Lazio won their ninth successive Serie A game at the weekend, a club record. Currently, the second longest winning streak in the league is two games. They are third in the table, three points off top. They have not dropped a point since before their first game against Celtic in October, and in that time they beat Juventus in the league and Supercoppa Italiana.
Apart from the two defeats to Celtic, the only other game they have failed to win in this sequence was the Europa dead rubber in Rennes.
Not that Rennes are a pushover. They have not dropped a point in five Ligue 1 games since their loss at Celtic Park in November, a run that puts them in third place. By contrast, Moussa Dembele’s Lyon, who are twelfth in Ligue 1, qualified for the Champions League knockout stage.
Were it not for one horrible performance we would be glowing at the halfway point of the season. We won a remarkable Europa League group, picked up our customary League Cup and sailed through the league campaign until a December, when a few narrow wins were a portent to a painful defeat. This does not make achieving the improvement that is required easier. Paradoxically, revisions need to take place on the side that won their Europa group to ensure we improve in the SPFL.
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MNCELT – If they were going to cite Morelos, would it not have been done by now? I assume the compliance officer watches the game, notes anything out of order that the ref missed and makes her charge. Can’t see how she would cite Christie one day and Morelos several days after. Why wait? Doesn’t make sense.
HENRIK1967 on 6TH JANUARY 2020 6:45 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBu6cMo95YE&feature=share
Incredible that nothing has changed!
Another bending of the rules that the SFA weren’t challenged on.
Did Scottish FA break own rules during process of granting new Rangers chairman Dave King fit-and-proper status?
23 May 2015 01:05
Did Scottish FA break own rules during process of granting new Rangers chairman Dave King fit-and-proper status?
Rangers chairman Dave King was awarded fit-and-proper status this week
Eight members of the SFA board made the final decision on Tuesday
Sportsmail has learned of surprise and concern among members of the 11-man Professional Game Board over their exclusion from decision
Published: 23:53 GMT, 22 May 2015 | Updated: 00:05 GMT, 23 May 2015
The Scottish FA were last night facing fresh questions over the process which ended in Dave King being granted fit-and-proper status.
The new Rangers chairman was given the green light on Tuesday by the eight-man full SFA board following a protracted debate over his South African tax convictions and his presence on the Ibrox board when the club suffered an insolvency event in 2012.
Sportsmail has learned, however, of surprise and concern among some members of the SFA’s 11-man Professional Game Board over their exclusion from the final discussion and decision on the matter.
Dave King (right) attends a press conference on Thursday after he was granted fit-and-proper status
The PGB last met three weeks ago, on April 30, when they granted interim Rangers chairman Paul Murray the all-clear on his own fit-and-proper status. In the aftermath of the Murray vote, PGB members expected to be summoned for a final King ruling.
This week’s SFA statement confirmed, however, that the decision over the South African businessman was actually taken only by the eight-man SFA board despite SFA Board Protocols section 3.15 (iv) stating that responsibility for ‘approving persons to hold position within Association Football’ lies with the PGB.
In exceptional circumstances article 64.1 of the SFA rulebook says the full Board: ‘shall at any time be entitled to exercise its powers in relation to areas of responsibility… like matters considered and determined by the Professional Game Board.’
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However Sportsmail understands that, after ruling on Murray, members of the PGB now want clarification on why they were excluded from voting on King.
The current PGB consists of Rod Petrie (Hibs), Neil Doncaster (SPFL), Ralph Topping (SPFL), Peter Lawwell (Celtic), Duncan Fraser (Aberdeen), Mike Mulraney (Alloa), Sandy Stables (Highland League), Andrew Waddell (Lowland League), Stewart Regan (SFA chief executive), Campbell Ogilvie (SFA President) and Alan McRae (first vice-president of the SFA).
The main SFA board consists of Regan, Ogilvie, McRae, Petrie, Barrie Jackson, the independent non-executive director, Peter Lawwell, Ralph Topping and Tom Johnston of the Junior FA.
The SFA are facing fresh questions over the process that led to fit-and-proper status being awarded
The SFA are facing fresh questions over the process that led to fit-and-proper status being awarded
The statement confirming King had been given the green light referred only to the ‘Board of the Scottish FA’ with the key passage reading: ‘Having considered all submissions received from Mr King and the club in respect of this matter the Scottish FA Board granted an approval, conditional upon further submissions from Mr King in respect of documented agreements with the appropriate authorities in South Africa.’
In contrast Murray was passed by the PGB, a statement last month confirming: ‘The Scottish FA can confirm at a meeting of the Professional Game Board (PGB) on Thursday, 30th April, consideration was given to the fit and proper status of Mr Paul Murray as a director of Rangers Football Club.
‘Having considered the documentation provided and taking into account Mr Murray’ s detailed personal submission before it, the PGB is satisfied that Mr Murray is fit and proper in terms of Article 10.2.’
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of Rangers or Dave King.
Deniabhoy – I don’t know, but I can’t see how this could possibly be ignored or swept under the carpet. Maybe I’m being naive, but I think something has to be brewing on this with the authorities. Morelos is guilty on 2 fronts, being sent off again for the same offence as the previous week, and displaying behaviour which could have ignited crowd trouble.
The fat that a ban hasn’t been announced yet would suggest this is being taken seriously.
Burnley78 on 6th January 2020 6:13 pm
Here’s the course of action id like our club to take.
Issue one last statement asking why Morelos for a greater offence than Christie a year ago wasn’t punished. Now would be a good time to tell us the explanation you got Peter.
Then go out and strengthen the team to the maximum capabilities possible.
Win this league despite the corruption.
Then on trophy day get every player on the podium, doing a throat cut gesture with 60 thousand joining in.
This is acceptable and we’re only signalling the league is over.
Then watch and laugh as the same people find this completely unacceptable and rage.
Challenge and highlight the corruption at every opportunity otherwise prepare for more.
Canmalar, I did mention in my post that what annoyed me was that Morelos had got away with a more deliberate serious ball grab in Christie in a previous game.
I am a Celtic Supporter for over 65 years, I’ve seen the bad times & the good. I have witnessed the blatant cheating of MIBs, I know the score in Scotland.
I don’t need to answer to you or anyone else on my credentials.
I am not a fan of the Board and I am sick of us adopting the ‘ dignified ‘ approach whilst the other mob wade in at every opportunity. I am not saying we should sink to their levels but we do need to toughen our stance and stop being amazed and surprised.
However there is a tranche of Posters and if the cat pissed sideways they would blame the Board or more particularly Pedro.
I believe today’s verdict is all about the SFA & not the Board and I think that is where our anger should be directed.
The fact the sfa haven’t yet responded to the morelos incidents could mean they will give him an extended ban…
Then again, maybe they are waiting until we are all seated once more…at the back of the (parks of hamilton) bus…
We all know if a Celtic player made the Morelos gesture at Ibrox he would have been tried and sentenced as guilty of inflammatory behaviour by the media and then by the SFA.
Celtic would rightly punish the player too.
Instead Traynor puts out a PR message that is nothing but a downright lie and that is the end of it. Scum protects scum and the sum of that scum is aided and abetted by the grandmasters of hun and scum at Hampden.
We never learn to attack first, to set the narrative, to ensure they are on the backfoot.
Instead we follow them and then get accused of tit-for-tat behaviour.
We have had so many chances in recent years to destroy them on and off the pitch but we didn’t. We treat them with some level of respect and they spit in our faces.
Is there any way to query the SFA/Compliance Officer about the incendiary behaviour of Morelos and Kent? Can a letter of complaint be sent (I think I heard that that was why Christie was cited).
Lenny said today he hopes to have 2 players in this week, apparently.
https://twitter.com/GlasgowRoad/status/1214225785864765441?s=20
CORKCELT on 6TH JANUARY 2020 7:03 PM
like your goodself i’m an auld yin and have seen pretty much the same. However i think most of us would like to see the board grow a pair……….or at least lets us, the fans, have an idea as to what is going on!, rather than say nothing. Afterall we were told there would be a ‘rigorous defence’
Even the hun-minded refs must think that morelos is a pain in the butt. He certainly shows them no respect. Would love to hear the ref and his assistants in conversation about the Colombian cheat…
Shameless and brazen dishonesty.
Will our board do anything?
Don’t hold your breath.
The SFA couldn’t charge Morelos retrospectively for his grab a year ago as Beaton saw it
Christie’s offence fell under fast-track procedures but gestures fall outside of those time limitations. Morelos could still be charged
As it’s a procedural issue what can Celtic do?
Corky,
Nobody asked you to justify your credentials.
And again the board are responsible for how the club are being treated, this is a direct result of their failure to stand up and challenge the SFA. The board have all the ammunition they need to take down the SFA but refuse to act. So IMO people have every right to demand more.
Fourstonecoppi,
Celtic seem to have adopted the mantra that we are dignified & professional, and conduct ourselves to a higher standard then the other lot.
Now at one level I can agree with that but you can’t keep turning the other cheek or you’ll get knocked out.
So yes I do want Celtic to go on the offensive.
However I also look for fair play on here and I think the initial reaction of blaming the Board for this particular decision is wrong. Now if Celtic initially accepted the decision then I would have regarded them as fair game but they didn’t they did fight the decision but lost. so my anger on this one is directed at the SFA & the SFA alone..
Corkcelt
I think you are spot on.
Johnston’s statement was not a grandstanding to his own folk as generally suggested. He is smarter than that. It was designed to accentuate a divide in our own support which he knows will limit Celtics ability to deliver the same alignment of team and club and fans that they currently enjoy as they have a true ‘cause celebre’ in their view.
By raising ‘same club’ and goading Celtic custodians into responding he is seeking to open a divide further and create disharmony. Celtic can get no upside from engaging with this.
Whether any real gain could have come from res 12 or not I genuinely do not know. My own sense was there was only potential downside ca the actual outcome but I may not be correct. I don’t know anyone who is sure there was a real big prize to be one with any certainty.
Going back over that won’t help now. Armchair and watching highlights are where I have played my best games.
Now we must be united and aligned to overcome the true enemy this season. This needs the kind of Davie Hay team energy in 85/6 season all together and driven by injustice. Similar energy as we had in 78/9 season from March 1st onwards. A rubbish team but a common goal. Similar again on TB Thursday at Tannadice. Similar to what we had all through the Centenary Season.
Divided and as quiet as we were on and off the park as we were on 29th is no good. Lenny needs to stop being ‘new Lenny’ and the players need an injection of real steel and purpose. WE need to back them every step. Not turn and tell the guy beside us Forrest is hiding or Ntcham doesn’t track back or Julliens a big Drama queen or I told you Boli was crap etc etc. we need to back our team, club and manager and they need to communicate with us.
Lennon and Lawwell and Broony and others must speak out rationally against the obvious injustice here. And also demonstrate the necessary steel on the park to see us through.
My personal frustration with the clamoring for signings to get us to the 9 now is that I can’t recall a single big signing made at this time of season who has won us a league from a tight position. I can name 3 or 4 who haven’t.
Celtic40me,
They can support Res12 and demonstrate the SFA are not fit for purpose. They can the bankrupt them for damages and demand a new governance model.
“Celtic Football Club and Ryan Christie are extremely disappointed at the outcome of the hearing today.
Given the recent treatment of Celtic players and the lack of sanctions being imposed on those responsible, the fact that a sanction has been imposed on Ryan for the incident in question demonstrates a worrying lack of consistency in the Scottish FA fast track process.
Naturally, we will be contacting the Scottish FA regarding our concerns. Scottish football deserves a disciplinary process which is fair, consistent and fit for purpose.”
A very weak statement from the club. Time to get the artillery pointing at Hampden.
Corkcelt – the board could have and should have come out straight after the game saying Morelos could have sparked a riot and demanded he be punished.
That they said nothing specific is the board and not the SFA’s fault. Crank up the pressure via the media and the SFA are obliged to at least respond.
I said earlier that I thought Christie would not be punished so as to allow the SFA to get away with their refusal to punish Kent and Morelos. Obviously, I was wrong.
As regards the `incident`, I thought Ryan WAS guilty so the ban, for me , is acceptable.
What is not acceptable is if nothing is done about the gestures of Kent and Morelos.It is not our Board`s responsibility to punish those two. It is the SFA`s. By all means, criticise our Board over Res 12 and its seeming reluctance to stand up for our Club. For the moment, though, the SFA should be much more a target of our ire.
If this kind of bias carries on for the rest of the season and plays a big part in us failing to win the League, I can see an incredible downturn in ST Sales.
Corkcelt et al,
I think the anger stems from the ” vigorous ” defence we stated we would put up.
Why did we say it if we didn’t mean it. ?
Hopefully I need to eat humble pie when the club react.
HH.
Scunnered yet again……
CANAMALAR IT LOOKS LIKE OCD OBSESSION on 6TH JANUARY 2020 7:24 PM
But specifically with Christie’s ban?
HOT SMOKED – correct. I said on here during the game when RC grabbed his balls he was lucky not to be Sent off. No complaints now.
The bias/lack of consistency is the problem. If Morelos is not cited then the game is up.
Corky,
Your response to fourstone… sums up the problem, too many like to take such decisions in isolation and ignore the trend, this is another decision that continues a trend of decisions in many isolated incidents that are applied only to our club. The decision was not ridiculous but the double standards use to apply the decision is and the board are failing in their responsibility to ensure such trends are challenged, preferring to watch and encourage the type of argument you have used.
HOT SMOKED on 6TH JANUARY 2020 7:28 PM
Agreed, they’ve followed their own rules, it would have been inconsistent for them to have banned a Motherwell player and then not done the same to Christie for an identical offense.
I’m not sure what Celtic could say more than they have.
The problem comes if they don’t charge Morelos for his gesture.
Bland bland yawn yawn
https://t.co/tkcKM3BCRu?amp=1
Club statement
HH
Celtc40me,
See my last post addressed to Corky
Incidentally, whilst we have over 50,000 fans turning up at every Home game and thousand more clamouring for tickets for `Old Firm` games, blame can be apportioned in other areas , too.
Numbers attending games –especially the numbers who want to go to games against Sevco — give the Board reason a plenty for their believing they are doing a fine job.
Are the SFA strong enough to charge him despite the preemptive PR strikes? In the present climate the allegations of racial abuse give them an easy out
CANAMALAR
but in this case, what can they do?
Celtic40me,
Allegations are not proven so rather than spout the two sides of the same coin drivel used by the board why not challenge the allegation?
CANAMALAR IT LOOKS LIKE OCD OBSESSION on 6TH JANUARY 2020 7:44 PM
What allegation?
Celtic Football Club statement
By: Newsroom Staff on 06 Jan, 2020 19:14
Celtic Football Club and Ryan Christie are extremely disappointed at the outcome of the hearing today.
Given the recent treatment of Celtic players and the lack of sanctions being imposed on those responsible, the fact that a sanction has been imposed on Ryan for the incident in question demonstrates a worrying lack of consistency in the Scottish FA fast track process.
Naturally, we will be contacting the Scottish FA regarding our concerns. Scottish football deserves a disciplinary process which is fair, consistent and fit for purpose.
Excellent statement from Celtic.
It is true , however , that they didn`t say:
” You`re gonna get your f—ing head kicked in ” as some of our number would patently have preferred.