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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Almore
20:12 on
27 May, 2015
Dena29: “I hate the close season………….roll on July”.
Not the 12th, I hope:)
Ahhhhh the hate fest ……12th July I’ll be in Dundalk for the races :-))
HH
Burgas Hoops
20:12 on
27 May, 2015
Burgas Hoops
09:26 on
27 May, 2015
Nikola Kalinic to score 1st goal tonight @ 11/1…………………………….that’ll do-)))
______________________________
How’s that for luck -)))
—————————————–
So it was you who posted earlier today!! I couldn’t remember who I wanted to thank!
I got him at 9/1
I owe you a nice glass of malt if we meet
HH
NS
Good game this…
2-2
2-2
2-2 great free kick
Unai Emery, the Sevilla coach, was the Spartak Moscow coach when we pumped them 3-2 away (last minute winner from Sammi), and 2-1 at home to reach the last 16 of the CL a few years ago.
HH!!
Beautiful free kick from Dnipro captain. 2 – 2
What a game this EL Final is….
Dena29: My godson will be over from Canada then and he’ll be staying in the Dundalk area. I might suggest it to him as a day out.
Another bloody Cqn hootenanny?!
Right, when is it?
I’ll see if I can make it.
BMCUW?
HH!!
Sipsini
Just because a Celtic supporter doesn’t agree with the over-riding view of CQN he is automatically deemed a plant.
If we believe that CQN speaks for the majority of Celtic fans Parkhead will be empty when we eventually play them. Would you bet on this? I certainly wouldn’t.
Are we so dismissal of individual opinion. ?
HHseeingmoreplantsthanthegardinerscsc.
silent “d’s” make this guy sound silly e*war* woo*war*
H/T ……
Just Wanna put this out there…I Really, no , I REALLY hope motherwell do it and keep the huns down… Gotta say Can it be Done? it can, if their Defence Plays Above what its Done this season, Coz if the Defence gives The Attack something To play for they Will Score..Will it be Done?..i Couldnt say..I Really Hope So…..Make It A Battle and I Believe The Huns will Crumble…
TALLYBHOY
Hoping to work one round an international week around October. That way,no-one misses a Celtic match,and I don’t get to go to any and put my Autumnal hex on!
Rotan free kick brings the sides level at half time.
Cracking game. First half has flown in.
Celtic Dawn,
There are so many great places around County Louth.
I know the Ladywell Shrine.
Drogheda too, Millmount, St Peter’s, West Street.
Into Meath, Newgrange, Dowth, Knowth…even Tara, The Hill of Slane…so much
Silent letters,is it?
Who said that ‘The t is silent as in Harlow’ to Jean of that name?
whitedog
Tony Bourdain is one of my favourite chefs…. I haven’t been to Les halles (and he would have been long gone anyways), but his shows (No Reservations, etc.) are some of my favourite TV …. and not just food tv …. saw him and Eric Ripert speak a while ago … had a blast!
Of course, Mr. Bourdain is no Amanda Freitag … she’s a sweetie!
Hope Dnipro win but Sevilla should be too strong. Watched them twice against Zenit. They were lucky.
Offski again. Duty calls.
Have fun,y’all…
*THE KING VIC 67*
You are of course entitled to your opinion ………………Regan spoke of correct governance and in that I see “irony”
you can be disgusted at posts relating to Regan all you like it wont change my opinion of him
his statement may well have been “what was expected “………that still doesnt mean we have to assume he now suddenly knows what correct governance is or that he will deliver it.IMO
HH
Clogher
It certainly is a lovely county, I try and get over 2 or 3 times a year to the rock.
Are you from Clogherhead? lovely beach, had a pint in a pub at the top of the hill leading into the village quite some time ago, went the following year and it was closed
dena29
20:39 on 27 May, 2015
Sorry, I don’t follow???? I was raising my view that I feel the SFA is corrupt as opposed to Toms post saying they are merely incompetant
Almore
20:31 on
27 May, 2015
Dena29: My godson will be over from Canada then and he’ll be staying in the Dundalk area. I might suggest it to him as a day out.
The club I travel with are running a bus (keeps bhoys out of Portadown on the 12th) its a regular thing I dont like horses but its a good day out
HH
Seville Goalie Poor at Free kick for 2nd Goal..
Creationism banned from science classes in Scotland’s schools.
Another progressive step for modern Scotland.
Mike in Toronto
See you were thinking about a change in travel plans, maybe even Donegal.
I believe there’s a wee town in Co Donegal which might be quite good for diving, which was a holiday activity you mentioned yesterday.
Can’t remember which one, right enough.
http://www.enjoyireland.com/donegal/main_towns/
MR Z- As reported by Przeglad Sportowy in Poland, Celtic are keen on signing the young Polish centre-half this summer, although they face competition from a selection of Bundesliga clubs.
Janicki, 22, has played for Lechia since the summer of 2010, and his impressive form this season has seen him called up to the Polish international squad in recent months. He has yet to make his debut for his country, but he is sure to feature this summer after recent call-ups.
A central-defender by trade, Janicki can also play at both full-back positions, and he has made 32 appearances this term for Lechia. In total he has played 115 games for the club, captaining them on occasion this term, helping them to a fourth placed finish in the Ekstraklasa, with 42 goals conceded in 34 games.
Along with Ronny Deila’s men, Janicki has been drawing admiring glances from a selection of Bundesliga clubs, with Hamburg, Koln and Hannover interested in securing his services this summer, as well as Gent in Belgium.
The report states that Lechia are willing to cash in on the young defender this summer, and will accept transfer negotiations should a club make a formal approach for him.
Celtic are looking to revamp their defensive unit at the end of this campaign, with Jason Denayer set to return to Manchester City at the end of his loan deal, and Virgil van Dijk seemingly pushing for a move away with a number of clubs interested in his services.
beatbhoy ….. :) …. believe it or not, there is a ‘scuba’ club there!
greenpinata…
I said tims I know, not just ones on CQN.
Working with so many huns all my days like most of my Celtic supporting engineers, not one of them want the huns up.
I get your point though, re: him being a plant.
To me, he just sounded to precise, many have been on an said they want the huns back and ye, they were believable, that bloke sounded scripted….just my opinion of course.
The smsm is in overdrive and I wouldn’t put anything past them. HH
Fins aint what they used to be…
Almore,
If you have a godson coming over…give me a shout.
Louth and Meath
Oldbridge House,
Newgrange, Dowth, Neolithic sites. Birthplace of John Boyle O’Reilly,
Mellifont Abbey,
Monsterboice,
Slane, the home of Francis Ledgewidge
Further into Meath, Tara and loads more
*THE KING VIC 67*
20:42 on
27 May, 2015
dena29
20:39 on 27 May, 2015
Sorry, I don’t follow???? I was raising my view that I feel the SFA is corrupt as opposed to Toms post saying they are merely incompetant
Sorry yet again I misread a post
I thought you were saying if we couldnt prove Regan was corrupt we shouldnt be disrespecting him or something like that
Sorry again I usually get these things wrong just ignore me
but my heart is in the right place
HH
Bada. Interesting. We should be trying to get young Poles, Russians, Bulgarians etc but we don’t seem to be scouting as well as we could. Visas are not the problem. Surely it makes sense to recruit from areas which produce plent of naturally gifted and affordable players.
It’s safe to assume were on the
Same page HH