As a fan of the game, it is encouraging to see so much of society engaged at the prospect of the World Cup, which starts tonight in Mexico City. Homes and cars are decked with saltires (devoid of political overtones) as an unimaginable number of people consider being awake at 4am on Sunday morning.
I love World Cups. The sheer delight of wall-to-wall football for weeks, with the world’s best on display and out-with their usual elite-paying club cocoons. Once the games start, the juices will start to flow, but it’s been a hard shift to engage so far.
For much of its existence, Fifa has put enormous powers of patronage into the hands of its top executives, leading to criminal convictions and then to what everyone hoped for would be a pivot towards a more open and responsible organisation. The pivot we have witnessed for this tournament is anything but.
Last year, Fifa president Gianni Infantino instigated the Fifa Peace Prize, awarded to a person who had “taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace” and “united people across the world”. For me, this was an early warning of what was to come. It would be dirty by association to get too close to this tournament.
Price-gorging for tickets and transport through official channels, while Fifa were unable to secure entry for supporters of all qualifying nations to the tournament, then the treatment of Somali referee Omar Artan, who despite having a valid visa and diplomatic passport, was denied entry at border control, leave the impression that inadequate preparatory work was done for World Cup 2026. Infantino has failed. He has embarrassed the game and further-sullied the reputation of Fifa.
Maybe we’ll feel different once the games get underway, but for now, I’m not feeling it.
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So have our board
Good afternoon you old duffers.
Infantino is a grifter- sees everything as an opportunity to increase his personal wealth
Martin confirmed as manager.
infantino for ceo.
Stivs
🤣🤣
Nothing about Mahoney or Fozzy in the statement.
Time to chill and relax.
Despot says “The club will support Martin fully again across the close season to make sure we are well prepared to achieve domestic success and compete on the European stage.”
Oh and the mute has spoken too, what a day!
Bournesouprecipe @ 11:34 am,
Quite,
The lists tell a story…
We sell our HVPs, hope we can get a similar standard of player in.!?
At best we remain the same, at worse we downsize again….
Seriously failing to see where the “rebuild” comes into it…
As far as forward planning and growing the club with a Museum or Hotel – At the time I said the we would not build the hotel unless the European Club’s Association was successful in it’s bid to make a two teir pan-European league system with Celtic in the second teir.
Just like our bid for EPL status quarter of a century ago, the “project” was funded by the Celtic support, in the case of the hotel the feasibility study and getting the planning permission out the club’s coffers for PLC glory.
Any profit from these ventures would be slurped up by the Board.
The Board groupies are ever present on CQN, through their vague excuses and ad hominem attacks they try to deflect from what is as plain as the nose on your face – they were wrong, totally and abjectly wrong in their support of this Board.
The Board care little for football and even less for it’s dead~beat fanaticals.
Getting caught out with their hand in the cookie jar just makes them double down on their contempt.
Hope by the end of it our hero is NOT telling them to stuff it and walking away saying…
“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”
Hail Hail
Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Martin O’Neill as Football Manager on a one-year contract with a one-year option.
In his connection with Celtic, Martin has already brought nine major honours to the club, including Celtic’s fifth consecutive league title as part of the most memorable league and Scottish Cup double just last month.
Among his many achievements, Martin was the first manager to deliver a domestic Treble for Celtic in 32 years, when he did so in his first season in charge back in 2001, while he also took Celtic to a European final in Seville in 2003.
Last season, he drove the club to its 56th Premiership title, by winning the last seven league matches and rounding off one of the most amazing climaxes in Scottish football history by securing his fourth and Celtic’s 43rd Scottish Cup victory.
Celtic Interim Chairman, Brian Wilson said: “I warmly welcome Martin’s re-appointment and look forward to more of the same leadership, inspiration and success he has delivered for the club.
“The achievements which he and the team secured in the season just gone have created a great platform for the one that lies ahead.
“This is the start of a busy summer and we will ensure that we are in the best possible position to compete, with Martin back at the helm.”
Delighted to be agreeing this new contract with the club, Martin O’Neill said: “It is once again a great privilege for me to continue as Celtic manager. Last season will live long in all our memories and to be part of that success has in a big way whetted the appetite to work again for more days like those and bring our supporters those moments.
“Of course, none of this could have been achieved without the players and staff and I want to take this opportunity to thank them for bringing that level of focus, determination and talent to bear at the conclusion of the season to deliver the league and Cup double.
“I would particularly like to thank the Board for asking me back and giving me this opportunity again.
“We know of course that Celtic can never rest on past success so we are now aiming to drive forward together in the coming season as we aim to deliver again for the club and our fans.
“I thank our fans for their ongoing support, it means everything to us. I look forward to being back at Celtic Park next season when we will come together and we will strive again to bring our fans the success which that support deserves.”
Michael Nicholson, Celtic’s Chief Executive, said: “We are really pleased to keep Martin as manager. His knowledge and experience proved vital to us last season and we know his leadership will be hugely important to us going forward.
“He is someone who continues to deliver, who knows how to win and a manager we have absolute confidence in to once again drive the team through the next period.
“We have important challenges ahead and the immediate priority of everyone at the club is to ensure we are ready to tackle these with confidence and deliver success again for our supporters.”
Celtic’s principal shareholder, Dermot Desmond, commented: “Time and time again Martin has shown his qualities and what he can bring to Celtic.
“We know he is a winner, we know what the club means to him and he continues to be the outstanding candidate to give us the best opportunity to realise our objectives.
“He knows the demands at Celtic and I know how determined he is again to bring success to the club and to our supporters.
“The club will support Martin fully again across the close season to make sure we are well prepared to achieve domestic success and compete on the European stage.”
#CelticFC🍀
told yeese.
the announcement was waiting on everyone involved being back from holidays, and the plebs acan wait, they already bought the tickets not knowing, so why do they need to know now ?
meanwhile, just to set the keyboards on fire ………..
Martin says –
“I would particularly like to thank the Board for asking me back and giving me this opportunity again.
🏆🏆🏆
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23 of 30
Saints – 3
Sinners – 3
Dons – 1
Infantino is a corrupt, cowardly spiv. A puppet for the mega-rich leeches who’s insatiable greed sucks the very decency from the beautiful working class game.
Why else are Russia barred but genocidal Israel are welcomed ?
Peace prize for a narcisstic, child trafficking meglomaniac.
Iranian delegation treated like lepers, decent Somalian referee sent home, Scottish fans denied entrance to the US with last minute notice, tickets priced for the super-prawn sandwich brigade.
The whole circus is a sham.
What money is invested in the villages of Africa, Asia or S America ?
All weather pitches for the kids in high rise flats and run down areas in Europe ?
I swear, if it weren’t for my life long love of the actual game itself, I’d throw my proverbial hat at the lot them !
Spivs and leeches.
Paul67 et al
Guess you are not quite in the loop as when you served as ‘His Masters Voice’! Missed both the deadline and the headline! Tant Pis
Martin O’Neill has been confirmed as Celtic FC Manager, for the 4th time!
Announcements and supporting statements from BW, MN and DD plus from Martin himself.
Guessing there will now be follow up confirmations re his supporting staff & coaches, good news for bona fide Celtic Supporters everywhere, not so much for the guys selling tennis balls & tangerines ootside the Stadium.
Welcome back welcome back welcome back!
Madra Rua on 11th June 2026 12:28 pm
Aipac-Epstein world cup
chairbhoy@12.12pm
Was that a post you had prepared earlier? Certainly looks like it!
The Zeitgeist is not really where you’re at……
Paul 67,
I am also getting into the world Cup after a slow start.it is still the greatest show on Earth.
But FIFA failing is not new. They failed in 2022. By going to Qatar they failed women and the LGBTQ community. Not to mention the migrant workforce who died in their hundreds building their stadia and the appalling human rights concerns in that country.
HH.
Mustela nivalis is happy his heroes have raised their heads above the parapet.
Off the back of this article I went on a wee Wiki search of things FIFA-ish
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Football_Association_Board
Check out the first name on the Technical sub-committee
Did yer AI asst tell ye how tae spell that chatmo?
Tell her fae me tae keep up the good woik!
Just made ma day! Not fir the foist time….
WeSeeYouCSC
Infantino gis me the boak. He’d settle in nicely on our board. Pathetic responses to the journalists today.
Celtic Mac on 11th June 2026 12:36 pm,
Do you know what Zeitgeist means!?
I’d suggest if you want to get in the spirit of this PLC’s age, you look at the PLC statement when Brendan Rodgers was appointed in June three years ago.
Then read DD’s statement on his departure, then read Ross Dermot’s AGM statement at the AGM.
Then ask yourself why we persuing Robbie Keane for weeks.
Then ask yourself why MO’N only has a years contract…
Then ask yourself… well don’t…
Just don’t believe any statement this PLC puts out….
Hail Hail
No Deal for Maloney or Fozzy !
Strange one that ?
Salzburg in for Rohl,which would be bad news, compensation for that clown
back to basics
On the official IFAB site, if up to date, Willie Collum is listed as the SFA rep on the Tech Committee…..
Which would make more sense than the man with the double barrelled name….
who was drummed out (fife anaw probably) a while back. We might have had something to do with that…..
chairbhoy@12.51
A Day Late & A Dollar Short?
Blatter, Platini, Infantino and whoever comes next. The same old story……….
Celtic Mac @ 1:04 pm
“We have all enjoyed great success across recent years, Brendan himself being a huge part of that. I know Brendan is determined to deliver again for our supporters and collectively, the board, management, players and staff will support him in this aim.”
Desmond Dermot June 2023
Hail Hail
Bring back Sepp Blatter… he’s a paragon of moral virtue by comparison to this scumbag.
Talking of sick football executive behaviour, tell me the stories that we’re lowballing Maloney & Fozzy aren’t true. We wouldn’t actively shaft the very people that have just saved our skins surely? We wouldn’t confirm every worst perception of ourselves and feed the pre-existing schism with fans for a few shekels would we?
That would be incredibly ill judged and self defeating, so I can only assume there’s no truth in it.
Phew.
PS welcome officially back Martin.
CHAIRBHOY @ 12.12
Top blogging,
I commend you again even the groupies stopped tipping a double was coming.
Most emotionally attached supporters know that MON left Celtic no alternative other than to keep him as the manager and part of the ongoing fairy tale he helped create.
Down with silly 33 day concepts, no more Dr Football’s, from lowland leagues. Up with modernisation, proper analytics, scouting, a recruitment process, backed by a budget that doesn’t need underspend ‘additions’ in winter, to compound summer supporter disappointment.
Six months from Wilfried Nancy and we go again with another permanent Top Tier manager.
Sydney Carton CSC
HH
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full
They don’t exactly slum it with their hotel choices, do they?
Aw naw there’s two o em…..
“Life is a mere bagatelle”.
J. Cheever Loophole.
I couldn’t care less about the fifa World Cup, thankfully most games will on during the night when I’m hopefully sleeping, Infantino still has an award from putin and awarded another honour to a guy who has turned most of world upside down, stuff the world Cup.
I want to see what the support to MoN actually means.
Super Salary World Cup cliches ,
“ You’re not wrong there……Fletch”
“What a finish that is.……..Fletch”
“That’s absolutely magnificent.……..Fletch”
“I tell you what……….Fletch”
“He’s got every right to hit that.…….Fletch”
“I’ve got to say………Fletch”
“He’s done ever so well there.……..Fletch”
“What a strike.…….Fletch”
“He’s absolutely leathered that.……Fletch”
“That’s a terrific ball.……..Fletch”
“He’s not trying to do that!…… Fletch”
“You can’t legislate for that.……Fletch”
“I fancy him from here.…….Fletch”
“It’s a brilliant bit of play……Fletch”
“Listen, I’m telling you…………Fletch”
“Oh, he’s got to score!………Fletch”
“That’s a great save, by the way.……. Fletch”
“He’s caught that sweetly.…….Fletch “
“What a player he is.……..Fletch”
“ Seen them given ……..Fletch”
“ Put your laces through it ……..Fletch “
” Physicality…….Fletch “
In fairness to the Cheeky Chappie he sometimes varies it and calls him Darren and anyway better commentators will be available at the World Cup.
This is a white supremacist World Cup. I have no interest in it except that I hope an African team wins.
BSR, one you missed, “Lawrence will be sensational at Rangurs”