After some horse-trading towards the end of last week, involving a reluctant Spartak Moscow, a huge step was taken on Monday towards establishing a Unified Football Championship across former-Soviet countries. 14 Russian clubs met a representative club from the Ukrainian league in Moscow, with Ukrainian clubs now due a corresponding meeting.
The event was hosted by Gazprom deputy chairman, Alexei Miller, an ally of Vladimir Putin, who afterwards briefed Russian media and indicated Uefa were aware of their plans.
Miller said, “We think it is realistic to hold the championship from the autumn of 2014 to the spring of 2015, but if the time to reach agreements drags on, we plan to hold the championship from autumn 2015 to spring 2016.
“Since a championship like this is a complicated diplomatic matter, we have decided to initiate the championship initially with Ukraine only.
“In the future, if everything works out, we will be able to co-opt clubs from the other countries in the post-Soviet territories, but that’s the next step. All former-Soviet countries would be eligible to join.”
Show me the money
Gazprom sponsor the Uefa Champions League and are keen to sponsor the new league. Miller was clear that money would drive the change, promising annual sponsorship of €1 billion, which in world football is (a close) second only to the value of the next FA Premier League TV contract.
Uefa Financial Fair Play requirements make change, of some sort, inevitable in Russia and Ukraine. Leading clubs there are heavily subsidised by benefactors and, unless they manage to considerably improve their income, they will have to either get rid of all their expensive players, or forgo European competition.
As things stand, the sums don’t add up but money from a Unified Football Championship would allow clubs in Russia and Ukraine to meet Uefa Financial Fair Play requirements and compete with major leagues in the west. Gazprom have the seed cash and political influence, both domestically and at Uefa, to oil the wheels.
In 2005 Uefa sanctioned the Royal League in Scandinavia between the top four clubs from Denmark, Sweden and Norway, but the initiative was poorly organised and perished three years later due to a lack of a TV deal.
After this experiment several clubs across Europe started lobbying to extend the strategy to other leagues which were disenfranchised by a lack of competition or TV income. The principle was further confirmed by Michel Platini and the Uefa Executive Committee in March last year, when they approved a three year probationary period for the BeNe League, which combined top women’s teams from Belgium and the Netherlands, the first season of which is now underway.
The Committee stated at the time that, subject to a satisfactory outcome of the BeNe experiment, other cross-border leagues would be considered by the Executive Committee if all stakeholders (national associations, leagues and clubs) came to agreement on a way forward.
The former-Soviet countries are now motivated to regionalise. The Scandinavians have understood the potential of regionalisation for years but didn’t get it right (they retained national leagues which determined European qualification, the Royal League was effectively a friendly competition). The Belgians and Dutch have a pan-national league already underway, while the former-Yugoslav countries have discussed implementing the same for a couple of years now.
Wales and England have the longest-established regionalised league system in the world.
Meanwhile…………. at a national stadium near you, the only change on the agenda is whether to have three lower leagues or two.
Scottish football is fully aware the viability of many clubs is at a critical level, but have singularly failed to present the vision evident elsewhere in Europe. Whatever world-class technical, stadium and coaching resources we have is being squandered by unambitious leadership.
Months into deliberations Scottish football is only addressing how to slice up an ever-smaller pie. The enormous increase in income possible from regionalisation to SPL clubs, and what trickles-down to the lower leagues, dos not seem to have registered.
Hard cash can focus minds..
Spartak Moscow owner, Leonid Fedun, was highly critical of plans for the new league and insisted he would not attend Monday’s meeting but after doing so he said, “When I heard the budget per year was €1 billion I changed my mind and decided to attend. You can’t miss a chance to be the part of that game.”
Football across Europe is set for change, a fact a great deal of the UK media seem to have missed.
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miki67
19:16 on 20 February, 2013
the battered bunnet :15:05 on20 February, 2013
“Heading an old style bootlace bladder during a game played in the rain or on a puddle strewn playground risked traumatic brain injury.”
>>>>>>>
Hence the state I’m in !
: > ))
*Danny McGrain had a cousin also called Danny who was captain of Clyde, he headed a wet ball clearance which I believe finished his career.
Tallybhoy
20:04 on 20 February, 2013
I know the Barca away top has the colours of the Catalan flag, but it looks like something conjured up by Salvador Dali on acid.
*we should try this with green replacing the tangerine.
Ronnie @RonnieJ1967
From cartuja on KDS: http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/single/?p=12064777&t=8776225 … @cartuja Nails it with where problem steams from Police harassment of Green Brigade & fans.
Not sure it is correct (if anyone is) to fully attribute the stats posted earlier solely to zonal marking.
Our defending is a hybrid of both zonal and man marking. Certain individuals are allocated a man-marking role (depending who we are against), with the remaining defenders zonally marking.
Some of us advocated this years ago when the zonal/man marking debate raged during Gordon Strachan’s reign.
Holly Yoda
Some of the ole posters have rolled their stones up and away.
First Twisty, now Suppersutton. Who next Noel90!
HT – you ever heard of promoting your justgiving weeoscar4life cycle page? ;-)
MWD
This talk of mouldmasters and leather laced balls has brought back some painful memories – that and the black ash grazes from the fifty pitches . I don’t think that fraser would relish playing in goal in a pair of shorts
Milan 1-0
Thomson with an honest mistake at the San Siro
Don’t think that was hand ball
Ya dancer right Barca one goal will do
Get yer dosh on Bayern for CL
It had to come sometime – referee fails to see a clear hand ball in build up to goal.
I take it all back……shocking two handed handball……what the hell are these ‘extra’ offucials for?
Lap dancing.
Honest mistake my……
That was disgraceful.
: > (
Gullum probably saw the hand ball from turkey – he’s got that 6th sense
Thomson a bit confused – both teams come from Catholic countries.
He doesn’t know who to favour.
HH!!
Clear handball by Galatasary defender in the box. Collum afraid to award a penalty against home team.
tallybhoy
21:03 on 20 February, 2013
He he
Mind goes back to inter scoring an off side goal against barca a few years back. Getting the feeling there could be an upset here…
Celtic Football Club @celticfc
Both sides are left to settle for a share of the spoils but the young Hoops maintain their 10-point lead at the league summit. (MH)
Celtic Football Club @celticfc
FT Dundee United U20s 1-1 Celtic U20s. Denny Johnstone’s second-half goal is cancelled out by the hosts shortly after.
Think maybe Cartuja should have said that Celtic football fans/supporters are being targetted by House.
MWD
Sorry mate really hectic time just now but will start promoting it soon!!
Here’s an idea you could post it on CQN for me the now ;-))))
The first team and the under 20s between them have a 29 point lead.
World record surely?
HH!!
Can’t stand Trevor Stevens doing commentary on rte – complete tube.
Coldplay best live act….. Brilliant – can’t write comedy like this!
Commentator says it WAS a hand ball…….i didn’t think it was hand to ball, but it seems hands raised is enough for it to be a foul……
Come on Barca…get the finger oot….
Is it bad that I,m delighted Thomson has blundered in a high profile game? :)
Good evening CHAMPIONS
Max Wall just came on for Barca.
Weefra HH
Ten Men Won The League
21:12 on
20 February, 2013
Is it bad that I,m delighted Thomson has blundered in yet another high profile game? :)
===========
FTFY
Puyol looks like Max Wall!
That rhymes!
HH!!
tontine tim
20:50 on 20 February, 2013
Played with a bladder a couple of times, when wet they turned into medicine balls and my young skinny legs could hardy kick it more than a few yards.
Re. Mouldys when the opposing goalkeeper had a kick out i dreaded it coming towards me to head it clear.
It was like heading a brick the way they were down up.
Evening bhoys from a hun free mountain valley.
Watched the first half of the Barca game in the bar, Thompshun was getting it from a few, as was I, sometimes nationality is enough >}
In saying that, I thought he was as good as I have seen him, as long as us and them are not involved, disny translate too well…….
And canny get a stream, should have stayed in the bar, but up early.
Down=blow:-))
Whose bright idea was it to give Craig ‘one honest mistake per game’ Thomson such a high profile match ?
HT
R u sure. It has your real name Fore & Sur
MWD
Come on Barca,,,,,,,,
2-0 milan
Milan get a 2nd. Or, as we call it, a Tony Watt
Give the trophy to manure now
Milan think they’re Celtic.