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.
660 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- »
SFTB found it…Coming back into the SPL is not an option for me. To the extent I wont go back if our board dont fight it. I would rather we had friendlies every week than play in a league which has been proven corrupt. We have debated years ago about Robert Kelly and Fergus we need that leadership now.
I have already replied to Matt along the same lines.
But the minimum we need to be asking for is they start as a new club in the 3rd divsion. ]
It is good to see the Aberdeen fans come out today and say the same we need all of the other teams fans to do the same.
Hamiltontim and suttons volley, cheers guys and both your responses help to illustrate what I am trying to get across, we are a club, our achievements are the work of many and individual recognition and/or awards are only as a result of a collective effort. I shouldn’t try and post a post in praise of the collective because even in trying to do that I forget to mention somebody which both you guys corrected me.
There will only ever be one Celtic.
SFTB
The Swinging Deceptive doesn’t like you because you don’t like his mate Kojo. You know. The multi monickered (I’m guessing min of 6 at last count) self made hero.
MWD
MWD
When the Celts go up,to lift the Scottish Cup,
we’ll be there,we’ll be there.
Bruno on film 4, funny as
Anyone for a tune?
Local Natives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0cWti-eSOo&ob=av2n
HUGE support/ large support.
Shot across the SPL bows in today’s article on Celticfc.net
Or
Just a wee thank you to the support
???
MWD
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on 13 March, 2012 at 00:09 said:
Bruno on film 4, funny as
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The scene where he’s camping with the rednecks is excruciatingly funny. ;-)))))))
hamiltontim
I was at the Killie game too and there were definitely fans leaving at half time and early in the second half. However, there did not seem to be that many gaps in the crowd at the end so i am not sure how many left the terracings like you, for a smoke, and how many departed the ground for good.
My view is that only James Forrest played well that day but it was Tony Stokes who made the difference (plus a poor Killie keeper). James was the only player showing any guts or form as Killie overwhelmed us for 70 minutes. We made two subs at half-time, Wanyama & Bangoura for Kayal & Hooper, but it could just as easily have been Kayal & Stokes. We subbed El Kaddouri on for Cha when we were still 3:0 down. Then Tony struck a free Kick in the 73rd minute that some keepers might have saved but this one did not. Two minutes later he took a petulant and angry swipe at a ball that headed goalwards but should have been saved. Then in 79 minutes Charlie made amends for Killie’s 3rd goal getting on the end of Big Dan’s knock down. Even then , we were very fortunate that Heffernan missed a great chance for them to score the 7th goal of the night.
It was a great comeback but not a great Celtic performance. There was no half time turnaround. We were 28 minutes into the 2nd half before we surprisingly scored. None of the subs made a great impact but were probably marginally better than those they replaced.
Tony Stokes did not turn in a great performance but he made a whale of a difference to our season. James Forrest played very well that night but did not contribute much to the turnaround.
I feel Charlie’s late 2nd half winner in the next home game v Aberdeen and Hooper’s late winner at Motherwell were just as significant as the Rugby Park result but the Killie game was memorable despite that.
Quick SPL-ish quiz.
I will publish the answers at lunchtime 13th March BMT.
Have a go without being tempted to use the internet (too much) :-)
1.In the season that Paul Lambert won Writers’ Player of the Year, The KOK’s scored 29 goals.
What was the season and who won the Players’ Player of the Year?
2.Which 3 clubs have been promoted twice into the SPL?
3. There was no relegation from the SPL in which two seasons? (Apart from this season :-))
4.Which club has scored most goals in a season and how many? (closest gets it!)
5. What was the score in Martin O’Neill’s first Hun game? (No Old Firm here :-))
6. Who scored the goal in his last game as Celtic manager?
7. In season 2006-7 Gordon Strachan’s Celtic had who as opponents in
The Champions League (Group F).
8. Which 2 players did Tony Mowbray sell in the 2010 January window?
9. To the nearest %, what was TM’s (above) winning percentage at Celtic?
10. Which Celtic player player under the great Zico?
—————————————————————————–
HH
AoW
The Exiled Tim,
Buena Vista in the Perchamps Hurdle according to What is the Stars.
HECTOR – Moonbeams WD. Kano 1000 \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. Eating Jelly & Ice Cream. Awe Naw… on 13 March, 2012 at 00:02 said:
“SFTB
The Swinging Deceptive doesn’t like you because you don’t like his mate Kojo. You know. The multi monickered (I’m guessing min of 6 at last count) self made hero.
MWD
MWD” This. Don’t normally agree with you and feel you even did what you accuse kojo and deceptive of but at least your not a fascist neo liberal like The fake deceptive and kojo. so Hail Hail. And well done.
hamiltontim on 12 March, 2012 at 23:39 said:
…what a day that was!!!! A fine day, the supporter led from the front (of the stand) ;-)
hh
bjmac
HECTOR – Moonbeams WD. Kano 1000 \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. Eating Jelly & Ice Cream. Awe Naw… on 13 March, 2012 at 00:10 said:
Usually I’d say you’re reading too much into it though it is odd that it quite prominently points out the support “which made up around half the 12,270 crowd at the game.”
Not to mention the fact Pistol Pete is quoted in it as well; in fact, makes Jim Spence’s tweet earlier today seem more topical:
jim spence @bbcjimspence Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Crowd breakdown Utd v Celtic yesterday. 12.270 attendance. Celtic had 5580.
There has been some talk of boycotting away matches to protest at any SPL parachute attempts for Newco – given that the Dons fans appear to also be against anything but application of full justice perhaps we should be thinking along other lines
If the Chairman of the gang of 10 apppear to be attempting to help Newco avoid starting on the bottom rung of the SFL would it be possible to work with fans of some of the other clubs to organise a total boycott of one particular set of games ?
This would send out a clear signal showing who is ultimately in charge of the game in this country
An empty Celtic Park would make a major impression!
VertWolf
Was just thinking earlier…..Joe Ledley is my POTY …… he has scored the 2 vital goals in the 2 vital games this season ..
Auld Heid 21.30……..I’m surprised you’re surprised that a lot of fans don’t want rankers wiped out…….you only need to gauge the welcome our fans get at away games (for decades)…
They can have their little meeting, and they can decide not to invite Celtic, but they cannot do is take one dime from my season ticket money……that money is for the development of my Club, and hell will freeze over before I finance clubs who, for example, reacted shamefully when our manager, and others associated with our club, were nearly killed as a result of bigotry allowed to fester for over 100 years……
Basically, we have looked after ourselves, and will continue to do so……… can’t wait to witness them trying to get newco rankers back into the SPL…..it would create a storm to end all storms…
I asked a question the other night…..just wondering if you can give me your valued view on it………….how can they be sold if they can’t produce audited accounts ?
GL2
Ha Matt Got back to you on justifying whether there is anything effective about punishing newco?
MWD
If TSD disnae like me, he can join a lengthy queue :-)
Maybe I’m an acquired taste.
Antifa
I have never multi-posted.
I did change my nome de blog to Dougie Dougie for a while but always signed off as MWD and everyone was aware of this.
Other than that I agree with you.
MWD is MWD and always will be MWD
Sftb
As usual an excellent summary and one that its difficult to disagree with.
I would say though that Neil Lennon himself has said that had we not turned things around in such dramatic fashion then he may well have resigned on the back of the killie result.
The fact that we did, and he didn’t, makes the result all the more significant for me.
You’re completely correct with regards the substitutions or indeed half time team talk. On the day they were irrelevant.
A memorable occasion.
BABA….,
thought the talk show with baby OJ was tops, the camping was good, also the preacher trying to cure him of being gay, with his perfect mouth :oD))))
the self defence, what if a gay attacks me with a dildo, belly laughs every second line
Exiled Tim,
Belfast man unbelievably tipped Nozic at Plumpton today.
14/1.Won easily.He has two for Cheltenham on Friday.I’ll let you know.
VertWolf on 13 March, 2012 at 00:19 said:
If the Chairman of the gang of 10 apppear to be attempting to help Newco avoid starting on the bottom rung of the SFL would it be possible to work with fans of some of the other clubs to organise a total boycott of one particular set of games ?
I doubt it: the fans of the Gang of 10 are as blinkered as Rangers fans salivating over Craig Whyte when it comes to us. They can’t see past the ‘Old Firm’ tag, they truly think we are one and the same, ridiculous as that is.
houl yer wheest.
Not one person has been convicted. Evidence has been “lost”, files have gone missing….
just highlited a wee bit out your post mate . but doesnt half sound familiar
jimtim
.
Kitalba..
I will update that Post of Stats that l did of When Scott Brown played and Didn’t..
The other 2 Players l did it for was Sammi and Vic..
Stunning Stats l thought.. But if Only People would read My Posts..;0)
Summa
SFTB
Defo doesn’t like you!!!
obonfanti1888
Don’t think I’ve ever seen an article from Celtic praise the backing of the LARGE and HUGE Celtic support in attendance at a game and to repeat it frequently also.
Point made very well.
Veiled threat I believe.
MWD
sorry if discussed earlier..
just listened to Clyde SSB on internet..
Astounding admission by Keevins that he doesnt use internet, hasn’t read Phil’s blog re Hun tax, doesn’t know how Ticketus thing works, doesn’t know price of matchday tickets….
What does he actually do as a sports journalist in Scotland?
MWD
I have a strong suspicion, given the close regularity of their joint appearances, that Antifa is TSD’s ventriloquist’s dummy but he struggles to maintain an even and consistent tone for his invention. Antifa varies wildly between teenage breathless rebellion, poor grammar and historical inaccuracy, to then producing posts with no grammar and spelling mistakes, and no deliberate stupidity. It’s almost as if he has aged 10 years in two months but the original intent was a right wing satire on a Dave Spart type of poster.
I don’t see too much wrong with multiple posting names and alter egos, so long as they’re funny, interesting, or, at the very least, convincing.
setting free the bears on 13 March, 2012 at 00:20 said:
Not yet but my point is there should be no newco in our league.
I think each of us may be vigorously agreeing with each other in a diferent way
Tricolour ribbon,
dont you go tipping any winners now,some of us have a living
to make
WHY, are 99.9% of the stories about
THEM?
WE, are on the verge of a fantastic TREBLE.
TBH, I’m sick of it.
We accuse them of being triumphalist. Are we not being the same ?
We accuse them of being mismanaged, were we not at one time?
There really is no need to count, or revisit the times we have been cheated, one way or another. We cannot turn back the clock. Its done. All we can do is move on. And with this TEAM we have, players and management, we can go places.
While it has been amusing seeing their struggles, that should not be OUR focus.
Neil Lennon is rightly angered that the focus is being taken away from HIS achievements this season, but he need not worry. He turned things around well before they were in the brown stuff. He has proved himself, under extreme circumstances, to be a Top Manager.
All I’m saying is, lets celebrate our achievements, not wallow in the rightly deserved comeuppances of theirs.
WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT.
Hail Hail the Champions, Celtic.
My dear,dear SFTB..
There are carbon-based lifeforms,as we know…
For many decades,it has been speculated that lifeforms based on silica,rather than carbon,could conceivably exist in a distant galaxy,in a distant universe,and may even have tabled an outlandish bid for the Jellyfish
And so it goes,my misguided friend.
P.S. I hope that you watched “FridayNight-Saturday Morning” on BBC4 @1230am last night…. It was the episode where the super-smug Cleese and Palin were challenged by the Bishop of Southwark and the inestimable Malcolm Muggeridge over the odious and mocking Sixth Form skit,”The Life of Brian”. Watched to its conclusion,it explains much of what has come to pass in these Sceptred Isles.
Interesting to watch the masks slip from Cleese and ever-so-nicey Palin.
Oh,and Cleese complains bitterly that nowadays he cannot live in London,”because it’s like a foreign country”….Expect him to move in next door to that other hypocrite,B*lly Bragg.
The programme will still be available on BBC i-player.
Perhaps Gordon_J should also watch it,since not long ago he was positively effervescing over imminent release of a documentary, detailing the story behind this sordid wee production…
Not recommended viewing for petec..it will only make you cross..
Mind how you go.
Oh..and Up The Hoops !
CultsBhoy,
Hugh Keevins reads this blog every day.You can take that to the proverbial bank.
.
RIP.. James Connely Johnstone..
Today is a Day we Will Never Forget..
You are a Man we Will Never Forget..
Heaven has a Angle and He Wears No7
My Thoughts and Prayers are with Agnes.. James.. Marie & Eileen..
Gone but Never Forgotten..
Owen
feel Charlie’s late 2nd half winner in the next home game v Aberdeen and Hooper’s late winner at Motherwell were just as significant as the Rugby Park result but the Killie game was memorable despite that.
share
Art of War on 13 March, 2012 at 00:16 said:
Quick SPL-ish quiz.
I will publish the answers at lunchtime 13th March BMT.
Have a go without being tempted to use the internet (too much) :-)
1.In the season that Paul Lambert won Writers’ Player of the Year, The KOK’s scored 29 goals.
What was the season and who won the Players’ Player of the Year?
Lubo
2.Which 3 clubs have been promoted twice into the SPL?
Dunfermline,St.Johnstone & St.Mirren
3. There was no relegation from the SPL in which two seasons? (Apart from this season :-))1998 & 1999
4.Which club has scored most goals in a season and how many? (closest gets it!)
Celtic 104
5. What was the score in Martin O’Neill’s first Hun game? (No Old Firm here :-))
Good 6 v Evil 2
6. Who scored the goal in his last game as Celtic manager?
Chris Sutton
7. In season 2006-7 Gordon Strachan’s Celtic had who as opponents in
The Champions League (Group F). Man Utd,Benfica,Copenhagen
8. Which 2 players did Tony Mowbray sell in the 2010 January window?
Skippy and Robson
9. To the nearest %, what was TM’s (above) winning percentage at Celtic?
47%
10. Which Celtic player player under the great Zico?
Naka
TSD
I remember that “debate” vividly from when it was first screened.
I thought Muggeridge was piss-poor on the programme too.
Cleese was a privately educated schoolboy who has been a long term SDP (and LD) supporter, not really the epitome of leftist politics at which you might wish to aim your lance.
I do not believe you are a Kojo alter-ego, just a supporter of his more extreme positions, but I do believe you need to work harder on the Antifa character. You make more telling points in your own voice than you do in his.
stevebhoy on 12 March, 2012 at 23:10 said:
I agree that Thomson highlighting the issues in such a forthright manner is invaluable; we need all the integrity and honesty we can get in this climate. I was just confused when he seemed to write off any chance of THEM being done by the SFA/SPL if the tribunal went their way. You are of course right about Auldheid being thee man for this, but thanks for the reply.
As for the other man, the invisible one I mean, I’m told he’s always here or there :<)
Have you read his Party Down at the Square? So powerful, for me especially since my maternal great grandfather survived a similar incident in Belfast.
HH
Dirtymac
Thanks for the feedback. As Stevebhoy said, even if Thomson is not on point with every aspect, his coverage was generally very good and highlighted the sense of injustice that non RFCIA fans feel about the whole thing.
Now all we need is Michel to put his own money where his mouth is, because I cannot see the SFA/SPL doing the honourable thing.
HH
GETTING a bit fed up with this will they wont they scenario with them . The thing that will bring them down is the BTC, and its time that result was announced . I am absolutely astounded that thems are being treated so easy . and as far as im concerned the governing body of scottish football are turning a blind eye to the rule breaking of this mob . Anyone wonder why . If this goes there way , it will be the end of football in scotland. It will be the end of football for me .as i will never enter a football ground again as long as it is governed by those no marks , they have tarnished the beautiful game in scotland .
jimtim.
ps do the words of hugh adam not carry any weight . HAVE THEY JUST BEEN TREATED WITH THE RUBBER EAR .
The Singing Detective on 13 March, 2012 at 00:30 said: yada yada yada.
IMHO Life of Brian is one of the funniest films ever. And pokes fun at so called intellectuals as yourself, and I’m sure if God has a sense of humor he had a good giggle too. And, in the words of another Depeche Mode song, when i die I expect to find him laughing.