/
Hail Seville
Keep them coming Clumps ;-)
!!Bada Bing!!
Didn’t look at any single bets – went for all 4 favs to win Cups @9/1.
Sipsini – I was hoping that someone would of filmed it but to be honest everyone was left in a state of shock at the amount of nonsense he was speaking. He also sent out a come sign for us to Anya who won the International award to “balance it out a bit as he heard he was a good blue nose not sure if this is true either. His tone was also not in anyway having a laugh but just hurting badly.
HH
Were FOCUS involved in the early morning arrests at FIFA – only asking ??
Good win for seville
Rangers moved their corruption into England ….. Whack!
FIFA moved their corruption into America ….. Whack!
We need to encourage the glib and shameless SFA liars to spread their corruption elsewhere
Seville in the Group Stage of the CL,i can see it now…….
dwill7
The scary thing about Smith is that he firmly believes the guff he spouts
.
Their sense of entitlement, their supremist attitude and their WATP mindset just shows them all up for the small, narrow minded bigots they are.
He’s up (or should it be down) there with Keech Jackson and Fraser Wishart. There’s an awful lot more like them but these three, I really cannot stand.
Walter Smith spend in 2007/08 whilst the big tax case bills arrived from Feb 2008.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aq2m3ggkEX2RdDZsUlEzQkg5U0NUZ08xajhtbUJWcXc&usp=docslist_api
Took debt from £6m to £31m later reduced to the £18m from the CL money the players won that Lloyds then wanted paid.
Imagine he had not spent, kept the debt down and been able to cover the BTC contingent bill?
RFC would not have been liquidated, so well done Walter.
BB
That is one return to a city I would love to make.
Celtic in Seville twelve years later would be nice.
Nakasammi
I sent Jackson the details of Smith’s spend with a supporting article.
KJ said it was opinion. Maybe, but backed by hard figures.
working away, listening to Gregory Porter sing “Be Good’… and it is just too nice not to share with all of you …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HvpIgHBSdo
Nakasammi- I could not agree with you more and I know that their WATP mentality was always there however seeing and hearing if first hand surrounded by so many MSM and then no mention of anything on social media even just surprised me a little. Wish someone had filmed it as he generally sounded like Rev I am Jolly doing his new year speech.
HH
dwill7
Are you from Brechin?
Is wee Dick on his way back???
Auldheid- that document is brilliant and makes his rant on Sunday even more bizarre, why is he or any other old co new co manager never challenged? Also it would be great if this document was published in any of our papers however I don’t see it ever happening. Great piece of work mate
HH