Well done to the Daily Record for revealing that SFA referee, Eddie Smith, was the policeman who reported Celtic fans to Uefa for singing offensive songs against Rennes last month. Smith was one of the referees who declined to make his services available as referees went on strike last season while Celtic took-on the SFA amid accusations of lies, bullying, sectarian behaviour and cover-ups among referees at the association. He is no longer on the Grade 1 list.
Following the strike the SFA Head of Referee Administration was removed from his post and referee, Dougie MacDonald, who was accused of lying to Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, resigned, prompting then-Celtic chairman, Dr John Reid, to say the club felt vindicated in raising their concerns.
Vindicated, no doubt, but with more than a few feeling bitter towards the club.
While the Daily Record can reflect on some good work today, bizarrely, the Scotsman newspaper accused Celtic fans of sectarian chanting at the Rennes game, something even police-gossip, Eddie Smith, didn’t accuse them of.
Why stop at accusations of sectarian behaviour? If the Scotsman are going to be ridiculous, why not accused Celtic fans of genocide and treason? Better still, just say lots of them have funny names, go to strange schools but will never ascent to the British throne.
Celtic have 123-years of non-sectarian history, it is downright offensive to suggest otherwise.
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Lionroars67,
thank you
Celtic will face a UEFA disciplinary hearing on December 8, with their supporters having been accused of “illicit chanting” during the club’s recent Europa League win over Rennes.
UEFA have rules in place that cover a range of offences involving supporters across all of their national associations. This guide answers some of the questions about the procedures that apply in every case.
What does UEFA need to open a case?
UEFA can open disciplinary cases based on UEFA official reports or any other report or evidence. These include opening proceedings on the basis of documents from a public authority.
What evidence does it consider?
UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body considers the official reports on the case, as well as any documents received it considers relevant. Further evidence can also be asked for, as long as it does not delay proceedings.
Is there a file or a list of unacceptable songs?
UEFA’s match delegates have previously had access to an online extranet service which stores offensive symbols, slogans and messages on certain clubs. UEFA have declined to confirm whether the service still exists or whether there is such a file on Celtic.
A spokesperson for UEFA told STV: “Delegates are requested to observe and report any discriminatory behaviour (banners, symbols, chanting, etc.) and they receive specific training and guidance in this respect.
“They are also briefed to pay special attention to potential types of inappropriate behaviour for matches involving teams/clubs of certain national associations.”
What is the specific rule?
Article 11.2 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations allows for disciplinary measures to be taken against clubs if there are instances of “inappropriate behaviour on the part of their supporters”.
Specifically, the rule says action can be taken in the event of “the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, in particular if it is of a political, offensive or provocative nature.”
What sanctions can be imposed?
UEFA has a wide ranging tariff of penalties, starting off with either a warning, a reprimand or, most typically, a fine, which shall be no less than 100 euros (£86) and no more than 1,000,000 euros (£859,140)
Also available to the governing body is the power to annul a match result, order a replay, deduct points or order a match forfeit.
Further sanctions include the power to order future games to be played behind closed doors, the full or partial closure of a stadium, the playing of a match in a third country, disqualification from live or future competitions, the withdrawal of a title or award and/or the withdrawal of a club licence.
Who hears the case?
The Control and Disciplinary Body comprises of a chairman and nine members, although only three members are required to be present for a decision to be made.
UEFA say representatives from Celtic are not expected to attend the hearing. Only in exceptional circumstances do UEFA invite the parties to speak.
How do they decide?
The Control and Disciplinary Body considers the written evidence available to it. It then decides whether to halt proceedings, acquit the accused, convict the accused or dismiss the complaint.
Is there a right of appeal?
Yes. Both a club and UEFA have the right to challenge the decision of the Control and Disciplinary Body, unless the punishment was merely a warning or a reprimand.
An appeal must be lodged within three days of the contested decision being received in writing. An appeal fee of 1,000 euros (£856) is payable.
Can a punishment expire?
Yes. If a club is excluded from a UEFA competition for one season, the ban expires after five years. If the ban is for two seasons, it runs out after eight years and if the punishment is in excess of two seasons, the punishment is only enforceable for 10 years.
For stadium closures or orders to play matches behind closed doors, bans of one to two matches expire after five years, three to four matches after eight years and after 10 years for bans which apply to four or more matches.
All other disciplinary measures must be enforced within five years or they expire. The time limit begins from August 1 after the season it was implemented.
Who else has been charged previously on similar charges?
Following a charge of discriminatory behaviour in an away Europa League fixture against PSV Eindhoven, Rangers were fined 40,000 euros and banned from selling tickets to its supporters for two away matches in UEFA competition, with one match suspended for three years.
Rangers were fined a further 40,000 euros on a second charge of discriminatory behaviour in the home leg of the same tie, with a suspended punishment of being forced to play one UEFA competition home game behind closed doors.
The Croatian Football Federation was fined 80,000 euros in June this year for, amongst other charges, the displaying of illicit banners at a fixture with Georgia.
The other charges brought were for crowd disturbances, a pitch invasion, the setting off and throwing of fireworks, the violation of kit regulations and insufficient organisation.
KevJungle
They keep bleating on about being offended, well lets offend them…..
Ooh Ah Pay your Tax…..Ooh Ah Pay your Tax
THE EXILED TIM says:
15 November, 2011 at 11:54
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Hopefully the GB will have a flag with your words on it!
Hail! Hail!
Off oot.
May God Bless ‘Every’ Celtic Fan.
P.S. Please watch your backs.
You have to hand it to STV.
Inside 2 days they’ve managed to shed more light on UEFA’s Procedures than they have in 2 years on HMRC’s Procdures.
Kev @ 11:50
No need to concentrate on why – I can tell you now.
Because they wouldn’t let us.
2010 Never Again
The midday prayer will commence shortly.
At this time a prayer will be offered up for the heroic and determined battle being waged by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs against corrupt organisations wherever in Govan they may be found.
Loinroars67,
I think I might have just found out why they are struggling to raise funds, no link to be found.
Celtic – tell them to stick there Commonwealth Games up their hin end.
hope we’ve not signed any contracts.
play
The words were from a post last night by The Fu99ie Dew, and as they got very little response I thought I would push it, as it seems to me a good compromise.
It would be a win win for us, and a humiliation for them. What’s no to like, and it should help stop the infighting on the blogs, after all we have a common foe.
Ooh Ah Pay your Tax………..Ooh Ah Pay your Tax
Afternoon from a hun free Black-Sea.
Now we find that Mr Smith has similarly provoked an SPL investigation. So after numerous years of ignoring anti – catholic bile suddenly the Scottish Authorities have found a conscience. Lord that makes me angry and very very glad that I left all those years ago.
The bottom line however is that this is a fight that cannot be won and the sooner those who perpetuate the IRA chants realise it the better it will be for Celtic. They simply don’t have public support for their point of view even amongst their own people so I would urge them to fully embrace the many positive aspects of their Irish Identity and by all means volubly overwhelm the bigots in Scotland with songs and chants they cannot attack. If their goal is to embrace Irish identity and annoy those who have turned a blind eye to bigotry for so many years they can do that quite well without even the slightest mention of the IRA.
The Battered Bunnet says:
15 November, 2011 at 11:59
The difference with this case and others held against Rangers is that the media and probably the SFA will provide an angle of guilt against the Celtic fans.
The really want us to get punished here. This story will run and run.
All eyes will be on the support at Inverness. Get behind the team. They will need it up there.
LB
Ole Joanie is on the E-lites?
This is from a Rankers article having a pop at a joke by Stuart Cosgrove
The Durrant incident happened when Simpson midfield Durrant heavily right at the start of a match at Pittodrie.
To this day the former Aberdeen player, who now coaches at the club is reluctant to go to Glasgow because of the hostility he still encounters from an incident that happened almost 25 years ago.
Do you think Eddie Smith and his colleagues should ask Simpson for evidence of offensive behaviour towards him in Glasgow
FFM @ 11.43
Have you got any more details?
Was it SDM on his own or was it MIH?
I have recollections of someone owning a site in the middle of the proposed Games Village and trying it on with pictures of the huge skyscraper they were planning to build.
The Glasgow property blogs had all the details, the games being played and the figures being bandied about.
From memory the owners did not appear to have any links with SDM / MIH.
Would this be one and the same?
Having voted SNP (A decision I now regret) I have no wish to promote a political debate that will run with the songs debate and miss the point that we are being done down and should do something about it………….however when Salmond should have been in parliament justifying his new legislation he was in Qatar opening the offices of a law firm that think HMRC are being over zealous in taxing big business.
http://scottishlaw.blogspot.com/2011/11/law-firm-with-share-of-20m-scots-govt.html
I think I am begining to join up the dots starting in Charlotte Square.
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire says:
15 November, 2011 at 12:00
Loinroars67,
I think I might have just found out why they are struggling to raise funds, no link to be found.
Yes sorry i should have expanded on that, they are in the process of getting the fund up and running as they fully expect the legislation to be passed and no surprise that young Celtic fans will be the targets of Eddie Smith and his colleagues.
on talksport now,Brendan Guilfoyle an Administrator is on for the next hour,might be interesting.He just said you get a 10 point penalty for entering Admin,and another penalty if you cant agree a deal with creditors.
lionroars67,
I’m looking to help the bhoy currenty being wrongfully imprisoned the new law can wait, there is a deep injustice hapening right now.
Lionroars67
What laws are they alleged to have broken?
Just when you think you’re having a bad day, Charlie Parker crops up on Composer of the Week on good old Radio 3.
Nice.
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire says:
15 November, 2011 at 12:12
Contact Joe at the CSA he knew all about the incident you refer to and im sure will point you in the right direction reference helping the young Celt arrested, hope this helps
15 November 2011 Last updated at 10:10 GMT Share this pageEmailPrint
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Rangers FC tax tribunal set to run to January
A tribunal dealing with an appeal by Rangers FC against a disputed tax bill and penalties totalling about £49m is set to continue into January.
The First Tier Tribunal in Edinburgh was expected to conclude on Wednesday. It has now been listed to take place on 16, 17 and 18 January 2012.
The disputed bill and penalties relates to Rangers’ use of Employee Benefit Trusts to pay employees.
The club faces the prospect of administration if it loses this case.
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) claims that £35m is owed by Rangers in unpaid tax with a further £14m due in interest and penalties.
HMRC has also had £2.8m of Rangers assets ring-fenced over a separate tax bill which the club is understood to be disputing.
Former board members Donald McIntyre and Martin Bain have also taken Rangers to court to freeze a total of £780,000 of assets pending the outcome of their damages claims.
THE EXILED TIM says:
15 November, 2011 at 11:48
Ooh Ah Pay you Tax…Ooh Ah Pay your Tax…..
Love it! Now that’s an add-on worth singing.
:-)
When the huns “proud history” vanishes like a Craig Whyte down the lavvy, may I be the first to ask
“Where’s you’re five stars gone? Where’s you’re five stars gone?”
loonroars67,
if this bhoy can be treated like a terrorist now, with obvious abuse of power being displayed by the polis, then it does not bode well when they have the power to do so.
However if they can be shown to be abusing their power for political purposes it may make their future planned abuse more difficult to hide behind the aprons of the politicians.
Ooops should be lionroars 67 sorry.
Big Nan @ 12.07
I fear there were many in our support and who should know better who did the same in 2011.
Wee Eck is now basking in all this voter love and we, all Scotland, will pay heavy price for his arrogance stupidity and ego. He is probably a bigger threat to the working class than Dave the Rave or any of the Westminster dog boilers because he has no self awareness and he is pushing to give more responsibility to a society that is not mature enough or deep enough.
lionroars67,
I agree with your post earlier, about removing the Celtic pound from all other SPL clubs.
Why should we keep alive elements of Scottish football who would rejoice if we no longer existed. We are ensuring these clubs exist. It’s masochistic in the extreme in my opinion.
I think we need to resign from this league, if truth be told.
Árd Macha
Celtic_First says:
15 November, 2011 at 12:12
At the FAC meeting on Sat Joe from the CSA told the meeting that the Police (mob handed apparently) arrested a young Celtic fan around 6/7 AM i believe it was on Thursday
The exact nature of the charges i do not know sorry
Árd Macha says:
15 November, 2011 at 12:20
lionroars67,
I agree with your post earlier, about removing the Celtic pound from all other SPL clubs.
Why should we keep alive elements of Scottish football who would rejoice if we no longer existed. We are ensuring these clubs exist. It’s masochistic in the extreme in my opinion.
Time for action IMO, the whole set up is a farce! who’s kidding who
lionroars67,
cheers again, again no link, I hope they manage to get something sorted soon.
hail hail
C1st
This was posted last night
monteblanco says:
14 November, 2011 at 21:37
It now appears if you sing ‘offensive’ and as yet not illegal songs, not only do you get arrested at 7 am on a Friday, kept in till Monday for a ‘breach’ charge. But when the judge grants bail, the crown appeal it, so your on remand for a couple of months.
From a Rangers Perspective
ETT
I think the most shameful thing in the Police attacking the GB and the support in general is the Club seemingly supporting and encouraging it.
Is it possible to get a list of matches Smith has attended? If he saying he has never heard wee hoons singing “billy boys” Or the big hoons singing “we are Rang*rs”?
In the case against Drybrough, the hun who was acquitted because calling someone a ‘Fenian Bastard’ and ‘Black Bastard’ in the vicinity of a stand full of huns, could not be classed as a ‘breach of the peace’.
Surely this has set the precendent. I know it’s not technically the same, but I think there is enough evidence to muddy the waters and present a defence.
Árd Macha