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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Flogen Flogen running with their latest wisdoms with a piece titled
Is Craig Whyte our Lee Harvey Oswald?
wont do the link, but its comedy gold.
stupid huns.
Auldheid and Stepbhoy
In the Alex Thomson CH 4 piece you linked, he twice makes the point that if the tribunal finds in RFCIA’s favour then they will not be guilty of fielding unregistered players, and if they are found liable for tax then they have fielded unregisterede players. I know the judgement hinges on whether the EBT payments were actually part of the players “second” contract, rather than being legitimate EBT payments.
Since the relevant SPL rule is…
“D1.13 A Club must, as a condition of Registration and for a Player to be eligible to Play in Official Matches, deliver the executed originals of all Contracts of Service and amendments and/or extensions to Contracts of Service and all other agreements providing for payment, other than for reimbursement of expenses actually incurred, between that Club and Player, to the Secretary, within fourteen days of such Contract of Service or other agreement being entered into, amended and/or, as the case may be, extended.”
Surely, RFCIA have provided an “agreement providing for payment” regardless of whether it is called a letter, a caveat, a declaration, or a promise to pay. There is nothing in the rule above that exempts the club from providing information if it is included in a legitmate EBT. In fact, the whole purpose of the rule is to include every possible form of remuneration to players, so as to avoid the very scenario that RFCIA created. The inetention is to ensure that no secret payments are made to players.
We know that they have not declared the EBTs to the SFA/SPL don’t we?
If I understand this correctly, it is at odds with what Alex Thomson is saying.
Have I missed something?
Evening gents
voguepunter you still on got a question fur ye?
Kitalba
Am I right in thinking when Scott was out when we had the rough patch? I do know that the stats show we win more points when he’s in the team?
Can you think of another player who’s taken so long to win over the majority of the support?
I’ve always liked him but he went through a stage where he was so frustrating, win the ball, beat a man, then make an archie of a 15 yard pass!!
He’s growing in to it, the best is yet to come. Same could be said about a number of our players I suppose.
HH
Lennybhoy….
Thanks.
macjay/hamiltontim- Yes, Stokesy scored the important goals- big, big goals but wee Jamesy was the catalyst, he just kept running and running at them, he became a man that day.
Kayal hooked at half time (lucky not to be red carded), Hooper hopeless, Charlie’s horror pass back- my, what a transformation in this team!
HH
Any sightings of blue-sky thinking from the Blue Knights or the succulent lamb brigade that involves Rangers paying the millions they owe?
Thought not.
stevebhoy on 12 March, 2012 at 22:53 said:
good stuff, I noticed he seemed to be trumpeting a “non-OF” fan view of things, makes me think the other two may well be one from Celtic fans and the other from them.
would hope that the many comments from us under his blog decrying the OF tag (which I notice our esteemed host also added to as well as myself!) will have him better informed; after all that line about our “cosy” relationship with the SFA and the media had me heartily LOLing.
looking forward to the other two blogs!
Any Newco will ALWAYS be R*ngers..with their existing history intact,in the minds of their depraved followers,regardless of what may appear in the official records.
And in maintaining this belief,the unwashed hordes are quite correct.
* They should be relegated to Div 3
*If it is not already forthcoming,UEFA should be lobbied to impose a minimum ten year ban on any Hun Newco competing in European club competition.
It would be much more satisfying to see
them Willie Woodburn-ed from Europe,
but I expect there would be practical
difficulties encountered in trying to achieve this most judicious of outcomes.
I’m sure most carbon-based life-forms
will be in complete agreement..
Silicon,SFTB…..?
obonfanti1888, at 22:49
Rest assured, this is not a one off.
Sky 1 Charlie Mulgrew interview soon.
!!Bada Bing!! Kano 1000 on 12 March, 2012 at 20:18 said:
look out for the Relatives of the Loughinisland Massacre who are leading the Down parade.
twty years ago a group of people were watching Ireland v Italy in the Heights Bar when UVFBar wh
RalphWaldoEllison-is Neil Lennon Season 2011-12 on 12 March, 2012 at 22:56 said:
Auldheid is far better informed than I, but I think that you might be correct here; the football authorities demand a contract that covers all payments for playing, while the taxman just wants his dues! Still, while Alex Thomson may have been confused in some points of detail, nevertheless he has publicised the case and highlighted the alternative points of view,m which is more than the media up here have done. I’d rather have to correct minor details in a balanced article than suffer the misrepresentation which passes for ‘news’ in Scotland…
Hail Hail!
suttons volley:
One thing that should never be forgotten about Scott Brown and Celtic, Celtic asked him to play through injury – Scott Brown took pain killing injections so he could do what was asked of him. He did this for longer than is good for you.
A lot more than James Forrest and Tony Stokes are responsible for Celtic turning around their season, I don’t think it is fair on all the others that these two and/or Scott Brown should be singled out. Charlie and Sammi and Joe and Beram and Big Rogne all spring immediately to mind and of course not needing a mention, Mr Neil Lennon himself.
houl yer whesht- I will do mate HH
RalphWaldoEllison-is Neil Lennon Season 2011-12
\are you there, or are you actually the Invisible Man, lol!
Like yer moniker!
Canny sleep.
P G you sold the hoose to join the B K’s? lol
I meant Charlie Mulgrew interview on SS1 soon
!!Bada Bing!! Kano 1000 on 12 March, 2012 at 20:18 said:
Look out for the Relatives of the Victims of the Loughinisland massacre who will lead the Down contingent..
20 years ago in June 1992 a group of people were watching Ireland v Italy in the Heights Bar Loughinisland when a UVF gang burst in and shot 6 people dead including a 87 year old man. The RUC and PSNI have engaged in the most disgraceful coverup since. Not one person has been convicted. Evidence has been “lost”, files have gone missing….
The Relatives are now looking for support internationally to get justice.
You´ve got to read this guys.
They really are freakin out now.
http://www.football.co.uk/rangers/is_craig_whyte_our_lee_harvey_oswald__rss2136396.shtml
RalphWaldoEllison-is Neil Lennon Season 2011-12 on 12 March, 2012 at 22:56 said:
+++++
I said a couple of weeks ago that the EBTs were a silver bullet, in that the orcs are damned if they are/were contracts and damned if they were not.
If they were contracts: HMRC has them banged to rights. And also the SFA (on the assumption they never received copies).
If they were not contracts, then they presumably were never handed in such ‘non-contracts’ to the SFA.
Either way, it doesn’t look at all clever for the club or anyone in charge of contracts back then (say club secretary, for example)
timbhoy in spain on 12 March, 2012 at 23:18 said:
Wow! I assume that is by Leggat? I’m sure that, despite the crude attempt at obfuscation, parts of that could amount to incitement! Whaddaya know. Thank God I’m a Tim.
Night Bhoys.
nite bhoys
Kitalba
I think there were times he should have been pulled out the firing line by Celtic, he never done himself justice when carrying an injury and who knows the long term implications of the treatment you mentioned.
Your point about players being singled out for praise is fair but its always going to happen mate, in my eyes Fraser Forster (btw I hate when people call him Foster!!) has had a huge impact in our recent run. I also think we’ll be lucky to hold onto Mr Wanyama after next seaon.
HH
timbhoy in spain on 12 March, 2012 at 23:18
Too much of the paranoia pills yer man has been partaking of :>)
Where about in Spain are you?
timbhoy in spain on 12 March, 2012 at 23:18 said:
You´ve got to read this guys.
They really are freakin out now.
http://www.football.co.uk/rangers/is_craig_whyte_our_lee_harvey_oswald__rss2136396.shtml
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Man,that has to be the most disturbing,yet comical,thing i’ve read in a long,long time.
Whoever wrote that is dangerously insane.
Deary,deary me.
Good night
I leave this, a haunting turn of phrase by Ian Bell
“If you need to find a fault, seek it within your own democracy, the one that gives honour to the dead and forgets to ask who issued the orders, or gave licence to a decade of killing for no reason named. Then ask why we go on training young men in habits of Spartan pride, beautiful as their mothers made them, innocent until they kill or are killed, beneath a tribal flag.”
Kit
I hear what you’re saying, many have contributed to the revival of Celtic since that November afternoon.
However, in 45 minutes of football our fortunes reversed. Stokes and Forrest were the significant forces on the park but what also shouldn’t be forgotten was the incredible support by the Celtic fans that day.
One of the occasions when I can categorically state that our supporters dragged a club up from its knees.
Sorry for going off-line for family matters, after my earlier post, as I see there were a few replies. I am re-assured that most CQNrs are in agreement as, while I can understand the wish to punish the newco, it will be counter productive to do so.
TSD@ 23.01
Sorry lad, you went a bit cryptic there. You seem to be agreeing with me but it is difficult to tell when you go cryptic.
Were you suggesting that you were a human based life form but I was a computer???
Was it an attempt to make a pun about being PC??
I like a wee bit of indirect humour but, if it is too indirect, you might be the only person that “gets” the reference.
Ho hum, as Kurt Vonnegut was wont to say.
HT
The 3-3 game at Rugby Park is the only game I have not seen as it happened this season, I phoned the young fella at half time, I thought he was winding me up with the score, he phoned me when we scored our goals and he kept enthusing about the support, and how good they were.
sftb
I read your post earlier and I agree with most of what you say, especially about punishing them while they have a euro ban, it’s nonsensical, if any punisment is to be atributed to them, make it when their euro ban is gone.
Div 3 for me and no punishment.
We still have to sort the referees though, or it will be same old….
Any tips for Cheltenham ???
setting free the bears on 12 March, 2012 at 23:44 said:
Where is your earlier post im jumping between 3 sites and 5 log ins at present its murder
stevebhoy on 12 March, 2012 at 23:25 said:
timbhoy in spain on 12 March, 2012 at 23:18 said:
Wow! I assume that is by Leggat? I’m sure that, despite the crude attempt at obfuscation, parts of that could amount to incitement! Whaddaya know.
_____________________
Funnily enough its got a touch of Raymond Chandler about it…………
the Long Goodbye…………. one of the main characters (a writer) was a lush.
TET
I went down for a smoke at half time and could see supporters leaving in droves (though I have since been informed that wasn’t the case in the stand opposite ours).
It truly was a memorable occasion, one that will remain with me for many years to come!
TET
I would support some form of cross-border sharing of referees, with either English, Welsh or Irish refs getting a chance to ref our games. Might not be so sure about IFA refs though :-)
hamiltontim,
Spot on about the support that day,they were phenomenal.Tony and James definitely done the job on the pitch but for me it was the support that played THE key role in getting a result.
I wasn’t at the game but every Celtic supporter there that day were a genuine credit to our club.I felt so privileged to support the same team as those fholk.
FOREVERANDEVER!!!
gl2
Page 7 @ 21.18
BABASONICS
The usual culprits from my bus left at half time believing that not only the game but our season was over.
I was glad they missed such a wonderful occasion :-)