They were an icon against fascism, a club representative of a people, more than any national identity could ever be. We saw commonalities between Barcelona and our own heritage. While we did what we could to earn a seat at the top table, they packed out the biggest club stadium in Europe and were invariably second, third, or sometimes first in the football money league.
Catalan prosecutors have revealed that over a 17 year period, Barcelona paid €8.4m to the former vice-president of the Spanish refereeing committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, and his company. The payments are not disputed, the former referee VP, claims the club employed him to ensure fairness.
He said, “I saw [Barcelona presidents] at most six times a year so they were calm that there were no decisions against FC Barcelona in the arbitration committee, that everything was neutral.” The club claim they paid the money for Negreira to compile video reports to compliment information required by coaching staff.
Former Barcelona presidents, Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, face corruption charges, the former recently spent two years in prison on separate charges before being acquitted on appeal. The club’s current president, Joan Laporta, has not been indicted, although the story has a long way to run.
Compared to what happened in Scotland – disguised renumeration and undisclosed contracts to dodge taxes and gain a sporting advantage, paying millions to a referee chief – even if you accept either parties’ version of events, is on a different level. Perhaps only Juventus can compete with what for so many of us was an iconic bastion of goodness in the game.
Although corruption exists in football, it is rare to see payments directly between parties who should never have such commercial dealings. More commonly, this type of payment would go through a third party. The industry is a heady environment for ambitious lawyers, who make up a sizeable portion of the players’ agent industry. They commonly invoice significant fees to club and can easily pay equally significant fees out for other professional services.
You may know it goes on, but even if you had all the paperwork, proving what happened was something sinister can be impossible. Which is why this is so shoddy, lazy, even. It is time for us to stop pretending modern sport is some bastion of 19th century ethical endeavours and accept that law breaking, organised crime and plain old bias cannot reach our fields. To believe otherwise does our athletes and the paying customer a disservice.
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Now the Framework of the TEAM?
It’s gonnae be Big.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m97WlpsuU74
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV08Msbh1vU
We huv to huv a wee bit of off the cuff Madness to go to the Very Top.
Ajax went Curtley Ambrose a few years ago.
Celtic, we know, is wan of the Biggest teams on the Gannet.
We need to deliver.
This is the Best team I have witnessed and we have done Nothing in Europe yeti.
are we there yet
Naw
Calling McPhailbhoy
Is this the latest craic bout the town? :-)))
https://www.donegallive.ie/news/arts—entertainment/1067565/meet-arthur-and-doris-letterkenny-s-new-internet-sensations.html
International breaks eh
Hope all good bout the town
HH
Nite all
A wee trio of tunes of the woman with sexiest voice. MATRON !!!!!!
Chrissy Hynde.
Pretenders – Brass In Pocket
https://youtu.be/0H6re3PCP3E
Pretenders – Back on the Chain Gang
https://youtu.be/cMOKamtpUA8
Pretenders – Kid
https://youtu.be/a9K14_By3zM
HH
Honest, last Pretenders post.
Pretenders – Talk Of The Town
https://youtu.be/-Kdt1IARNkI
Brian
Good evening all from the Laurieston Bar. One of the great Glasgow pubs. Wonderful.
i remeber this wan time i was doign a sunday shift at ibm back in 88 and decided to jook oot for a trip doon to largs for ice cream when i pulled up to the lights and guess who was in the lane beside me ?
oy Nemer
@RoyNemer
·
16h
From 2:50 onwards, I swear, I have never seen anything like this before. Argentina, best fans in the world.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1639119081491116032
SAINT STIVS
Wow. Not like you to be a vindictive cnut.
yup paul67 – football is big money, money brings bribes
let’s not forget there are still those amongst us who have seen the celtic managed by all the celtic managers except willie mallie
To those bhoys I can say noting other than we love and thank you.
(sincere apologies if I’ve got me dates mixed uP).
hashtagshoveyourmoneyupyourfeckinholewearealwaysceltic
Re. my earlier comment.
History suggests that when those who do things for free realise their actions have value, they usually demand a cut.
Scaniel
Enjoyed our chat. You are a fine Celt. Unfortunately your peace and quiet shall be shattered by me and Jimmy. The perils of keeping bad company. 😂
BRRB. Likewise, Thanks for getting in touch. Really made my day. Up till then, only been talking to donkeys today…..oh wait a minute….
BADA BING Celtic Revival 5/25 at Dundalk won at 7/1,
Scaniel 10.20
😂😂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNhmlG-3RO8
ouI
Hello again all you young rebels.
From a sunny but bored sh#tless Melbourne.
FFS when are the bhoys back ?
Feeling a bit grumpy this morning, touch hungover
with drinking Aussie lager ooouw.
Won’t touch Guinness again after reading about how
that company started and the name they had.
Amazed I didn’t know that information before.
Kilkenny for me now wherever I can get it.
No soccer here today either after last nights games
under the floodlights, where both our senior teams
got soundly thrashed, need to dig out my old boots I
think, you know the ones with the nailed in studs.
Embdy else on here old enough to have played in them ?
LOL.
H H. Mick
Ange’s promoting of any Player Lucky enough to represent their Country.
IMO – Says so much, Daizen said first & FOREMOST his Family was the most Important.
MELBOURNE MICK
My daughter her man and my 5yr old grandson are off to oz on Wed for a month.
Up the west coast a place called Broome(spelling, )
LEFTCLICKTIC
Been up in Broome and it’s a very hot part of the country.
Loads to do and visit as it has retained most of its Aboriginal
heritage.
Hope they enjoy their time in Oz.
H H. Mick
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=As2xcqN-jOo
If it works, three classic tunes.
With apologies to Belmont Brian for.copying his triplets idea.
Night night ya rascals. See you tomorrow in the Brazen. 👍
I cannae w8 for mair Angeball fitba.
bigrailroadblues,
I am Dr.Inking around about 18:00 hours in the City, not sure where yet. It’s a wee jamboree.
I must make the 2nd last train hame.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMZi25Pq3T8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzi3CSzt_7s
an Insane track frae the MADCHESTER era if I ain’t mistaken?
I might be Wrong.
Milton Keynes is a lang way frae Dumbarton.
It was an insane Evening.
And not even this wan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMgmgtwjXX4
RIP Keith.
The 1st Ingliston Event the Headliners. Said what they would do.
Turn the Sound up or we are Tchaikovsky.
Respect.
The Hun has got off so lightly So far.
I was defo disappointed, I definitely understood, as they were the Headliners, whit they were doing.
Rinsing out the Style……
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOu-dWhTTWw
Pedro just drink Rudi Vata….
How Strong is….. are those not starting?
CCV.CFC
MELBOURNE MICK on 24TH MARCH 2023 10:33 PM
Hello again all you young rebels.
From a sunny but bored sh#tless Melbourne.
FFS when are the bhoys back ?
Feeling a bit grumpy this morning, touch hungover
with drinking Aussie lager ooouw.
Won’t touch Guinness again after reading about how
that company started and the name they had.
Amazed I didn’t know that information before.
Kilkenny for me now wherever I can get it.
No soccer here today either after last nights games
under the floodlights, where both our senior teams
got soundly thrashed, need to dig out my old boots I
think, you know the ones with the nailed in studs.
Embdy else on here old enough to have played in them ?
LOL.
H H. Mick
……………………
AYE MICK….
I had a Pair of they Boots around 1965/1966 when I was around 10 or 11 years old.
My Favourite AUNTIE had a job in a PAWN SHOP in the GORBALS when she was a young lassie. She bought me those Boots for TEN BOB ( or 50p in Todays Money).
They were BROWN Leather Boots that went over my ankles for protection.
There were SIX WOODEN Studs on each Boot, and anyone could see the THREE NAIL HEADS in each Boot….for my protection obviously ?
God knows what the TOE CAPS were made of, but they were SOILD….and not unlike STEEL TOE CAPS ….again maybe for my protection ?
LOL
The ” Features” on those Boots were clearly NOT for MY so called Protection ( although any opponent seeing the NAILED ON Studs etc would be feart of tackling me ?)
Those Boots were…” LETHAL WEAPONS” !
LOL.
When I got those Boots that particular Christmas morning, it was ALSO the Day that I got my First CELTIC STRIP as a present.
Just after 9am that Christmas morning, I was out with my NEW Celtic strip on, my MAD Boots….running around my street in Easterhoose, which was heavily covered in Frost.
Sadly, SANTA FAILED to bring me a BALL that year, so there I was running about in my Celtic Strip, Leather Boots….and NO BALL ! I didnt care….I carried on pretending to DRIBBLE etc for quite a while.
ANY of my Neighbours who may have looked out of their windeas that particular Christmas morning, but have thought ” What an EEJIT that wee Jimmy is….Running and kid on dribbling….with NAE BAW ” !
LOL.
I LOVED my new Celtic Strip…made by UMBRO….I must admit though, I wasnt too impressed with those BROWN BOOTS taht morning, as I was SLIPPING around on the ICY ROAD….and those NAIL HEADS on my Studs didnae Help !
LOL.
Great memories…..I must have beaten TWO Dozen IMAGINERY Rangers players and scored 27 Goals that morning ?
FINAL SCORE…CELTIC – 27 V Rangers – 0……..So Feckin EASY !
HH
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 24TH MARCH 2023 6:24 PM
Big Jimmy – congrats.
If I am reading your post correctly you bet £4 total today and got back £374 ?
Genuine statement: you should write a book with a highly original uncontentious title like
“How to beat the parasitic bookies at their own game by a guy who has done just that without really trying”
Would it sell ?
In droves !
………………
YES Mate, I had a 50 PENCE EACH WAY Treble on at 15/8, 0/30 and 50/1….so it was only £1.00 staked…the Return was £330.30.
I ONLY staked £1.00 on the Bet because the 50/1 shot had been PULLED UP on its last TWO outings, and at one point it was 66/1 in the Betting, so I feared the worse for the Horse and my Bet.
The other Bet was a LUCKY 15…..Three Winners and a NON RUNNER….£3.00 STAKED….and the RETURN was £42.79.
Total Stakes… £4.00.
Total Returns…£374. 09…………If my sums are correct ?
Cheers mate and HH
CONEYBHOY on 24TH MARCH 2023 5:07 PM
Big Jimmy watching the races today😎
https://youtu.be/4IyO28IVUKE
………………
VERY Good Mate………I was SHOUTING and SCREAMING at the 50/1 Winner in particular, as it was slowing down big time in the Run In….and was NEARLY Caught by the Horse that was Placed 2nd.
My poor Horse was getting a wee bit TIRED…..but it got there first !
LOL
HH.
SCANIEL on 24TH MARCH 2023 5:15 PM
BIG JIMMY. Thanks, Pal
I’m out doing the donkeys just now but I’ll catch you later. ( Just some info for you rather than the blog).
Is that Nicky Henderson you follow? Think I can recall you mentioning that before.
…………………
SCANIEL Mate, your memory is very good as it was HENDERSONS three Horses Yesterday ( FRIDAY).
Ive been following NICKYS Horses for around 30 years or so ?
Nicky of course also Trains the GREAT ” CONSTITUTION HILL” which Won again at this years Cheltenham…..What a Horse !
I think Mr HENDERSON only has TWO Horses running Today ( SATURDAY)….I will need to double check right now.
The TWO Horses havent run before, and they run at NEWBURY this afternoon. One Horse is 0/30 in the Betting, and the other is 25/1.
I have already backed an ” REVERSE FORECAST” on those Horses but I will also back both Horses separately obviously….just in case ?
LOL
NO EMAIL… asYet, I will Text AN TEARMANN this morning.
HH SCANIEL Mate.
Morning bhoys.
BIG JIMMY.
I thought you were too young for those boots, end of games
instead of shaking hands we walked about looking for studs
which always came off on black ash pitches lol.
H H. Mick
Good morning all from Govanhill.
BIG JIMMY at 6:15
Just waiting to get your email addy, then I’ll get in touch.
Hate these nonCeltic weekends and I don’t follow the horses these days so a long day ahead. Couldn’t care much about the ftsfa mob these days which is quite sad because as a youngster I was mad keen on the national team.
Chucked it when I saw wee Jinky waiting to come on in the ‘74 World Cup and Ormond not giving our greatest player the opportunity to show the world his greatness. Should have started every game.
As we know only too well, having match officials who favour a certain side doesn’t necessarily manifest itself in game changing decisions. Very often just giving the little decisions can be enough. All those honest mistakes we already know about. Then there’s the little decisions, the failures to allow advantage, that early offside flag, all those unexplained free kicks, being very handy with the cards. Someone on here spoke about gathering stats re penalties etc. . . What about the myriad times when players from a certain team in blue should have been carded but wasn’t and the readiness to flash the card to their opponents. These events are rarely logged as influencing the game but they most surely do and as they accumulate. . Suspension rules players out of key games. . Again, not really noted in the season reviews. Take it further when appeals for players are easily won for a certain club but never forthcoming for others. All of this adds up to why paying the head referee worth every penny. It would never happen in Scotland though as no payments are necessary when the officials are already in your pocket.