You will remember Roy Keane getting all up himself after Celtic celebrated Champions League qualification as though it was something important. Roy’s ability to apply perspective isn’t all it should be.
The Champions League presents levels of success. Lincoln Red Imps achieved theirs this season, as did Celtic. As we look forward to the quarter finals, which begin tonight, Monaco are a different type of winner.
In the round of 16, Atletico beat Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus beat Porto, Barcelona beat PSG, Bayern Munich beat the living daylights out of Arsenal, Real Madrid beat Napoli and Leicester beat Sevilla. All these victors, including apparent underdog, Leicester, are richer than the teams they eliminated. Only Monaco, who beat Manchester City, won against the money.
It’s not easy to congratulate tax haven-based millionaires on succeeding despite being relatively impoverished, so we’ll perhaps withhold our joy, but Monaco’s win was the Champions League’s sole instance in the last round of an outcome which was not significantly determined by finance.
What you are unlikely to hear from those happy to disparate Scottish football as an uncompetitive environment, where outcomes are overwhelmingly determined by the richest club’s money, is that our domestic game resembles the elite competition in this very respect.
This is modern football, in fact, it is increasingly elite team sport across the globe. We can get all misty-eyed for days of yore, when 12 different English teams who the league in 14 years, or 11 guys from a 30 mile radius climbed the highest peak, but the future of sport looks entirely different.
You, me and Lincoln Red Imps fans know our level. I suspect we all know where the net ceiling which prevents us moving too high up the food chain lies. We can and should always plot, scheme and dream of bursting free, but knowledge of our place in the game has value. It grounds us in reality, where surely our dreams do not become fantasies?
Remember the Celtic Disabled Supporters’ Association, Dinner Dance, at the Kerrydale Suiteon Friday 21st April. All are welcome.
After the meal there is entertainment from Foggy Dew, with Jim Craig, Bertie Auld, Tom Boyd and more. Tickets are £25 each and are available from events@celticdsa.co.uk 07514-059870 (office hours).
Let’s say THANK YOU to the Lisbon Lions!
328 Comments- Pages:
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MARGARET MCGILL on 11TH APRIL 2017 6:47 PM
Yer best yet petal!!!!!
3 explosions near team bus-Sky News
Sensible decision to postpone game.
Jamie Carragher absolutely handing Richard Keys his arse on Twitter. Read the full timeline if you know how.
https://twitter.com/carra23/status/851840861881196544
Looking at images of the bus on ITV it would seem that it very well may have been a firecracker. Regardless, in light of the madness that has been going on around Europe lately you can understand the overreaction.
Mind you, Dortmund can now expect a hefty fine from UEFA, i’m sure.
CORKCELT on 11TH APRIL 2017 7:34 PM
Your response was exactly what the knob in question was looking for. If he was German, you can rest assured that he will will be imprisoned
Monaco fans in the stadium chanting ‘Dortmund’, football can gladden the heart at times…
Less serious than the news from Dortmund, Michael O’Halloran was meant to play for sevco developement team the other day and never showed for the game.
Sevco fan sites might be a bit miffed at Michael doing this.
Barca at the back are an absolute riot!
DALLAS DALLAS WHERE THE HECK IS DALLAS on 11TH APRIL 2017 7:49 PM
Less serious than the news from Dortmund, Michael O’Halloran was meant to play for sevco developement team the other day and never showed for the game. Sevco fan sites might be a bit miffed at Michael doing this.
*probably out of respect for Holy Week.
If that goal was scored in the SPFL the expert pundits would be
tut tuting.
The famous ‘camp nou’ seive again in eveidence tonight. Barca should have been 2 down already.
As for a big fine for Dortmund, if it wasn’t in the stadium, I don’t think UEFA can hold the club responsible in any way. Seem to remember some Chelsea fans were a little bit naughty in Manchester a few years ago, and UEFA did nothing ( memory isn’t what it used to be though ).
That boy Dybala – that goal; Absolute positional awareness, born to star. Can’t coach instinct like that.
Suarez is simmering, his work rate is astonishing.
Suarez biting to get into this while Neymar falling over himsel to get something going.
MWD
Odds on Dani Alves yellow card must be around 1/1000
Dallas- Halliday didnt trap for an U20s game either
What a pass from Messi,should be 1-1
2-0
It is 2 now…..
2-0
Fitba eh!!
Dibala knows where the goal is. Two outstanding goals.
MWD
Woohoo!
What a save Gigi!
What a goal Dybala!
1 nil Saint Mirren.
Lazarus recovery continues.
This could be any score tonight. Barcelona defence is appalling.
Missing Busquets tinight :-))))
1-0 St Mirren, Lenny almost there.
Tontine , it would be really funny if that was the case.
A bit like the Scotch and Wry sketch where Gregor Fisher brought in Gerard Kelly as a signing for what was Rangers but couldnt sign there and then as he was going to a mass said by the archbishop who was one of his uncles.
As I was saying Alves booked.
Bada Bing, that’s a surprise as Halliday is the most uber of uber huns.
All may not be well in Camp Sevco.
Morton equalise 1-1
30 minutes gone, 19 fouls already.
Can I just remind everyone going to Lisbon to check their inbox for details about the dinner on the 24th and to get their payments in now or risk losing their place.
Any questions please e-mail me on jjoe88@hotmail.co.uk
Re the position of the SFA and the current Ibrox club’s application for playing licences for European and even domestic competition can I point out that their situation in terms of statutory compliance has never been worse.
When the previous club submitted their applications under Murray, the SFA, SPL and UEFA were able to rely on audited accounts and a company structure which clearly had the benefit of bank support. Further, there was no suggestion of the then directors being either banned from holding a company position by companies house or any regulatory body.
Even with the EBT’s and the side letters it is at least arguable that the then Rangers complied on a prima facie level, with breaches of the then rules only being discovered upon serious further enquiry with there being no great desire on the part of the footballing authorities to look into their affairs.
There were very few who even contemplated asking questions.
Today, that is wholly different for a variety of reasons.
First, as has been repeatedly pointed out the current Rangers have no line of credit and no support frrom a bank.
Second, they have been delisted from the stock exchange and have no audited accounts.
Third, their management structure and at least some of their directors have been the subject of specific undertakings and assurances which have been given to the SFA (and therefore their members) in order to reach initial directorate compliance. You will recall that Kind was not allowed to become a director of the company which directly controls the football club.
Fourth, not only is King a convicted criminal he is now on the verge of being cold shouldered in worldwide financial terms. No one should underestimate the effect that can have on any company with which he is involved including subsidiaries. The SFA have previous experience of football directors who were cold shouldered and it led to the enforced exit of Mr Di Stefano from Dundee Football Club.
The SFA will struggle to justify accepting any financials or projections from any Rangers Club linked to King if the formal cold shoulder is dropped upon him.
Fifth – the climate amongst football owners is very different to that of 5 years ago and the attitude of several clubs will have changed completely since then. Back in the day after Nimmo Smith some clubs wanted the whole thing to move on and to get the whole Rangers debacle behind them. Dundee Utd and Kilmarnock can be listed amongst those who expressed that view in writing.
Others, however, did not and they unsuccessfully sought to appeal Nimmo Smith’s Decision stating that the eventual fine and sanction was far too small given the nature of the charges the then Rangers were convicted of by LNS (notwithstanding the stated reasoning of the commission). The Highland Clubs, Hibs and others were all vociferous in their condemnation of the LNS events and stated clearly they were not happy with the outcome.
This was as a result of a committee meeting which no one attended personally (it was done by phone) and which the Celtic representative could not attend at all due it being convened when he was on holiday.
The position today is that many of the clubs are far better run, their directors are far more resolute, more commercially astute, and some may even have current or past axes to grind. Fiscal non compliance is now watched for like a hawk and clubs want to see that there is a level playing field when it comes to stautory compliance. There are some clubs in Scotland who, in my opinion, will not want to see the current Rangers set up being given the slightest leniency in terms of compliance.
Lastly, sinc the last debacle in 2011, The Court of Arbitration for Sport has handed down a very clear judgement when it comes to football compliance which, in my opinion, makes it imposible for any football association to come up with a “Bryson” type explanation on registration and/or compliance.
That judgement says that in the event of a meterial set of facts or documents not being disclosed (such as EBT side letters or payments), or incomplete (such as wages records being missing or accounts not being audited in the proper fashion) then the entire licensing application and any licence granted is functus — in other words rejected and to be tretaed as never having been received. There can be no technically correct registration or compliance in such circumstances and strict compliance rules the day. The onus is on the football club to have everything perfect at the appropriate time and if not it is curtains.
There are very serious questions as to whether or not the current Rangers can comply with UEFA standards and that only gets worse if the cold shoulder is applied. In terms of European Status, The Scottish Football Association cannot afford to mess this up.
Otherwise they and UEFA know that questions will be asked of them which they would rather not face at all.
BRTH
I will counter your thoughts with:
This is Scotland and The Rangers are King David.
MWD
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Celtic Red Imps Would Have Had Four Or Five Bookings By Now…
If They Were Fouling Barce Players Like The Juve Thugs…..
C’Mon The Barce Imps..!
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MARSPAPA, where are you buddy :))
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O’Halloran Not Turning Up For The Sevco Development Side….
Brother Pedro Will Have Him On His Knees Tomorrow…
Saying 1,888 Hail-Marys, And A Glory Be,
For His Penance…
Imthink the only thing saving Barca from another hiding tonightis the fact that Juventus would happily take a 2-0 right now. They’ll be confident of holding onto a 2 goal lead after first leg. But. A goal for Barca would change the complexion of the tie. I think Juve are playing a dangerous game.