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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I have spoken on here several times before about the overuse of the word “corrupt”.
Every time Sevco got a dubious throw-in the SFA were corrupt. Every time Sevco won promotion through football merit, the SFA were corrupt. Whenever Sevco won a game, the Celtic board were corrupt. Now the chickens have come home to roost.
The SFA are guilty of gross incompetence and mismanagement and heads should roll, but anyone accusing them of corruption needs to back it up with hard evidence. And bending/ignoring rules is not corruption. If you are going to compare the SFA with FIFA then you have to be talking fraud, bribery and brown paper bags full of cash. If so, provide the evidence.
If you insist on accusing the SFA of corruption, do what Paul67 asked you to do previously and append your full name and address to your post.
No, didn’t think so.
In my opinion Stuart Regan’s statement today was reasonable and concise and no more than what was expected. The SFA clearly had to say something as a member of FIFA.
I have read CQN today with increasing alarm and no little disgust and can assure you I am no cheerleader for the SFA but enough is enough.
I have had my say.
Goodnight.
Bada bing, sipsini, thanks
.
Saint Stivs. Very funny.
Jamesgang …. did you not read Sipsini’s post? he said we weren’t supposed to tell you!
Beatbhoy. You’ll keep.
UEFA calls for FIFA Elections to be postponed
Biff McDynamite
The Penny Hing
Dalmellington
041 212 555555
*Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaruuuuuumph!*
Bring back Stan and stef
Benjibhoy mul
17.59
Hello! Hello! We are the Bolly Boys!
:-)
Tom.
Corrupt doesn’t need to be bags stuffed with money.
There is a guy at the top of Scottish football who participated in the ebt scheme and forgot the to mention it at any time while in the hot seat.
Non disclosure is a corrupt act.
Teams are docked points every week in the structures of the game.
Why not the did rangers ?
Collusion is corruption
Deid rangers obviously
Ebt off the books payments were illegal.
David Murray, Sep Blatter.
How do they do it? Sep at least gets pelters from the media.
Following from today’s events, FIFA have confirmed that World Cups already decided on will go ahead as planned.
So 2018 will be in Russia, 2022 will be in Qatar and 2026 will be in China. Oops!
mike in toronto
18:31 on 27 May, 2015
Jamesgang …. did you not read Sipsini’s post? he said we weren’t supposed to tell you!
——
I scroll past all Sips’ posts.
Never says a word of sense!!!
HH jamesgang
Mike…
Don’t get me wrong, he’s daft as a brush but sharp as a tack…if that makes sense;)
Next time your over would be a good reason for a hootenanny, with BMCUWP’s consent of course.
FIFA, this one will run…don’t get where Nike fit in. They were not official sponsors of the FIFA World Cup, Adidas have that gig sown up thanks to their power base in UEFA . There was a lad on Talksport this afternoon who had said earlier this year that the snub to Americas 2018 bid led by Clinton and Kissingero led to funds becoming available to drive this enquiry.
There are large U.S. Sponsorships pouring into FIFA coffers, as ever in the land of the free it is all about the money.
First you get the money, then you get the power…then you get the women….scarfacecsc
Sip/James
The (much) better half and I were planning a trip this fall for my 50th … I was interested in Turkey, but with the recent troubles in Syria, that may not happen. So looking at alternatives …croatia maybe… even Ireland (I have the nicest memories of my family in Donegal, but I haven’t been back there since I was a kid) …. if we end up choosing Ireland, we will definitely get over to Celtic Park for a game and a catch up!
saint stivs
18:34 on 27 May, 2015
Bring back Stan and stef
——–
Naw. ;)
SuperSutton
18:53 on 27 May, 2015
saint stivs
18:34 on 27 May, 2015
Bring back Stan and stef
——–
Naw. ;)
I’m with supersutton on this one …. that stan and stef one was a right bad yin!
Paul67,
Good article.
I agree with the eye catching bit, but only because it would need to be approved by the SFA board for it to happen.
Bluster for now and as you have pointed out but only self harming if the SFA board do not approve.
Is this why you have not dismissed it out of hand ?
HH
Always before a big Tic game the MSM up to their negative spin.
So just before the biggest game in new FOD club’s short history the Unseen Fenian Hand picks up the phone to one of the world’s most powerful Irishmen Barack O’Bama and gets him to send in the Feds.
HH jamesgang
I think Wee Nicola should lead the way and announce that Scotland will be boycotting Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
Tom McLaughlin.18.30 I think your post contains a lot of truth and we Celtic supporters need to think more positively all the negativity that we are victims of a great scandal may well be true but wallowing in self-pity will only harm us.Lets accept the Rangers will be back if not next season soon after and Celtic need to be in the best possible shape in order to continue our Championship winning form in my opinion we have had our fun over things at Ibrokes but it is now time to put it behind us and get our own house in order so that we might qualify for the Champions league proper and have a decent run and enhance the name of Celtic Football Club in Europe.Well done for your post Tom.H.H.
Mike in Toronto @ 18:56 … good to see some sense on here.
Ooooooo flat earth society Tom has had his say.
Now we all need to follow his orders and immediately allow the Huns and SFA to cheat as much as is humanly possible.
Laughable.
Just like cqn leaders these days. The equivalent of a poor magic trick. Look over there cries Paul. In reality what he means is don’t look over here.
MiT
I’m sure your biggest danger in Turkey would be too much donner at the all inclusive buffet.
But we’ll not tell your fab lady and let’s get you to the Emerald Isle and Paradise.
It’s your big birthday. What do you really want to do?
If you come Sips will buy you a Magners and I’ll get some ice.
And a duvet jaiket for your Mrs!!! (That’s a coat btw – not a new Glasgow cocktail!)
HH jamesgang
KoJo , my auld buddy, if you’re out there geezashout, eh?
Embdy know why KoJo is not chattering with us?
KINGLuBO
neganon2
You must have so hated Paul Daniels!
HH jamesgang
Bollywood comes to Govan!
Ffs!
Stoap it Sammy!
Timpoaster shirley?!
HH!!
Yes I didn’t quite take to Mr Daniels jamesgang. I didn’t even like wee Debbie either…….
joe filippis haircut
19:01 on 27 May, 2015
Agree with your reply to Tom ( and Toms take on recent events).
A football match was never won on the back pages on a newspaper or as a result of a phone-in.
We simply need to ignore all the crap and concentrate on our ghuys, we are literally streets ahead of the opposition including a FUBAR Glasgow other team ; and no amount of Mr King posturing or ploughing OPM at the problem will change that soon.
I am enjoying going to the football at the moment , in contrast to much of the nonsense surfaced here of late.
jmccormick-i think Nike and Brazil national team ,were mentioned in same statement from the US Justice wumman
MacIntyre and Wilson. “Rangers” “back”. Good of the game. Blah blah. Puke……
KC upsetting the zombies on Clyde tonight
“that was the old rangers that won 9 in row “
Tom McLaughlin.18.30
Agree
Scott McDonald, Stephen Pearson, Steven McManus….. You know ur duty !
Interesting contribution from Gordon Strachan on the FIFA corruption on ITV4 before the Europa League Final.
Re Nike and Brazil – remember the rumours about the 1998 World Cup Final? That Ronaldo was very ill but was played at the insistence of Nike. No idea if it was true but given that Nike stipulate that Brazil must play a shedload of games in all corners of the globe every year then I wouldn`t be surprised……..
neganon2
19:13 on 27 May, 2015
Yes I didn’t quite take to Mr Daniels jamesgang. I didn’t even like wee Debbie either…….
——-
Thank you. That answers my follow up question ‘are you……?’
;-)
HH jamesgang