It was only in February this year that the proposed Russia-Ukraine joint league first reached the stage of formal meetings between clubs to discuss the viability but tonight a showcase tournament between top clubs from each country gets underway tonight. It is hoped the formal joint league will start this time next year when the top nine teams from each country will form the Unified First League.
Despite discouragement from Fifa, Uefa have insisted only that proper procedures are followed to give their ascent to the league. Gazprom, the Russian energy giant and Uefa Champions League sponsor, has underwritten the project with a commitment of 1 billion euros per annum.
As we know, in football, money talks, and the Russian and Ukrainian clubs, together with their national associations and Uefa, have been talked happy to make change possible.
In order to become competitive with their rivals in the west while meeting Uefa Financial Fair Play rules, Russian and Ukrainian clubs need to increase income, which the Unified First League would go a long way towards. Uefa president, Michel Platini, has long accepted that regionalisation was a viable way forward for domestic leagues, while former powers in smaller leagues have become disenfranchised from the game’s top table.
What does it mean for us?
Well, we don’t have a Gazprom, not yet, anyway, but once Gazprom’s financial and political muscle establishes the principle of regionalisation, that principle is available to all. Former Yugoslavia countries are already in talks, while Scandinavian countries have already had a few abortive attempts at (underfunded) regional cup competitions.
The British region.
Welsh football has managed to retain its national identity, provide an infrastructure for provincial and community clubs, while federating with the FA in England to allow their larger (sic) clubs to find their competitive level.
The model is already established for Scottish football, which has realised living with one (or two for that matter) massive club which completely invalidates their league competition as a ‘competition’ is no longer the best way to order their affairs.
Financial recklessness caused the collapse of one club a year ago while the recklessness of a Lithuanian bank has put another in jeopardy. A handful of other top-flight clubs now realise their financial commitments, not to mention sporting objectives, are no longer viable, with or without the crumbs from the table thrown in their direction when TV cameras and a few thousand fans arrive a few times per season.
Federate with England, just as the Welsh did. It will bring ‘competition’ back to our competitions, put thousands of everyone’s gates and provide access to viable commercial contracts.
Why are our leagues and Association not speaking to the English about this right now? The Football League in England is every bit as much a basket case as Scottish football right now, they also need to change the structural model and, unlike the equally lunatic (English) Premier League, appear to be self-aware in this respect.
Go talk to the Welsh FA, Cardiff City, Swansea, Wrexham or New Saints FC (!) and ask them what organising their game along the lines of the Scottish model would do to them.
Scottish football must federate or it will die. As such, if we stand on the precipice of crisis, let’s make it a good one. It’s the only thing which will get things moving.
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WTF ?
On BBC4 tonight, the Celts v Cat Lovers
Will the circle be unbroken?
Istanbulcelt
When not reading this blog, writing unpublished ( unpublishable) masterpieces and old episodes of Deputy Dawg , I usually find myself going back to the 60s for music – some Blue Note, garage punk like the Seeds or Amboy Dukes or a bit of Ska . And then after ten or twelve minutes I’ll be watching Naka scoring to win the league or Albert Kidd scoring on 3/5/86. Always works
Jimbo
I am glad that I refused to blame the SNP for the destruction of Auld Scotia’s natural habitat.
It has brought out the gentle side of TBB’s inner being.
DBBIA also shows signs of being open to reconstruction.
Nah, Mibbee no’ !!
istanbulcelt
how are you – have you been out capulling?
K/ kelt – Sevconia will be reconstructed before me ;/)
floridaghirl
19:56 on 27 June, 2013
istanbulcelt
how are you – have you been out capulling?
Floridaghirl
Are you encouraging civil disorder on CQN?
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream
20:02 on
27 June, 2013
Peaceful civil disorder – latest protest is standing still, reading books in Taksim Sq….
floridaghirl
20:05 on 27 June, 2013
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream
20:02 on
27 June, 2013
Peaceful civil disorder – latest protest is standing still, reading books in Taksim Sq….
Am up for that, can I take my crayons?
dbbia,
Don’t fight against your more sensitive side.
:¬)))
Keep In Time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kbwRoikF9o&list=PL95F9D7E5C6F09871
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqNekrOjk1w
Hiphopdrummers CSC
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream
20:07 on
27 June, 2013
floridaghirl
20:05 on 27 June, 2013
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream
20:02 on
27 June, 2013
Peaceful civil disorder – latest protest is standing still, reading books in Taksim Sq….
Am up for that, can I take my crayons?
A bit more high brow than that – if you check the pictures on Al Jazeera a favoured text is 1984 – the girl reading hers in English is a friend of mine….
From Charlotte.
@Blueprint_Bear @LorrainHerbison Like she was ever going to give him a grilling. http://t.co/8Q3CleHBF6 #SnydeClyde #Victims
Am up for that, can I take my crayons?
A bit more high brow than that – if you check the pictures on Al Jazeera a favoured text is 1984 – the girl reading hers in English is a friend of mine….
Hope she stays safe.
I did that for my higher english , rubbish
Chris McLaughlin @BBCchrismclaug 7m
Journos and SFL chairman watching Spain v Italy in Hampden reception as their board does battle with SPL board upstairs.
Kevjungle
what was it herbison said about terry o? H.h
All Italy ,should be ahead
as the old saying goes
I’d rather watch jordi alba than………
Hen1rik,
That’s no fair, I got a grilling one night and there was no gag reflex, that’s got to be a zombie thing surely
Just looking at Spain’s strip in the game V Italy
Wouldnt it be good if we had the Hoops with the collar band that Spain have but with a big EC medal embroidered on the chest :)-
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream
20:18 on
27 June, 2013
I did that for my higher english , rubbish
Think I read it for fun (it wasn’t) – all of the books featured in the photographs I saw had political meaning – nobody was reading Dan Brown….
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BNyi8lrCAAAluSq.jpg:large
Sorry, didn’t realise there was a sweary.
Spain v Italy,
Sevconians are watching New Cowboy Traders
floridaghirl
20:27 on 27 June, 2013
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream
20:18 on
27 June, 2013
I did that for my higher english , rubbish
Think I read it for fun (it wasn’t) – all of the books featured in the photographs I saw had political meaning – nobody was reading Dan Brown….
No razzle then?
6 days too late but ole 23 handicap Jobo just went and achieved a hole in 1 tonight on the 163 yard 13th hole at Langlands.
My playing partner called off due to the dodgy looking weather (a wrong decision as it stayed dry from 5.00 onwards) so you’ll just have to trust me on this one.
Still didn’t beat 100 mind you but an excuse for a school-night cider!
famousfor5minutesCSC
If you are buying a secondhand bus in a year or two’s time, remember to do an HPI check to see if any loans are outstanding on it.
This will also reveal the vehicle’s history – should be quite short though, rather like its owners.
Spain v italy
Very open and entertaining
Italian’s have had about 5 good chances … spain just one really.
djbee:
Thank you for the reassurance.
Interesting game so far.
Are Italy the international equivalent of Celtic to Spain’s Barcelona (if that makes any sense).
Has tippy-tappy football had it’s day?
Floridaghirl
I’m no going to make the Cliftonville game at CP and I’m struggling for the Munchengladbach game on the Saturday after. You still wants SB?
Jordi Alba simply isn’t up to the defensive job down that left side.
The ole Torres with hair wouldn’t have tucked that away.
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream
20:39 on
27 June, 2013
Floridaghirl
I’m no going to make the Cliftonville game at CP and I’m struggling for the Munchengladbach game on the Saturday after. You still wants SB?
Yes please – day off on the day of the Cliftonville game so that’s a definite – if Munchengladbach is 27th off then as well….
This time I will be more careful in returning your SB…..
Jobo Baldie
Well done sir
Ibelieveyoucsc
Jobo
Well done bud, would love to get WiW.
Nae chance but, I’m crap
Istanbulcelt
Watched the documentary by Kevin McDonald I think on Bob Marley…what a guy…and great music..
Kikinthenakas
Good Tim too
Jobo.
Good on you…the crazy golf is harder than it looks ;-))
Kidding aside…well done.