It should be a matter of great personal pride to the football fans, manty of them Celtic fans, who campaigned against the Offensive Behaviour at Football’ Bill from the outset, and then against the Act, faced off against the Scottish Government at Holyrood yesterday and won.
Their satisfaction will be shared by James Kelly MSP, who raised the Bill in Parliament, which yesterday brought down the Act. Well done to him and his colleagues.
This nonsense was never about ending sectarianism, neither the SNP Government, nor the police, have moved an inch towards this goal since Alex Salmond first raised the subject.
Sectarianism in football grounds was given life in 2011 by then Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, who sat through 90 minutes of The Billy Boys at Hampden, before congratulating fans on their performance. The Billy Boys returned to stadiums that day and since then, we have lived through an SNP endorsed open season.
The Act was a familiar mix of populist rhetoric and right wing police action so common with those who put identity politics before people.
After their defeat, the Government acknowledged they would recognise will of Parliament, despite ignoring the same will when an earlier vote on the Act was passed. Nicola Sturgeon did everything in her power to prevent this defeat.
Salmond has moved on to his spiritual home-broadcaster, where proto-right wing nationalists get to claim credentials of the left without challenge. Today we have a government and police force which have been made accountable to the law and the democratic will. The need for vigilance against extreme right wing policies continues.
Well done again to all those who campaigned so successfully.
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Med Tim
The question should not be “see the wtc bill when was it due to be paid” but “see the wee tax liability when was it due to be paid?
The answer taking the view of the Tax Justice Network is in 2001, 2002 and 2003 on the basis that this was a tax on wages, a tax that should have been paid under PAYE.
So technically the liability became overdue in each of those years, rising from one year to the next. The same argument would apply to the btc liability the moment the Supreme Court drew the final curtain.
UEFA’s view supported by CAS in the case of Giannina FC is that the liability becomes one (or crystalises) when a club accepts it OWES tax from the previous year (or years in this case) at 31 Dec of previous year. It then becomes overdue if by 31st March it has not been paid it or a written agreement to postpone payment has not been reached with HMRC or it has been disputed or its a frivolous demand.
If none of the exemption conditions exist then because Rangers accepted they owed HMRC on 21st March an overdue payable as defined in UEFA rules existed.
The wtc liability was therefore overdue at 31 March but licence was granted because Rangers described it as “potential” and discussions were taking place.
The description of “potential” was false and backed by the statement on discussions ( I don’t have the actual words) gave impression liability was under dispute. In fact Regan in one of his Tweets portrayed it as such.
That appearance of dispute was carried on in June and Sept by CW but AJ started it.
Just a bit of clarification on UEFA’s position.
The huns got a licence last year when the dugs in the street knew they didn’t qualify for one, they will get one this year as well.
Can you imagine them not getting one, really.
………………………………………………………………………………………..
Well done to those who were involved in repealing the bill.
Thanks for replies bhoys
An afterthought. What if SFA did contact HMRC for details and were given the full story on why a liability existed at all and thought best not let this get out?
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 16TH MARCH 2018 1:17 PM
Red Card…………….. Red Card……………Red Card
Definitely Red in The Gold Cup?
One for Auldheid or BRTH.
If/when the time comes when the CO completes his investigation and concludes there IS a case to answer and it is put forward to the review panel,do you think Rangers will or should be treated as a “new club” or as a continuation of rfc?
Even if it is as a new club it would not preclude individuals eg Johnston,Murray,Dickson being dealt with on an individual basis but the potential sanctions could be quite different for either scenario for the club.
Perhaps THEY should be allowed to choose before the hearing starts.
Thoughts?
Just a wee bit of Friday afternoon fun.
medtim
Mourinho’s meltdown….marvellous!!!!!!!
Police state, Paul? Hardly.
I’m delighted the crappy OBFA legislation has been scrapped and well done to everybody who campaigned against it. It was an appalling piece of legislation. But before you go on with your rants, I’d like to remind you that it was a Labour government that made it illegal to wear a t-shirt with the wrong message on it. They brought in a harassment act that has seen people prosecuted for handing out leaflets, they extended the length of time people could be detained without charge, they allowed the police to stop and search people without even a suspicion of wrongdoing…I could go on.
All that isn’t to excuse any wrongdoings by the SNP – but it’s worth keeping a sense of perspective and remembering what your own side have done in the past.
By nature I am wary of any political movement with the word ” National” in the title.
II hold my hands up. Last year I posted here that the Act would never be repealed.
Now that it has gone, perhaps Paul 67, or someone else in the know, will enlighten us as to exactly what the Cheeky Chappie said to Neil Lennon, that led to the hysterical media reaction, which in turn led to panicking politicians introducing the Act.
An important point that someone raised the other day – what happens to those who were convicted under the OBFA and now have a criminal record?
Chavez,
Without getting into an argument about police states, the particular Act that was repealed was only enacted in the first place because Alex Salmond and some of his SNP colleagues, like Christine Graham, wanted to punish US. The existing legislation countering sectarianism was and is mostly ignored. Indeed the then Justice Minister MacKaskill (sp?) actually praised the deid team’s support for belting out their filth for 90 minutes. (He wasn’t alone, if memory serves: the then Chief Constable also praised them.)
This is Scotland and things won’t change until the institutionalised sectarianism is owned, recognised and faced.
A CEILER GONOF RUST on 16TH MARCH 2018 12:15 AM
Set your recording for 9.30PM Monday BBC2 for ” Secrets of the Masons”.
Secrets of the Masons, I doubt anything will be revealed that we don’t already know about them……:_(
*Correct. I grew up in a town population less than 10,000 with 3 separate ludges, Alexandria, Bonhill and Renton although I believe the first 2 have now amalgamated. I’ve read countless books about them and also saw plenty of tv shows especially over here where they are perceived as “good guys”, first of all they are NOT a service group like the KoC, Kiwanis, Rotarians etc who actually all work in tandem with each other as they, and we all know this, are a self service group. Also, they unlike the others take a blood oath.
In saying that the shriners do a lot of work for children’s hospitals and although all goatshaggers are not shriners all shriners are breesr barers. In fact the shriners are described as “among secret lodges the No. 1 in prestige, wealth and show”, and that “in the typical city, especially in the Mid-West, the shriners will include most of the prominent citizens.” In other words join the craft, get a good job and/or promotion and then you can drive around in a wee motor in a parade wearing a fez.
As for the tv show you’ll only see what they want you too, it has often been said “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”, similarly the greatest trick the craft has ever pulled was convincing everyone that they’re just a bunch of nice guys, to quote a popular Scottish word, sleekit is more apt.
Word on the street Coatbrig St Paddy’s festival officially opening at 11.30am tomorrow will be carried out by two young Celtic legends
Wee Jay & KT
Anthony Ralston has joined @dundeeunitedfc on an emergency loan until the end of this season.
Strange one to send Ralston out for the rest of the season, although rumour has it he was acting billy big baws when negotiating his recent contract extension. Brendan sorted him out. Now maybe a wee reality check for him.
David17,
Good move for Ralston at this time. Brendan obviously has faith in the Mad Swede or is comfortable with 3 at the back and no recognised right back.
Auldheid,
I see your still a bit confused about the wtc and when it became overdue in the eyes of UEFA, hopefully this cuts through the “grey” area you maintain as an excuse for the authorities. While I agree with the tax justice mob that it became overdue the following year since the side letters were not declared.
It actually became evasion when HMRC received the response from the club to their inquiry that there were ‘no side letters’, you guys can dress it up as as “aggressive tax avoidance” if you want but the response declaring a lie makes it evasion, regardless of HMRC’s willingness to pursue the charges, the rangers executive lied to HMRC that is fraud and that is evasion in any language except thieves and politicians.
It’s Friday it’s five to five it’s
“What the goalie doin – what’s the goalie doin Tom “
Bbbbbbbwwwwwwwhhhhhaaaaaa CSC
ParkheadcumSalford – I know about Christine Graham’s comments and there was definitely an element of making certain political views illegal at football…to our detriment.
As for MacAskill, I got the feeling that was a pre-prepared statement that came out after the game (seem to remember reading that at the time – might be wrong).
Anyway, I’m not an SNP member or supporter but it seems to me that they’ve had an influx of ex-Labour people, including many of Irish descent so I expect they’ll become less nauseous. But I’m regularly wrong, so we’ll see.
BATEEN BHOY on 16TH MARCH 2018 5:16 PM
A bit of both probably. Would also have to assume Ralston is quite a bit off the pace.
Dundee United have signed Scotland under-21 right-back Anthony Ralston on an emergency loan from Celtic until the end of the season.
The 19-year-old has played 10 times for Celtic, starting six games, including the Champions League defeat at home to Paris St Germain in September.
Ralston scored his first Celtic goal in August’s 5-0 win over Kilmarnock in the League Cup. He signed a new four-year deal with the Scottish champions in December.
since it is Friday afternoon, and it is almost St. Pats …. how about a bit of the Pogues?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSyL-TrD_2g
I like UTD good move for Tony think he’s still better thought of than Gamboa in the longer term.
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 16TH MARCH 2018 5:08 PM
Word on the street Coatbrig St Paddy’s festival officially opening at 11.30am tomorrow will be carried out by two young Celtic legends
Wee Jay & KT
__________________
Gerry – me and Wee BGFC are on the main stage as part of our wee band – Fir Na Ma (a poor translation is ‘Men of Plains’) We are on sometime between 13:00 and 15:00 for half an hour – exact time TBC tomorrow morning.
Wee BGFC is on the second piano accordion and I’ll be doing a fine job destroying (singing) a few good tunes – all green, but nothing (too) rebellious – too public a place for an NHS employee to be filmed singing ‘those’ types of songs !!
If you are about, say hello :-)
HH
BGFC
PS – we’ll be wearing woolly jumpers and hats – brrrrrrrrr……..
GERRYFAETHEBRIG, hi pal do you know if the coatbridge accordian band is sill playing, would love to be up there tomorrow but work gets in the way.hh.
talking about offensive singing, they can sing the sash till the cows come home, just dont offend the holy father at the end of it.hh.
“Saga Norén, Länskrim Malmö”
CSC
A CEILER GONOF RUST on 16TH MARCH 2018 12:15 AM
Set your recording for 9.30PM Monday BBC2 for ” Secrets of the Masons”.
Secrets of the Masons, I doubt anything will be revealed that we don’t already know about them……:_(.
I can vouch that the Masons are a very secret society.
My Father died in 1967 ,After he was buried there was a letter came through the letter box and it was from the Masons giving their condolences, I was shocked as was the rest of the Family,at no time was it ever uttered,I knew that he wasn’t a catholic,but to my surprise He had never divulged that he was a Mason, If I had shaken his hand I may have twigged that it was a bit different from an ordinary hand shake.
So I can vouch that the Masons are a very secret Society,it may have come about that he joined the Masons to get a job, as he worked in the Docks as a Docker or Stevedore for the North Americans among us,The dock’s in my home town was full of Masons.
I had a bit of a problem myself when I went to work there after leaving the Merchant Navy,Luckily, when I worked in the docks I met up with an Apprentice who served his time with me when we were serving our time as apprentice Boilermakers, His Father was a foreman, and when he selected his Son to work on the ship he was in charge off, he pointed to me and his Dad took my book, I always got work, and earning good money. Thanks to the friendship I had with his Son.
But the Docks were a very Secret Society in those bygone days.
Big George 5.50pm
Am working tomorrow 8am-12pm but have promised MissGFTB to take her a wee wander “up the street” probably back of 2pm, so will keep an eye out for the wee Mhan & your good self, not many years has the weather been kind to Father Sweeney :-)
Big Packy as a Bhoy I kind of remember of the accordion band but no longer on the go, tomorrow is where Father Sweeney puts the parish of St Patrick’s in the limelight a great festival and always open to all :-)
https://stv.tv/news/politics/1410491-sturgeon-disappointed-after-msps-repeal-football-act/
I am beyond delighted to see this disgracefully illiberal and racist law defeated. I like to think my small part attending some rallies helped but my thanks really go to those who did more.
And I agree with Paul (unusually). The snp pretence at being left wing whilst pursuing right wing and extreme right wing policies has for too long gone unchallenged.
The fact that they portrayed those against the bill as being for sectarianism said everything about their intellect and true purpose whilst their selectiveso called research has completely discredited Stirling university.
This is a racist government in all but name. Us I g police Scotland to pursue it’s agenda.
And some want independence in their name.
The fact that not one snp msp raised any doubt about the party stance displays the racist beating heart of the snp. The mindless devotion to a law passed to persecute the minority they hate.
Bada Was in the Vogue today and witnessed your bhoys handiwork. You would hardly notice the hole in the ceiling. Hh
G64- a wee accident….;)
NEGANON2 – ooft!!
I lapsed and voted for them a couple of times due to their opposition to Labour’s support for Lanarkshire Health Board’s plans to close Monklands A&E some years ago.
I still agree with their stance on that particular issue but I do realise it was a typical piece of political opportunism.
However, seeing the impact of the OBAF Act every week, especially on our travels away from home when Celtic fans are targetted mercilessly- with cameras thrust in faces and fans harrased for nothing – makes me agree with your subtle assessment.
HH
BGFC
Brendan
Wonder if the bt team of pundits ..know whit the goalies doin ?
Evening times online trying to break their record of most pro hun stories on one page :O( fek em.