It has been a week since Alfredo Morelos made a murderous gesture while leaving the field at Celtic Park. In that time, Newco and their media acolytes have done what they could to mitigate his actions. The SFA have yet to decide what action is appropriate.
The matter is straightforward: throat-slitting gestures by players towards opposition fans are at the serious end of the scale. It falls short of Eric Cantona’s kick at an opposing fan 25 years ago, but not by much. Intimations of serious physical violence towards opposition fans is the type of action that can lead to serious crowd safety issues, as well as violence away from the ground.
Police officers warn players about their behaviour in front of opposition fans prior to games. If a fan was caught on TV making this gesture at a player, he would have been arrested by now and would be facing a lengthy ban from football.
How this issue is dealt with has sporting ramifications. Morelos is Newco’s top scorer and prized asset (not against Celtic). If he is banned for 6 – 10 games it will have an impact on Newco’s title bid, there is no point in any of us pretending otherwise. This is why commentators, who would otherwise be appalled at murderous gestures in our game, have spent a week downplaying the matter. They cannot pretend otherwise.
Similarly, Celtic fans calling for a ban that reflects the severity of the issue, do so knowing the sporting consequences. I believe the SFA’s actions are likely to be decided in the next few days. Whatever they decide – to impose a 10 game, ban or acquiesce to pressure from Newco and issue a rap on the knuckles – will have sporting consequences.
My hope is that fantasy statements on your website are more likely to gain engagement with your own support than the SFA, who like you and me, know fine well that public comments are designed to gain a sporting advantage, not to encourage the acceptance of the throat-slit gesture in our game. But this is the SFA, so nothing would surprise.
We all know he should be banned and that the ban should be significant. He was sent off last month for a gesture to Motherwell fans, which resulted in a single game ban and taught him nothing. His club are prepared to support his behaviour. There is no learning, no acceptance of what is an acceptable way to conduct yourself. These are all reasons why the SFA must act appropriately.
The Road to Milan
In April, a group of cyclists will set off from Celtic Park heading for Milan, where they will arrive 50 years on from our ‘other’ European Cup Final. The route takes in the Southern Uplands, a ferry to the Netherlands, Rotterdam, Brussels, the Champagne region of France, across the Alps and into Milan.
Our own Mouldy67 has organised the event after the incredible success of The Road to Lisbon in 2017. If you are a cyclist and could be interested in taking part in this incredible event, see here for more details.
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Canamalar you could well be correct. Anyway if Pete’s wish comes through & we win the Europa we will get there anyway
McNut you’re the only Celtic fan who I know would watch a derby defeat 3 times.
Liverpool n sevco alliance? …. You’ve jumped the shark ol son….. Time to crawl back to your hun-hellhole….
I clocked you within 2 posts.
Ranger’s died chasing Celtic my friend, and everyone who can put their shoes on the correct feet know it.
I’m blessed everyday because I’m a Celtic fan.
Corkcelt that is the following Season.
In the hypothetical. The hun win the League this Season, Celtic WIN the Europa League.
Both teams enter the CL.
I dinnae ken for sure but I think Europa League winners would go straight into the group stages.
Its All just conjecture. And not very likely to happen.
Paul67, the SFA is the SFA.
Billy Sharp,Glen whitshisname,Sam yirjokin
Any chance people can source their rumours?
What site ? Lol roll read, just say
Cqn has an ex boss urgin lenny not to let Leigh go contrasted wi other tosh also by can
Clicks make money eh
HH
Petec,
And a HNY to you too,
I’d rather they never won anything and if we’re going to be hypothetical a quadruple will do just fine 😀
I expect there will be big trouble too but I note the Iranians are using it as added leverage with ending nuclear JCPOA to revisit the sanctions issue, seriously who can blame them if they did decide to develop their own nuclear arsenal.
I think I’ll be safe enough as long as the yanks and Israelis don’t start bombing civilians in Iran, which is a real prospect going on their form, especially the zionists who have been planning and manouvering for exactly this scenario for as you say the last 20 years at least, then it will be time to leave quick style.
Got to say I’m not at all surprised the Israelis knew about it before the US senate and house of Reps did.
Knowing my luck I’ll make it home safely only to get stabbed by a hun.
Petec,
Need to be in top ten coefficient to go direct into CL
CORKCELT on 5TH JANUARY 2020 10:16 PM
Season after next, and only if results go the right way, both ours and the Huns and teams from nations higher in the coefficient table
Right now we are sitting 15th, maintain that and it’s 2 team into CL 21/22 is how I read it.
i heard liverpool are gifting one of their european cups to the rangers.
it is about as plausible as the SFA gifting them 54 titles,
CANAMALAR,
Theres a surprise.
A closed shop.
Scottish Independence.
Yes
If we break free completely.
So many well paid liars and deceivers out there.
Imagine a European 1 state huh?
SFA remain quiet on Rangers’ UEFA licence charges
Alastair Johnston (centre) at the Rangers AGM meeting this year
EXCLUSIVE
Alastair Johnston (centre) at the Rangers AGM meeting this year
40 comments
Almost 20 months since the SFA’s compliance officer hit Rangers with two charges concerning their application for a licence to play in Europe in 2011/12, the ruling body continues to do nothing to take matters forward.
The last act of Clare Whyte’s predecessor, Tony McGlennan, was – following an eight-month investigation – to issue the charges against Rangers in June 2018 after sworn statements made in court during the trial of former owner Craig Whyte revealed that the board at Ibrox had been made aware in January, 2011, of money owed to HMRC regarding what became known as the Wee Tax Case, when payments were made to several players under the Discounted Option Scheme in an attempt to dodge tax.
UEFA insists that all clubs taking part in their competitions must declare overdue tax payable. However, Rangers claimed in their submission for a licence in 2011 that they had no overdue payables and that they were “in discussions” over a disputed tax bill.
However, Rangers directors testified during the Whyte trial that the club knew the tax bill was overdue in November, 2010. As a result of their application being granted, Rangers were allowed to compete in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League (where they were eliminated by Malmo) and the Europa League (where they lost out to Maribor); had their application been rejected – as it should have been – then Celtic, runners-up in the SPL in 2011, would have taken their place in the Champions League.
That alleged obfuscation formed the basis of the first charge, as was revealed in a letter sent by the SFA to all member clubs in September, 2017, which also explained the second charge by explaining that Rangers did not observe the rules that: “All members shall:- (a) observe the principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship in accordance with the rules of fair play; (b) be subject to and comply with the articles and any statutes, regulations, directives, codes, decisions and international match calendar promulgated by the board, the Professional Game Board, the Non-Professional Game Board, the Judicial Panel Protocol, a committee or sub-committee, FIFA, UEFA or the Court of Arbitration for Sport; (f) behave towards the Scottish FA and other members with the utmost good faith.”
Sanctions available for the latter breach range from a £1,000 fine up to “£5,000,000 and/or ejection from the Scottish Cup and/or exclusion from the Scottish Cup and/or any player registration restrictions and/or suspension and/or termination of membership and/or any sanction or disposal not expressly provided above”.
Rangers immediately argued that the SFA, as a result of the secret Five-Way Agreement they and the SPFL signed in 2012 following the descent into liquidation of the old club, had no jurisdiction in this case and that the matter could only be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, an opinion upheld by the SFA’s own judicial panel in June, 2018. Since then, nothing.
When I pressed him on the matter in June of last year, SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell said: “I would expect that to come back to the board in the not too distant future.
“It [going to CAS] is still under consideration. We’ll come back on that in due course. I wouldn’t want to put a timescale on it . . . but I don’t think we would let it go for ever.”
We asked the SFA on Tuesday whether a decision had been arrived at concerning the next step in this procedure. They said they would get back to us but there has yet to be a response from them.
Alastair Johnston, a director of Rangers International Football Club, this week gave an interview in which he taunted Celtic supporters who claim that the current Rangers is a separate entity from the club which imploded in 2012.
“You know what?” he asked. “If that was the end of Rangers and Celtic and if that was the end of the big game that started in 1888 [the first Old Firm meeting] all the way to 2012 – we won that game.
“The way you determine it by the number of times (54) we won the top division. We were ahead in February, 2012 and in head-to-head victories, we were ahead of Celtic in 2012.
“So if you wanted to say the old Rangers of 1872 died – we beat you 2-0 and when the game started again in 2012, it will be 120 years or so before you can tie with us.”
Mr Johnston was removed from the board at Ibrox by Whyte in 2011, but not before he declared in the club’s interim accounts that year that the Wee Tax Bill was a “potential” liability rather than an actual, overdue one.
It’s understood that it is his signature which appears on the UEFA application which the SFA now believes was consequently awarded in error. Curiously, though, they seem reluctant to proceed with their charges.
The media manipulators. WOW. Overdrive.
Ben E King.
Lenny.
The most important league title in a decade will NOT be decided by SFA sanctions against any one player – they will never jeopardise Sevco’s title aspirations. The title will be decided on either 1) whoever’s European run lasts the longest or 2) will be decided in last two/three weeks of the season.
We’re 16th but gain more points between us than Hapoel who play Basel in the last 32 and we should be ahead of Cyprus
Two victories between us puts us ahead of The Czech Republic
We could also move ahead of Denmark with the right results
There is still, after two days an article naming our ex manager as Delia, the favoured name of the hun for him, the standards have slipped on this site to a huge degree, no wonder traffic has all but disappeared
Give Callum a day aff ffs. Take the decision out his hand. Recruit a belter of a midfielder.
Bolster the squad. Brownie dude preferably,
John Kennedy has put the kibosh on the post match tunnel bust up – did not happen.
M7,
Ronny D was undermined by self centred Brussels sprouts.
Who knows Anything?
At least I know I know Nothing.
Love is the Dave……… as it goes pear shaped.
Who else in World Fitba would take on this gig Right Here Right Now?
Lenny Bhoy. Celtic.
Lenny can only Lose.
Love is the Dave.
Lenny is a dude that Forgives people Easily.
Wow – a true gift frae the Almighty.
Lenny is a Mega Manag…. Man
Keep the Faith Corinthian Celts.
3 CBS going forward.
Lenny is well aware. The myth is background.
Payback Time.
Muse – Celtic stewing.
Unbelievable.
Glasgow Celtic mega dough in the bank….. and a lot of value on the pitch.
The Big man is Always there.
Some things are sacrosanct.
Believe.
Celtic are specialists in so many ways.
NEED BROONIE given a day aff Domestically.
I know he disnae expend Energy unless he has to.
Ffs we are precarious.
Dinnae go to Hatesville without broonie. Prepare as well to be, without Broonie. If not..?………..
Hatem is a trenches guy for sure..
Need him fit.
Good morning CQN from a dark, cold and very windy Garngad
Back to the old grind this morning, no basking in Dubai for this bhoy. 😢😢😢
Any word on signings or loans?
D. :)
“Oh Ferry………….. across The Nollie” ?
:)
The SFA’s hesitation tells us what they’re going to do, nothing.
At the minute they’re trying to come up with a way to explain why cut throating gestures as you leave the field is acceptable.
Re the sfa, I’m sure we will see later today if they nail their red, white and blue colours to the mast…
Or…
Will it be another sfa fudge?
Or…
Will they do SFA?
Watch this space!
AN DUN on 6TH JANUARY 2020 9:54 AM
The SFA’s hesitation tells us what they’re going to do, nothing.
At the minute they’re trying to come up with a way to explain why cut throating gestures as you leave the field is acceptable.
___
They are just going to ignore it. Plain and simple.
The only ban will be for Ryan Christie.
Remember Diouf and Boiugherra walked off scot-free after the game of shame? All that came out of that was a ban for Neil Lennon and new SNP legislation targetting Celtic fans.
Really hope we sign that Sporar lad.
SFA Statement
Fast track notice of complaint. A Morelos. Celtic v Rangers match on 29 December 2019.
“The Gesture made by Alfredo Morelos at the Celtic v Rangers game, of 29th December 2019, has been fully investigated by the disciplinary tribunal. We find that the alleged gestures by A Morelos were ill advised, but did not breach disciplinary guidelines. Mr Morelos’ home town is Cereté, in The Córdoba Region of Colombia. The town is the centre of the local Beef Cattle industry, and the “slashing gesture” is commonly used in the areas many abattoirs, to signal the “last kill” of a shift. As such, there was no intent of hostility in Mr Morelos’ gesture at the end of the game.
Decision: Penalty Rangers.
🍀⚽️
Only Ryan will suffer retrospectively- as others have pointed out- remember the shame game!
HUNDERBIRDS ARE GONE
6TH JANUARY 2020 10:33 AM
Very good, and better than any proper explanation that may be forthcoming.
The Ryan Christie ‘fondling’ charge is merely a distraction. He will exonerated and a ” no further action statement on Morelos” will be released at the same time. It’s called a ‘quid pro quo’, or, in layman’s terms, an Ibrox ‘get out of jail card’.
Gestures of the kind enacted by Morelos & Kent, have no place on a football pitch, they are ‘borderline’ criminal acts, and should have been dealt with first. They are a great deal more serious than the shouting of abuse by a few idiots in a 60,000 crowd.
Morelos will certainly get a ban, think he is looking at a minimum of 1 Cup game & 2 League games, The issue is whether they deem the throat cutting gesture as bringing the game into disrepute.
I predict the SFA will dismiss the Ryan Christie `grab`and use that as a means of evening things up by ignoring Morelos` cut throat and Kent`s shooting gestures.
McNut
Sorry. I hadn`t realised you had said more or less (!) the same thing @ 10:52 as I did @ 11:39 !
Ticket arrangements Killie away.
https://t.co/paU1s3NNET?amp=1
HH