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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Catching up after a few days out and about.
Regarding Thursday’s leader, surely this is a more accurate title –
The ink is a dying attribute 🤪
Big Jimmy, I thought you preferred black ones.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ladies-Boots-Womens-Thigh-Patent/dp/B075T9M2P6/ref=asc_df_B075T9M2P6/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=344321595811&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2651744973519193968&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046992&hvtargid=pla-702447898998&psc=1
😉
An Tearmann on 25th March 2023 10:17 am
Best Wishes today to ex cqn legend of the parish BroganRoganTrevino&Hogan who later today marries his partner Ruth.
All the best Jim and Ruth,take care and the very best of luck and good fortune.
Hail Hail
………………….
I echo AT’s thoughts.
The very best wishes.
It would be good to see him back if just for one more comment.
Injuries are an unfortunate part of football. I would however be waiting to see exactly who is and is not available after the international break before going all hyperbolic.
Celtic winger Mikey Johnston admits he jumped at the chance to set the story straight and thrive with Vitoria Guimares on loan.
The 23–year-old admits he and the Parkhead boss enjoyed a straight–up discussion over his future before plumping for a move to Portugal to reignite his career. And it’s paid off in a major way for a player who made a thrilling debut for the Republic of Ireland in their 3-2 victory over Latvia and he was involved in the winner. And now he is primed for a key role under a new-look Ireland side guided by Stephen Kenny.
But Johnston has now moved to set the record straight over what he perceives as inaccurate opinions about him and his role with the Premiership champions amid an inconsistent injury record before his leap of faith at the start of the season. He said: “Last season I still played 20 games for Celtic, so it’s not like I was pushed out the door. I played in a cup final for the manager and he gave me an extra year when I left the club, so that gave me the faith to say he wants me to come back and produce.
“I needed consistency and more minutes. We had an honest conversation and he said it was best that I went elsewhere to get it. I was fine with that. I needed a freshen up. Opinions on me weren’t accurate and I wanted to change that. I had to get away from the UK, to be honest. Portugal has been really good. I had quite a bad time with injuries in the last couple of years.
“For a full year, touch wood, I have been fine and managed to get back to full fitness. Vitoria has been a great platform for me. They are in a big league and it’s really competitive. I have had a lot of starts, a lot of games, a lot of consistency, which is what I needed. Will I be back at Celtic long-term? We will see. I don’t want to sit on the bench. I just want to feel important.”
Just seen Scotland lineup.
5 defenders , 4 midfielders and 1 forward at home to Cyprus
1 up
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 25TH MARCH 2023 10:59 AM
I too remember those old boots. My first pair I got about 1958. They were brown. When I was about 12 I got a pair of the black molded ones. Gola, I think.
*aye me tae and a tin of dubbin as well and then I got a pair of hand me down Manfield Hotspurs with screw in studs, tie then under the sole first and then round the back and finally on the side, NEVER NEVER on the instep.
the bhoy mccginn.
16 goals for scotland now in 62 games,
more than his 15 for villa in 164 games.
You watch Celtic, then you watch this mob……
Watching the Scotland game. The pitch looks awful. I’ve seen a couple of large divets flying up and close ups of the pitch show that it is pitted and uneven.
i too am watching the game.
observations.
scotland are trying to play decent on the eye football.
and i hate red socks.
HH
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on 25th March 2023 2:47 pm
Watching the Scotland game. The pitch looks awful. I’ve seen a couple of large divets flying up and close ups of the pitch show that it is pitted and uneven.
…………………………………………………………………………..
We know the real reason the “showcase” game is on the Sunday.
A leveller huh.
Liverpool v Celtic Legends match can be seen for free on Liverpool You Tube channel- kick off in a minute’s time
Big Jimmy wee Riley said Hail Hail big Mhan.
D :)
PETEC
Absolutely. A churned up pitch will impede our passing game.
Oops *divots not divets from earlier.
BIG JIMMY
email sent.
Hope you are well. Take care.
SAINT STIVS on 25TH MARCH 2023 2:52 PM
i too am watching the game
observations.
scotland are trying to play decent on the eye football
____
Yes, they have mostly. They have decent players in midfield and fullbacks. Not so elsewhere. Pitch is terrible
.
I hate other fans having ‘ownership’ of our players for 90 minutes
Celtic all over Liverpool but a late first half penalty awarded to Liverpool means we’re 1 nil down- scored by Stevie G – leading to a few thrown objects
Gerrard scores from the penalty spot , celebrates and some of the Greatest Fans in the World throw things at him. Hmm..
2:0 to Liverpool straightaway in 2nd half . Darren O’Dea conceded the first half penalty- now Lustig falls over to gift them the 2nd.
Liverpool v Celtic legends live at Anfield right now…
https://www.youtube.com/live/qLDWo_KAEKM?feature=share
Celtic got one back from an O’Dea header- somehow given offside- still 2:0. Hard to see where any offside was.
Watching the Bulgaria v Montenegro game which I recorded to see how Sead Haksabanovic performed. I’m pleased to say that he had a very good 45 minutes. I’m not sure why he was replaced at half time. I didn’t see any obvious incident where he might have been injured and he was definitely the main source of danger for Montenegro.
It took him a good 15 mins to get into the game as he didn’t get any service due to Bulgaria dominating that period. He provided Montenegro’s first shot on target which he didn’t hit hard enough to beat the keeper. In the latter part of the half he sent a very dangerous pass into the box, he had one of his trademark shots to the far post which we’ve all come to love and recognise. It was blocked by a defender who headed it clear for a corner and he put in a great corner from which a team mate almost scored but his header was clawed off the line by the goalie.
A god 45 mins for Sead then. I just hope he’ll be fit for next Sunday.
Celtic score their 2nd goal and it is ruled out for an imaginary ball out of play decision- we’re not going to be allowed to win this one. Still 2:0 for Liverpool
Couldn’t listen to those commentators a minute longer , bring back mccoist nah mibbes naw
Montenegro won the game 1-0 having lost their last 7 games. I didn’t realise that they have a population of just over 680000.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 25TH MARCH 2023 4:32 PM
Celtic score their 2nd goal and it is ruled out for an imaginary ball out of play decision- we’re not going to be allowed to win this one. Still 2:0 for Liverpoo
*I watched it but soon turned the sound down as it was steven with the v this and steven that but not before I heard our fantastic support out sing them with the real Fields.
Blatant hand ball in penalty area by Liverpool ignored by ref
Ends 2:0
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 25TH MARCH 2023 12:09 PM
Big Jimmy – your betting posts never fail to raise a smile.
Please keep ’em coming.
……………
Cheers mate. Thank you.
HH
Big Jimmy, I thought you preferred black ones.
………………..
Now, that is what I call a Pair of Boots !
WOW !
LOL
HH
We wuz robbed!
Again!
HOT SMOKED on 25TH MARCH 2023 3:42 PM
Gerrard scores from the penalty spot , celebrates and some of the Greatest Fans in the World throw things at him. Hmm..
…………..
Im just surprised that TAVPEN didnt take it !
HH
DAVID66 on 25TH MARCH 2023 3:18 PM
Big Jimmy wee Riley said Hail Hail big Mhan.
………..
MAGIC Mate.
God Bless the RILEY BIRTHDAY BHOY………By the way, I STILL want to be his AGENT !
That BHOY is going places.
HH Mate.