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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monteblanco
22:32 on 20 February, 2013
===================
Outstanding and epic tale condensed into a few paragraphs.
Thanks for the read, and congrats to the bhoy.
Summa this is a wee story about when as children we were watched by a friend with whom we stayed overnight .
When my mum picked us up next morning, on our way home on the bus she explained to my inquisitive wee sister that her and my dad had been to a wedding the previous night. She then had to explain what a wedding was. My wee sister digested this information and then in a booming voice for all the rest of the passengers to hear that Sunday morning she asked my mum “So who watched us when you and daddy got married?”
Children rock.
I can imagine your wee girl squeezing every ounce she can from every new word she learns. I can see your heart sink when she goes into question mode. Drilling you on any contradictions from previous Q&A sessions. But your her daddy and that’s the price. A small price considering the joy she’ll bring.
I had a year in Kallithea teaching infants and I had trouble maintaining my weight above skeletal. They take it out of you but they give it back.
Summa the only two things I can identify with certainty in the night sky are the moon and the SKY satellite.
Just dropped in to say…
Sack The CQN-Nightshift :o)))
Off oot
KevJungle-CharlieNic/Murdo /’Walk-on’ in the rain Hampden 82
“We Welcome The Chase”,eh?
They don’t say that anymore.
We put the original club to sleep,let’s bury the tribute act as well.
They cannot handle the fact that we are the kings of Scottish football…It kills them my friend,it really does…
The bait has been cast out to them once again,and they will keep biting Kev,they will continue to try and catch us…Because it is the nature of the zombie hun beast…Don’t forget,they are a superior peepil,after all.
Let’s reel them in once again.
I second that motion.
Monteblanco – thanks for your story mate. Great family tale. Going through the same process myself at the moment with my eldest. Have never seen anyone study as hard. Hope to feck he gets the grades.
Not often you will see anyone in the msm refer to Rabgers in such unequivocal terms,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/celtic/9883429/Celtic-manager-Neil-Lennon-says-imminent-SPL-title-means-more-because-of-Champions-League-run.html
It will take at least another two seasons before Ally McCoist and his players are able to regain their place in the elite division following the old club’s descent into administration and liquidation last year.
The new club, who had the old club’s membership of the Scottish Football Association transferred into their name six months ago so that they could begin life in the Third Division, are no longer part of that two-horse race.
Consequently, Celtic began the current campaign as the shortest-odds favourite for the title in the history of the Scottish game.
Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with St Johnstone in Perth left the champions 19 points clear of second-placed Motherwell but Lennon, whose team overcame a 15-point deficit to overtake Rangers last season, does not believe that retaining the trophy will be a lesser achievement.
“Every title means the same but this one may actually mean more, given the European run we’ve had this year and the exertions the players have gone through.
“Winning championships is not easy, even though everyone looked at this one as a foregone conclusion.
“But if you look at Germany, Bayern are 15 points clear. Manchester United are 12 points clear in England and I don’t know how far ahead Barcelona are.
“Not many of the big leagues are competitive. They tend to have one dominant team and that seems to be the case with us as well.
“Rangers being out of the league doesn’t take away any of the satisfaction, not for me or the players.
“We won the league with Rangers in it last year. They’re not here now and there is nothing we can do about that. The reality is that they’re in the Third Division and we need to keep improving as a club.
“We need to keep winning and keep creating assets in the squad. We’ve done all that, more or less reaching all the targets we wanted to.
“Others may look at it differently but you can only beat what’s in front of you. If other people want to cast aspersions then fine: there is nothing we can do about that.”
Lennon has been pleasantly shocked by the ability of his players to bounce back from disappointments at home and abroad (their five league defeats from 27 fixtures is as many as they suffered in the whole of 2011/12).
“They have a brilliant mentality,” he said. “They keep surprising me, though.
“For such a young team, the experience they’ve gained in the last couple of years will stand them in good stead for wherever they go next.
“It’s not easy playing here. It’s not easy rising to the expectation at times but they’ve handled it very, very well.
“They won’t get the credit for it years down the line because people will say, ‘Well, Rangers weren’t here.’
“But they were here last year and our players coped very well [when they had a huge lead] in the league. This season they’ve handled the big games pretty well too.
“We have set targets like points totals as well as individual targets for each player. They’re focused on achieving them.”
Defender Kelvin Wilson echoed Lennon’s sentiments, claiming that the championship medal from his sophomore season would be cherished more than the one he collected last year.
“If and when we do win the league we can look back on it with pride,” he said.
“Last season I played 17 times but maybe only had about 10 starts. This season I’ve been more involved, although I enjoyed it last year too.
“Any time you win a title you have to enjoy it. Winning it without Rangers doesn’t come into my thinking.
“We are expected to win all the time but it’s hard because, for other teams, it’s their cup final against the champions.
“It’s a great achievement to stay first, personally speaking. You play in Europe and face Barcelona in midweek and then have a league game on a Saturday.
“But you go into that league game with a lot having been taken from you both mentally and physically from the European match.”
Wilson claims that his personal experience of those difficulties has only increased his admirations for Old Trafford’s golden generation of stars.
“I look at the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville and think that they have competed in Europe and won titles for so many years,” he said.
“We’ve done it this year for the first time and it’s tough: I really take my hat off to them because they did it for 17-18 years running!”
Rabgers? Obviously I meant Bangers.
Bangers & pash.
Good morning friends from a calm, dry, clear skied and very cold and frosty East Kilbride.
.
NTassoolla..
Sorry for Not Repling had to Go ‘Off Oot’..:-)
Monteblanco..
It’s Not often I read something and take in Every Word..
Thanks..
Summa
Zimmerman :-)
So newco paid Rapid almost exactly 70% of the money owed or Jelavic and Rapid are pursuing oldco for the full amount. Anyone think Rapid have been told they will get 30p in the pound from oldco?
Die zombies,Die! Die! Die!
Jobo
Is that a prediction or a report?? ;-)
tomtheleedstim
06:35 on
21 February, 2013
So newco paid Rapid almost exactly 70% of the money owed…
————
Given they were ‘debt-free’ I am surprised they paid anything at all to Rapid?! Was this a loan rather than any form of payment? ;-)
monteblanco –
Logged in this morning to see everyone throwing congratulations at you. Wondered what you had been up to!!
I had a wee read of your post, and had a wee lump in my throat towards the end. A lovely tale, with a nice ending, which is in itself another beginning of another chapter. Good luck to that bhoy of yours, tell him to stick in.
I have two bhoys that I am very proud of.
Curly Junior Senior works, as he decided that the academic lifestyle wasn’t for him. I supported him 100% in his decision. He had a job interview 2 days ago which, if he gets the job, will be a big promotion for him, so fingers and eyes crossed for him!
Curly Junior Junior, who some of you met years ago at the CQN 5-a-sides at Glasgow Green. has taken to Uni life. He is currently in his final year of BSc Honours Chemistry. If he gets through this year OK, he will hopefully be doing his PhD, so more finger and eye crossing!!
No wonder I cannot sleep at night!!!
Offski, have to get some work finished before the boss arrives. Later ghuys.
Ulryc
Malc – Charlie was misquoted by folk who don’t know the Yorkshireism..
He said they were ” t’ebt free”
Monteblanco 22.32
Brilliant news,brilliantly told.
TT
And finally Charles Green reveals his plan for his favourite wee money earner as he unveils Sevco’s new team Coach and breaks into a wee rendition of
Show them the way to go home
Hail Hail
Estadio
Monteblanco, that’s brilliant, thank you for that and best of luck to your son.
There are some cracking stories among the CQN community and even more, some people who really know how to tell a story well.
Good morning CQners,
Monteblanco, great post……and in homage to Co Tyrone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTRHD7OUZzM
Scanning the Scottish papers on line I’ve got to say I was disappointed they haven’t delved further into the internecine warfare in Sevco, must be a non-story…hmmmm
Murdochbhoy, yermanfromMK
On Radio Scotland last night Michael Grant, Roddy Forsyth and Tom English discussed the issue in more detail than their printed employers. They were quite clear, English and Forsyth especially. They have a barrelload of material, rumour, accusation and counter claim…..BUT …they have been warned by their own lawyers that until they get independent corroboration they cannot go public. Forsyth in particular it seems has the lead on this and is on the verge of a formal on the record interview with Malcolm Murray.
Hail Hail
Estadio
Top of the morning to you all from a diamond hard, but sunny Fife.
Monteblanco, the art of the story-teller is alive and well with you.
Wonder if we will hear any news on Nimmo or other matters Sevcovian today?
Is it not about time the Liquidation was announced as done, or does it not work like that?
Big Nan
Nimmo’s report due out on 28th February. Huns asked if it could get a delay until Feb 29th!
:-)
Hail Hail
Estadio
Congrats this morning to Mark Daly and Alex Thomson, journalist of the year, for their awards from tne Royal Television Society last night. Will zombie scribes stop referring to them as discredited mournalists I wonder.
I meant journalists. Mournalists are obviously oldco hacks.
andycol –
“mournalists”
Love it!!
Ulcyr
monteblanco
Congratulations to your Bhoy and thanks for sharing that brilliant story.
V
Morning all. Bright and very cold here.
I see Mark Daly’s dissection of thon deid team fae Govan programme won an award. Has it been mentioned by the MSM?
CQN the best way to start the day…
Monteblanco chapeau Mate that’s a great read..
Estadio, cute coach I can just see Ole Challs up there in a Dickensian style with Supper Sally as his sidekick…
andycol is yet another neil lennon
08:16 on
21 February, 2013
Nice one :-)
I just congratulated a couple of huns in work on winning a trophy last night.
They looked bewildered until i explained…mark daly…”who sold the jerseys”.
They weren’t to pleased, especially when being told he’s working on the follow up :-)
Monteblanco – an inspirational story. Good luck to your lad – tell him to steer clear of the Beer Bar (if it’s still there).
Starry
‘Supper’ Sally….Brill
Hail Hail
Estadio
monte great read and well done to your son. KTF
HH
Morning all!
Monteblanco – a lovely story, very well written! Good luck to your bhoy! My own daughter hopes to go on and study forensics.
HH!!
BDO : sell iPox & Murray Pk. and pay the creditors.
Simples.
Let Sevco play in the streets. Like they want to.