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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leftclicktic
17/2 1st.
_____________________
That’ll do for me leftclik -)))
blantyretim & Karen. Happy 21st Anniversary..
Hebcelt.Happy Birthday to your good lady.
Bognorbhoy. Happy Birthday to you my good man.
Anyone that I have missed over the last few months & years,Happy Birthday, Anniversary.
To everyone that has had a loved one who have passed away Sincere condondolences.
I’ll have to start reading & posting on the blog more often.
Ref signings…..
For me celtic is a 100% open club. We should welcome anyone into our midst (supporter or player) who wants to be part of that.
But the Celtic strip shouldn’t be expected to shrink to fit those who may be too bitter to wear it.
HH jamesgang
Gary67
Think McGeouch is out of contract next month.
LB
Well done Hamilton Accies
https://twitter.com/moo_ted/status/603618098151829504
Positive story (one sweay word alert ,in replies) and all jangle jangle lamb eater Jackson can do is moan about the Bus that is parked behind their goal,
ARMAGEDDON my bahooky
leftclicktic
11:43 on 28 May, 2015
Burgas Hoops
17/2 1st
13/2 last goal with wm hill.
Penalty to be awarded 100/30
Penalty to be awarded and scored 4/1
———-
What about awarded, missed, re-taken, scored? :-)
Hope this works ?
https://www.facebook.com/stuart.mullen.359/posts/826907610734540
Thanks for the best wishes bhoys
Mrs BT does in fact have the patience of a saint
GlassTwoThirdsFull
Motherwell player to be booked in 1st 15 mins 13/2,
I have no doubt Madden will be getting talked about on here and elsewhere tonight,
I hope is is for the right reasons:))
Till later all
Ohhhhhhhhhhh suspected GOUT up date :))))
after 8 days of pain gave in and went to Docs and he gave me colcichine which someone on here recommended on the 1st day,i think it was gordonbhoy,
though the fruit juice (cherry) undoubtedly helped(though it didn’t help my Colitis) , i needed to get on top of the pain 1st .
moanygitCSC:)))))))))))))))
BT
And the face of an angel!
MillsNboonCSC
HH jamesgang
leftclicktic
Allopurinol is the answer for gout.
Jamesgang
You old charmer ;)
BT
You taught Me all the best lines!
HH jamesgang
Cosycornerbhoy
I was on the ‘phone to yer bhoy this morning, and I enquiried after you, but he failed to mention that it was his sister’s birthday.
Please pass on my best wishes to her.
HH!!
I give my pal some of my naproxen for his gout
Seems to help him
Cosy corner Bhoy
Pass on my regards to your daughter
Hail hail
Oldtim
What did the place pot at Hamilton pay yesterday?
Where’s PHILVIS?!
HH!!
Tallybhoy
Still enjoying the conservative majority at Westminster.
Burgas Hoops
It will be Allopurinol he will give me if blood tests this morning confirm GOUT ,he gave me a 4 day course of colcichine to help get on top of whatever it is while we await results on Monday,
if it’s not gout my foot must be broke or something,
Hobbling about like the back end of a panto horse or Kirk Broadfoot moving about a football park at the moment :)))))))).
till later all
tallybhoy
12:25 on 28 May, 2015
Where’s PHILVIS?!
HH!!
=———————————
You need to say his name 3 times for him to appear…
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww flippin heck post 666 anaww :((
Lefty
I went into hospital several years ago as thought id broken my toe
They suspected gout but after taking blood from infected area turned out to be cellulitis
Every bit as painful I’m led to believe.
On drop for a week
davidopolous
Liked your square/sliced sausage recipe.
Going to give it a try.
Cannae get it here in Italia.
HH!!
BT I was going to be a doctor but I did’nt have the patience!! Hat and coat grabbed. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Hebcelt
Pablo (god rest him) was always giving me abuz abooot ma spelin
“I haven’t left rangers I’ve left Sevco ”
For a bonus point who said that
Wasne Whittaker
https://www.facebook.com/alex.mclean.5268/posts/10152933567296818
Happy Birthday Bognorbhoy and Mrs Hebcelt!!
Happy Anniversary BT and good lady.
HH
A good article above, makes you so happy.
Ginger
Craig Whyte?
TD67
An excellent translation from the original Italian.
Could not have done better myself.
What a performance, what a team.
2-1 going on 7-1.
Remember it as if it were yesterday.
HH!!
blantyretim.
Place pot paid £230.70 for £1 stake.
Allopurinol is the answer for gout, used to get it in the knee, very painful, been on the drug for about 15yrs, no probs.
Hail! Hail!
Glasstwothirds
No it was a player
Skippy hat-trick – 150/1
Skippy 2 or more – 33/1
Stevie McManus Wincast – 40/1.
All righteous possibilities covered.
Ginger
McGregor?
I wonder whether we could see UEFA break away from FIFA. They could organise the World Cup themselves. Mind you, UEFA is corrupt too, just not as totally corrupt as FIFA.