In his Christmas Day message last year, Uefa president, Michel Platini spoke in the firmest terms possible about many of the issues facing Scottish football right now.
He told us that 2011 was “one of those years where one feels the weight and magnitude of one’s responsibilities, but which equally serves to provide greater strength. Because, the just cause – however difficult it may be – is all the more obvious.”
This is a strong statement of intent. Platini fully understands the position of president is not ceremonial, it has weighty responsibilities. If he believes these specific words, “the just cause – however difficult it may be – is all the more obvious”, he must take an immediate active involvement to protect the game in Scotland.
M Platini goes on to say, “To be a president is not to have an organisation at one’s service, but to be at the service of an organisation, of a game, of football.”
Scottish FA president, Campbell Ogilvie, who has been inextricably linked to the on-going improper registration of Rangers players allegations his organisation declined to investigate, would do well to consider these words. He is in place to serve the game yet he has offered us no information on the subject.
Michel then added, “It has been a year which has underlined the importance of our organisation [Uefa] as one of the guarantors of the values, stability and equity of this sport.”
Uefa guarantee the values, stability and equity of football. They do not work towards equity, they ensure it is imposed, you have the president’s word.
“It has been a year in which certain of our national associations have had to take courageous decisions to preserve the justice and integrity of our sport.”
Here, Michel could be speaking about the SFA, who have to take courageous decisions to preserve justice and integrity in the face of gross charges of financial and regulatory doping on a scale not seen anywhere in Europe.
His most important comment, which reflected on 2011, was:
“A year in which we have also had to remain solid and defend our values – sometimes alone – to guarantee the respecting of the rules and the equity of the competitions, and to prevent football becoming a hostage of a few for their own profit and interests.”
“Respecting… the rules and the equity of the competitions”. This includes player registration rules.
More importantly, “to prevent football becoming a hostage of a few for their own profit and interests”.
This is where we are today. Football in Scotland has become a hostage of a few who will follow their own interests, not those values Michel Platini holds dear.
The president goes on to say that 2011“has been a year in which, unfortunately and at the expense of certain agonies, football has emphasised its need for transparency and governance, aspects which are so important in relation to the respect which is so dear to me.”
There may be other countries in Europe more deserving of M Platini’s intervention, but the crisis in Scotland is acute and urgent, and the SFA appear overwhelmed. We need the oversight only Uefa can provide and its president promised in his Christmas message.
For an extended synopsis of how we got to where we are, catch up on Saturday’s blog.
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Sftb
@21:18
Really sensible post I’d agree with all of that.
Quick question for the learned.
If and when it is demonstrated beyond any doubt and action is taken by HMRC and UEFA that tax evasion took place by way of players payments will the relevant authorities be able or inclined to go after players and ex players who benefited from said arrangements?
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 12 March, 2012 at 21:42 said:
Can you fill me in,In private?
Bit suss.
Sorry, that’s my fault, that bit is twitter not Regan.
Not saying he’s not a bit suss though….
twists n turns on 12 March, 2012 at 21:40 said:
“I will bet you a £1 to a penny James is key in some, if not all of those games.”
==================================
It is the safest of bets I’d say :-)
setting free the bears on 12 March, 2012 at 21:18 said:
For the reasons you give the only solution for a Newco is start at the bottom. Besides once you apply a three year ban which will apply just for being new and a points deduction that stop sthem winning titles how many supporters will turn up?
Might as well start again properly and start to gain some real dignity, the type that would have saved them had it existed in the first place.
Was out for a pint last night and got into “debate” with a fellow Celtic man who I knew didnt want Neil as manager. I asked him had he changed his mind about Neil as I hadnt spoke to him for a while. He said aye but what about that carry on up at Aberdeen when he pushed the camera away at the end of the game.
After counting to ten and calmed myself down I told him. Neil DID NOT PUSH THE CAMERA AWAY!! He put his hand up but never touched the camera.
I went on to ask him is that the best he can say about Neil after he won the cup last year, won the SPL this year and going on to maybe to the treble not too mention all thats happened in his personal life. I get this quite often from “Celtic fans” who dont rate Neil and it really busts my head.
We are very very lucky to have Neil Lennon as manager of Celtic!!
Neil said he would bring the thunder back and he has ten fold!!!
Paddy Gallagher on 12 March, 2012 at 20:22 said:
Great magical day and I just wanted to share it with you all.
and its magic that you shared it as well.
skyisalandfill on 12 March, 2012 at 21:43 said:
I think that rangers would be responsible for paying all unpaid tax, but they would be able to pursue the former players and employees to recover the money. But since they will no longer exist then nothing will happen.
I doubt HMRC would pursue the players/emloyees once rangers are sorted out. But you never know?
Rico
Platini ready to intervene if justice, integrity and courage not shown by national associations
————————————————————
sorry Paul, I think you are hoping that for that
sftb, good post. For me, if they liquidate, they should re-enter at the bottom. A points penalty in the spl is just a justification for the bung to skip three divisions. it is the 10 who will receive the bung. Every bit as corrupt as the actions that have took rangers to were they currently are.
Lubo.
Arsenal score in 5th min of injury time-2-1
SFTB @ 21:18
Agreed.
Although I don’t believe it’s ever been suggested the Newhuns should get a points deduction if the start in Div 3. I believe points deduction is if they parachute straight back into SPL and if that happens then they are stil OldHuns in my eyes and should be punished with a 100pt deduction for 1690 years.
MWD
Well done P G!!
Crack open a bottle of BUD mate you deserve it.
Rico-You’re probably right re paying EBT money back but the naming and shaming of millionaires and favourite sons ,might be too much for the hun lovers at this stage of the game.HH.
Quickly on to say the latest article on FF is the most disturbing thing I have ever read. Apparently, rangers problems are all caused by a Celtic Cult and shadowy Celtic minded government officials.
Nothing to do with not paying their taxes year after year.
One Nation, No place for Celtic…
I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t trust UEFA to lift one little finger. It’s not exactly a shining light in the world of ethical standards, and they seem to cosy up to national football associations rather than challenge them.
Look at the corruption in football in other countries – Italy anybody? – and the nonsensical finances of so-called ‘big clubs’ in Europe, with nothing tangible being done by UEFA. There’s a lot of snortin and hammering of hooves, without any cojones.
Would love to be a fly on the wall when Gazza receives his “tax” demand!!
<)0):)
Stevie bhoy, from your last post I think you managed the link? I have a cheat formulae on my old hamster wheel driven pc, I cant do it without that!
come on Paul, platini is completely anti ger, the band of brethern in the sfa’ll sort it out.
!!Bada Bing!! Kano 1000 on 12 March, 2012 at 21:58 said:
That’s for sure!!! :)
I’ll bet there are a few bricking it at the moment. And that probably includes current employees too.
Rico
Regarding Tom Bowers.
I read his book Broken Dreams about corruption in the British game.
Theres a nice wee paragraph about the myth, an agent and a brown envelope.
Surely the myth wouldn’t have took it, would he?
Leabrannagh on 12 March, 2012 at 22:02 said:
I could do with that cheat, but does it work on ipads? Yes, managed the link, but my post is in moderation…
Steve
ASonOfDan on 12 March, 2012 at 22:00 said:
Quickly on to say the latest article on FF is the most disturbing thing I have ever read. Apparently, rangers problems are all caused by a Celtic Cult and shadowy Celtic minded government officials.
Nothing to do with not paying their taxes year after year.
One Nation, No place for Celtic…
+++++
I agree with them. When Queen Billy re-levied land taxes, the precursor to modern IR systems within the UK, he was clearly thinking 310 years ahead to a point in time where he could get it roond the orcs (and not at all needing the cash ironically for the Anglo-Dutch wars). For some reason. Which escapes me at the moment.
Point is: successive governments since then have continued to levy taxation just to stick it up the orcs for 15 years of them rightfully keeping what’s theirs (and by extension some of what was not). It’s a pyoor mad timmy conspirasay
stevebhoy on 12 March, 2012 at 21:39 said:
He got it already ;)
J Q B
To be fair Uefa have more serious issues to deal with. That offensive banner for starters.
James Forrest single handedly saved our season in the 3-3 game v Killie, he was absolutely unplayable and gave his teammates hope that we could get something from a game that was rapidly slipping away from us.
The rest as they say, is history.
Can someone print this off for Hugh Keevins
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/988087
Auld Neil Lennon heid on 12 March, 2012 at 22:06 said:
Good for you. Hope he knows about Campbell and co…
Steve
Ron Bacardi on 12 March, 2012 at 21:52 said:
No hoping about it. I think UEFA have more than a passing interest in all of this.
They will be watching very closely indeed. :)
Here’s to a fresh start and a new and improved SPL. Minus you know who – even if it is temporary. :)
Rico
That’s an excellent article by the Channel 4 guy, asks all the right questions, funnily enough the ones the “journalists” in Scotland are too afraid to ask; wonder why?
We can forgive him his use of the hated “Old Firm” tag, its not like this guy has a background in Scottish football! That said, despite that, in a single blog he asks more meaningful questions than any Scottish mainstream journalist has at all throughout the whole Rangers saga.
obafanti – where’s that blog ?
JimmyQuinnsBits on 12 March, 2012 at 22:00 said:
I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t trust UEFA to lift one little finger. It’s not exactly a shining light in the world of ethical standards, and they seem to cosy up to national football associations rather than challenge them.
Look at the corruption in football in other countries – Italy anybody? – and the nonsensical finances of so-called ‘big clubs’ in Europe, with nothing tangible being done by UEFA. There’s a lot of snortin and hammering of hooves, without any cojones.
——————————-
This is a common but incorrect perception. Platini negotiated the FFP Rules against some clubs wishes and had them accepted. I was told on innumerable occasions on blogs that FFP would not happen and it did.
There are Governments pushing football to get its house in order or else . UEFA not getting involved would be like you going to the Citizen’s Advice for advice and being told to f off.
It is a duty UEFA cannot duck, it is enshrined in their values. The difficulty is not UEFA not pushing but guilty parties resisting changed days, but UEFA will push or cease to be.
The past need not be the future.
I believe that our line should be a simple one. Liquidation means the end of the huns. What happens then? Nothing because the huns have ended. They cannot be fined or penalised. And they cannot be readmitted to the SPL or anywhere else.
A Newco is exactly that: a new company and therefore a new team. It should be treated in exactly the same manner as any new team If there is a spare SFL place it can apply and take its chances with anyone else who fancies a shot.
jackie mac, here
http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/dangers-rangers-tax-shambles/850
Lubo.
Bit of fun before signing out…
The rANGERs are chi-ites.
Brian Quinn is Vice Chairman of the UEFA Club Financial You-Better-Watch-Out Committee.
Platini isn’t as squeaky clean as everybody would like to think.
In 82, at St E, they didnae even bother wi two contracts, they just gave big fat brown envelopes.
Derek Johnstone has just realized that TicketUs is different from TicketBus.
Keith Lasley should be sine die-ed;
The D&P guys are getting triple time for Saturdays and Sundays (1800notes/hr)
;o)
Dundee United will absolutely mollicate the Hun next Saturday.
McCall has asked the SFA that, if all previous games against RFCIA are all now 3-0, can Motherwell please still lose 4-3 after last season’s 7-0…
Celtic are just 3 Hampden games away from the Triple.
If the are two NewCo (Asian BlueBalls and DurtyDeedsDunDurtCheap, for ex), one would need to call themselves NewCoCo.
Campbell Olgilvie is stuck in the Lavvy and he’s no’ comin oot.
Stuball Reagan is stuck in the Lavvy and is quite content to twitter away…
But the best news is that Lenny has told the press “It’s oor baw, go away and behave yerselves!”
;o)
It’s all out there…
JCGE
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on 12 March, 2012 at 21:48 said
Interesting…
I was never a great fan of Neil as a player. Effective certainly but…
Anyway, I wan’t enthused by his appointment as boss but accepted it as necessary following poor BTM and it was an interim appointment only.
Immediately he made a difference but I put it down to ‘new manager bounce’. As games went on though I was impressed more & more.
Then Ross County happened. It was on this day I changed my view. Not because of events on the pitch but his reaction afterwards. His words that day were the words I would have used. I felt a strong connection from then on.
Last season was such a tornado of events which I don’t need to relate. When the heat was greatest, Neil was at his best. Nothing to do with silly (my view) touchline antics; more to do with calm, resonable intelligent actions & words.
I can claim to be a true convert since when things were bad early season I was behind him all the way. In fact the only time he upset me was the ‘I might have walked’ statement after the Rugby Park game – it was so not him!
I do get annoyed still at his over exuberance on the touchline but then I’m pretty old fashioned about these things. However and I’m serious about this, I believe he is better at his job when he is controlled. That is not the same as being unemotional.
It is early days to assess his managent pedigree but I am optimistic and a decent run in Europe would help determine just how good he could be.
Emdae on here go to the George Galloway forum in St Patricks last night??
Ron Bacardi on 12 March, 2012 at 21:52 said:
Platini ready to intervene if justice, integrity and courage not shown by national associations
————————————————————
sorry Paul, I think you are hoping that for that
—————————
See my post to JimmyQuinnsBits above. You can bet Celtic will be asking Platini if he means what he says if Rangers remain in the SPL in any guise. That outcome would challenge Platini directly, not something the SFA will want.