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.
154 Comments- Pages:
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The Blogger Formerly Known As GM @ 10:13 pm,
You are an absolute lowlife…
Always lying yer head off…
I backed us for the double all the way…
You and your placemen told us BR&Co were our only problem…
Well you know ehat?
They were emptied eight months ago – with numerous oportunties to push on, strengthen the squad build back stronger at Celtic FC the Board did nothing – proved they are lazy and incompetent just like I said.
People we lost last season…
Brendan Rodgers
John Kennedy
Adam Sadler
Jack Lyons
Glen Drisccol
Jay Lefevre
Peter Lawwell
Wifried Nancy
Kwame Ampadu
Jules Gueguen
Maxime Chalier
Paul Tisdale
Tim Allison
Official replacements for positions…
Martin I’Neill – One year contract
James Bell-Walker
I told you, becareful what you wished for….
The smartest guys in the room like you knew better – right!?
Hail Hail
Prestonpans bhoys – 11:06 am,
Getting back to your point.
Did you know who was on the renumeration committee that granted Peter Lawwell his eye watering bonus in 2019.!?
Tom Allison, Ian Bankier and Brian Wilson….
Friends and associates of PL…
Now BFFs…
How can that happen at a PLC?
Hail Hail
The truth always hurts Chairboy.
So near yet so far.
Better luck next season 👍
Night, night.
The Blogger Formerly Known As GM @ 11:03 pm,
It’s reality that hurts…
Told you what was going down long ago – but you and your mates knew better didn’t you?
Your Board “chums” emptied BR&Co and replaced them with Wilfried Nancy & Co…
That’s the reality isn’t it – that was the incompetence I was railing against.
Turns out the only functioning department at Celtic FC was Brendan Rodgers department, head and shoulders above the incompetent hierarchy.
No concerns about next season…
Allison emptied
Lawwell emptied
We have Martin O’Neil in charge next season…
Next season we are coming back.
Hail Hail
Did anyone watch News at Ten. They did report on Scotland v Haiti. Started with fans leaving Edinburgh AirPort. Moved onto Scotland fans already in Boston. Reporter then talks about unexpected encounter with the opposition. He’s in a taxi driven by Haitian driver who tells reporter “I love Celtic!” 🍀💚🍀
ChairBhoy
Don’t engage with them. They insult fellow Celtic fans on a daily basis. They are obviously Board lickspittles who think they are superior to the rest of the support. They would rather we gloss over the Nancy appointment. Say what you have to say and ignore what they have to say.
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy @ 11:56 pm,
Yes, you are one hundred percent right.
Normally I do just that but sometimes it’s good to have a platform to make a point;)
I love the way they call me Chairboy as if it’s an insult…
Like folk who call you a Tim like it’s an insult… ignorance is never a good look.
I went to school, college, work in High Wycombe – my children were born in Wycombe…
Maybe not a Chairboy Legend like MO’N but I’ll wear that badge with pride…
Hope all’s well with you and yours…
I’ll be taking your advise.
Hail Hail
ziggydoc1 on 11th June 2026 6:55 pm
Suspended sentence of 1000 seats🤔. St Stivs heid will be in overdrive 😉. Will those tickets be invalid at the turnstile of will the usual empty seats now be occupied 😃
—————–
a smart match ticket office contoller would gather data about those seats that are sold but never occupied, and move these to the front rows on the day of the sentence being applied.
smart seat shuffle, i mean there is 1,000 empty seats at any given game.
The relevance to current blog is in final para. If only we knew Infantino’s reply.
Any guesses?
PETER LAWWELL’S LETTER TO SFA CHIEF EXECUTIVE STEWART REGAN IN FULL Dated 25 May 2012
Dear Stewart,
You will already be well aware of the BBC Scotland programme broadcast on Wednesday 23rd May relating to various events at Rangers, and other media coverage in a similar vein.
The situation at Rangers has clearly attracted a huge level of exposure and comment over a number of months, none of it favourable.
The SFA has already conducted one inquiry, with a subsequent Judicial Panel Hearing and Appeal.
The SPL is attempting to investigate issues associated with the Rangers EBT, although I gather is still trying to obtain all the relevant information.
Wednesday evening’s programme and other media articles have now placed the affairs of Rangers in relation to payments to players under even greater scrutiny.
The BBC and others now appear to have access to detailed documentary evidence to support the statements made.
If the allegations of “double-contracts” for players are true, and a breach of SFA and/or SPL rules is established, the eligibility of those players to have competed in domestic league and cup competitions will be called into question, in turn, the integrity of the football results achieved by using those players would by necessity also fall into question.
Any wrongdoing then established would have to be subject to fair and proportionate sanctions, including retrospectively, if appropriate.
However, at a higher level, in our opinion this whole affair is causing lasting damage to the reputation and integrity of Scottish football.
We have, to date, supported both the SFA and the SPL in their efforts to deal with the situation.
We appreciate fully that this has not been an easy task for either body. But the interests of fairness and Scottish football now demand that the SFA act decisively.
The initial inquiry should now be reconvened, or a new independent panel led by a judge or senior lawyer should be formed, to investigate and report upon the Rangers EBT issues and consider whether there has been any further breach of the Association’s rules, including those on disrepute.
The roles of individuals (past and present) subject to the jurisdiction of the Association should also be examined.
This should take place as quickly as possible, irrespective of the SPL’s own investigations.
I look forward to hearing from you with confirmation of the SFA’s intentions.
A copy of this letter is being sent to the Chairman of the SPL [Ralph Topping], the Chief Executive of the SFL [David Longmuir] and pto Uefa [Gianni Infantino] as these issues may be relevant in the context of Uefa Financial Fair Play, the eligibility of players participating in competitions organised by these bodies, and the wider responsibilities of these organisations to protect the integrity of the game.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Lawwell.
The sun has got its hat on
Hip Hip Hip Hooray
The sun has got its hat on and its coming out to play
Well it used to come out to play away back in the day.
https://x.com/MarkRogers55808/status/2065062179678585039
In the interests of clarity concerning back room staff wages check whose wages get included in the FSR/SCR calculation.
The significance of this is that the more than gets attributed to backroom staff the less there is to attribute to player costs.
This might explain why their contracts have mot yet be finalised a more reasonable meaning than it is a GIRUY to MoN.
Under UEFA’s Financial Sustainability Regulations, the Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) is wider than just player wages.
The key concept is “relevant persons”. For most clubs this includes:
First-team players
Head coach/manager
Assistant coaches
Goalkeeping coaches
Other technical staff directly involved with the first team football operation �
The costs counted in the SCR numerator include:
Salaries, bonuses and other employment benefits paid to those relevant persons.
Transfer fee amortisation for players.
Agent/intermediary fees relating to players and coaches.
Certain loan fees (under the current 2026 regulations).
Chairbhoy on 11th June 2026 11:13 pm
The Blogger Formerly Known As GM @ 11:03 pm,
I’ve resolved not to respond to anything you write but all of it regarding the treatment of BR by the Board is a false narrative that maintains the divide.
It is a meaning you have put on events and that is all it is.
There are other meanings that differ but if BR ever takes DD to court then your narrative will be the correct one.
Until then it is just a narrative that supports what you think is the case. It is but one of many.
S. Korea v Czechia: good physical game with some nice moves from S. Korea.
Good Morning Fholks – Grand Day To Be A Tim
Auldheid @ 2:54 am,
You write that as if there are some unknowns still…
You told us there was with regard Brendan Rodgers behaviour and that you would produce evidence.
I quoted Mark Twain, as the strategy of you and others were persuing….
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes”
I was quite content to change my mind regarding the situation, as I often do when the facts change, yet as I predicted no evidence has been produced to support the scurrilous innuendo against Brendan Rodgers.
We also have had absolutely no good reasons given why John Kennedy, Adam Sadler, Jack Lyons, Glen Drisccol were ruthlessly axe’d.
The behaviour of the Celtic hierarchy has been diabolical.
They are a lazy, incompetent bunch, living high on the hog…
While those who have delivered on the football front, Shaun and Fozzy the latest, are treated, like the supporters, in an abominal manner.
Waiting weeks to get a boilerplate confirmation of Martin’s appointment.
Yet your “honest mistakes”, always seem to show our non-performing Board in a better light.
Seen your recent one putting 50% on the sales price of Luis Palma.
There was no need, Luis was a decent player who never quite reached the level, that we managed to get some good games out of and our money back on.
Yet you have to make things up, exsggerate in the Board’s favour.
All I’m doing is sticking to the facts – you are the one spinning a narrative…
See South Korea beat Czechia 2-1, Yang didn’t get on but Oh came on as sub and scored the winner…
Good result, well done them…
Hail Hail
I’ve resolved not to respond to anything you write. . . ..
Good morning all.
AULDHEID on 12TH JUNE 2026 2:44 AM
In the interests of clarity concerning back room staff wages check whose wages get included in the FSR/SCR calculation.
________________________________
You are as always correct in respect of the facts related to these matters, and the blog remains the better for your accuracy and interest in the subject.
However, I feel like it is a little disingenuous to respond in this way, as the point of debate is not necessarily how the club chooses to use its available budget, but more just manner in which we do our business.
The point really being, if the club has a budget in mind for its manager and first team coaches, then fill those positions at that price. No problem. If your preferred option falls outside that range, then by all means negotiate and reach agreement. With the gift that the club received from MON and his team, I would have hoped there was some room to avoid the unseemly public nature of this process, and given that it is for a single year, who cares (I cannot imagine anybody is asking the earth for their services).
If the club is looking at Shaun and positioning their offer based on the fact that 6-months ago he was overseeing the administration of one part of the youth system, they are looking at this the wrong way.
Similarly, if they take the view that Fozzie was unemployed 6-month ago, factoring that into an offer is not appropriate or acceptable.
All said and done, Martin accepted the job in writing with (I guarantee this) either a verbal or written agreement that Maloney and Fozzie would return with him. The club are on an incredible streak of really poor decisions, but is this really the way that they plan on extending that streak?
Let’s be very honest, it’s not like they are going to get remotely close to the “cap” for football related wages. It almost laughable to consider that could be a risk.
I’m tired and sad.
Tired of watching our club self-harm, while I and others have no voice or meaningful way to drive a change.
Sad to see this incredible institution debased and disrespected by those in power.
And now for something completely different.
How can we enhance the match day experience for supporters, after all football without fans is nothing.
We have previously discussed many initiatives, but the more suggestions, ideas and implementations are more than welcome.
There is one basic function applicable to all fans that could be “easily” implemented in conjunction with GCC that would bring comfort and relief to many fans, especially thirsty fans.
GCC is currently reviewing strategy of public toilets in the city, or rather lack of public toilets in the city. 95% of asked city dwellers thought the facilities for such a basic function were insufficient.
How about on matchdays installing some portable toilets along the Gallowgate towards CP. ( If sucessful other approaches could follow )
It is factual that many fans relieve themselves along the route and with the bushes being cut back this is definitely not desirable considering that many children walk this route.
If you need advice on how to spend a worthwhile penny Celtic.
HH.
PS : Do any other clubs in the UK provide toilet facilities outside thier stadium?
I would like to think that great achievements by ordinary football fans can be celebrated on CQN.
Step forward Craig Ferguson who has just raised £1m for Scottish action for mental health.
He has walked 3.2 thousand miles from LA to Boston.
An amazing Feat ( On fire ) that will considerably help others.
Well done Craig. Time for a boogie.
HH.
We’re doing it again, aren’t we. The SMSM think why has Maloney & Fotheringham not been appointed yet. So let’s get some clickbait going. Wow, and how many bite right away, no even a nibble just straight in and swallow it, hook line and sinker! Will they ever learn, probably not, por cierto……..
POR CIERTO
It would appear that another double winning season hasn’t even papered over the cracks this time. Dancing to the SMSM tune, abetted by the clickbait ‘Celtic’ blogs and other sites who will happily run the club down if it gets them clicks – kerching…
“Watch ex-Celtic star score as Yang Hyun-jun suffers World Cup disappointment” – an example of today’s headlines; managing to squeeze two negative messages about Celtic into one line. And these are the outlets whose bile is treated as gospel truth.
Heads in the Sand CSC
Well, I myself personally don’t visit click-bait sites, so I miss most of their rubbish, which I’m instead hearing about on here, rather ironically, so they don’t get a penny from me.
But do carry on, by all means. Each to their own and all that.
“ What we have here is a failure to communicate “
Saint Stivs on 12th June 2026 2:20 am
ziggydoc1 on 11th June 2026 6:55 pm
Suspended sentence of 1000 seats🤔. St Stivs heid will be in overdrive 😉. Will those tickets be invalid at the turnstile of will the usual empty seats now be occupied 😃
a smart match ticket office contoller would gather data about those seats that are sold but never occupied, and move these to the front rows on the day of the sentence being applied.
smart seat shuffle, i mean there is 1,000 empty seats at any given game.
Saint Stivs, on having a quick read back from last night, came across the above.
Very smart (and very funny). Keep ’em coming.
Ave Ave
Some men, you just can’t reach.
What a speech
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1514267820138955
https://www.threads.com/@matthewstadlen/post/DZdfBDvEbMx?xmt=AQG08dHxwaAErPL90SDCcvRNbW4zeBdx-PFH9MHiSW1NO-gModEBTWzvRfw69b9L60-xaXQ&source_surface=35&slof=1
GB News, the Reform channel
Gedinte on 12th June 2026 7:01 am
AULDHEID on 12TH JUNE 2026 2:44 AM
I post information.
You can make of it what you like.
But being disingenous is a wrong meaning.
I was putting forward a possible reason for delay.
Nothing more Nothing less.
Facts are chiels that winnae ding.
Indeed.
Chairbhoy
Where is your evidence?
I set out the basis for believing BR is untrustworthy.
Most of it is from DD himself.
He is either telling lies or he is”nt.
Prove he is lying.
…. .and scousers with nightclubs.
The new article will be up at noon.
Good morning CQN
Another fine day to be a Celt.
20 days ago, Celtic won the Scottish Cup to complete yet another double.
Happy days.
Keep it lit.
There are times when the actions of one man can bring uncontrollable joy to thousands …
https://x.com/CelticFC/status/2053584613352620394/mediaviewer
Chairbhoy @ 05:38am
If Shaun and Fozzy have indeed been
“treated … in an abominal manner”
(Your words)
That is unacceptable, IMHO.
There is no evidence that I can see to support your strongly worded assertion.
Shaun is an interesting microcosm of the CQN gamut of opinions.
Outrage abounded at the thought of him becoming manager
(Another suggestion without evidence that turned out to be a load of old fanny)
Outrage of a different flavour emerges at the thought of him not being part of Martin’s coaching group.
Hmm. (borrowed that one from Paul67, BTW)
BTW, whatever happened to the Oh Hyeon-gyu sell on clause money?
Didn’t even know he’d gone to Besiktas.
RIP David Hockney