We’ve not really discussed the enormous political and disciplinary matters hanging over Scottish football since before our Champions League campaign got underway but it moves to the fore today, as the SPL Commission, headed by Lord Nimmo Smith, sits to consider charges levelled by the league against former member, Rangers FC. The Commission is expected to conclude by the end of this week.
Rangers are charged with improperly registering players by allowing footballers to enter into contractually binding agreements to receive money in connection with the game, directly or indirectly, without registering these agreements with the SPL or the SFA.
Playing an improperly registering footballer voids the result of a match, no matter how innocuous the registration impropriety is, as Spartans discovered 14 months ago to their cost. They saw their Scottish Cup win over Culter overturned because a player’s registration form was dated only once, not twice as required.
As well as being awarded a 0-3 defeat, the improper registration of players will cost the offending club any prize money ‘won’ and will result in a disciplinary measure being imposed. Spartans were fined £4000, approximately 20% of their annual income, and were suspended from the competition for 12 months. A steep tariff for leaving a box on a form empty and fielding a player in one game of football.
Lots of speculation has centred on the so-called ‘stripping of titles’ but in the event the Commission upholds the charge the voiding of results will happen as a matter of consequence; it should not subject to speculation. What is more interesting is the size of prize money the league would seek to reclaim, and redistribute, and any penalty imposed by the Commission.
SPL teams receive prize money based on their final league position, funded by the league’s TV deal, which for teams finishing in the top two positions is well in excess of £1m each year. Any ‘stripping of titles’ is likely to be a headline grabber, but the repayment of prize money and disciplinary measures will be far more significant, for some.
Sir David Murray, who owned Rangers throughout the period of alleged improper registration of players, insists the club registered all contractually binding payments players received in connection with playing football. SFA president, Campbell Ogilvie, was an executive director of Rangers for some of the period under investigation and may have been responsible for some registrations.
Charles Green rejected an offer to limit the consequences of the charge being upheld in return for his company (then called Sevco 5088 Ltd) acquiring the SFA membership vacated by Rangers. We will soon discover if he is master of the Cunning Plan or an over-ambitious gambler.
I expect calls for SPL and SFA rules to be upheld without fear or favour to be met.
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verdantvic,
so any guilty verdict will immediately put the spotlight on the SFA and their administration of the game :o)
thomthethim at 13:15
I understand where you are coming from. However the rules place responsibility on the clubs to ensure players are elgible; not any Football Association:
8.2 It shall be the responsibility of each Club participating in the Competition to
ensure that its players are eligible to play in any League Cup match. If a
player participates in a League Cup match, such player being ineligible to
play in the Cup match as a result of his suspension by The Scottish Football
Association or for any other reason, the Club for which the player
participates in the League Cup match shall be liable to such penalty as the
Board may decide.
8.3 Any Club infringing this Rule may be disqualified from the Competition and
the tie awarded to its opponent.
Hearts may well have checked that the player was eligible, however if I was responsible for making the ICT case, then I would be looking for proof that Hearts did indeed do this and that they were advised that the player was eligible.
It is not acceptable that Hearts “assumed” eligibility.
The rules are the rules.
Interesting developments darn sarf in terms of Govt pressure on EPL to run sustainably.
Did not catch the detail on radio but ties in with discussion to bring in wage control.
Good news for Celtic when it happens and it will.
Lifted from TSFM
Of interest to TET, perhaps.
************$$$$
spanishcelt says:
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 12:15
3 0 Rate This
Just discussing The Rangers thingy with a Spanish friend here and he told to me what they would say is
El mismo perro un collar diferentes.
which means
THE SAME DOG WITH A DIFFERENT COLLAR!
Seems about right.
Alex Thomson
Why Rangers face a massive re-writing of football club history
By the nature of these things, there will not be any kind of fanfare. It’s not the way of law lords. The Scottish Premier League (SPL) says merely that the room at Hampden is booked through till the end of the week, and that is about it.
Low-key stuff for the stadium setting for a decision at last on what may – or may not – be the biggest cheating scandal in UK football history and, if a guilty decision is returned, beyond question one of the biggest cheating scandals in the history of British sport.
At issue, did the old (pre-liquidation) Rangers FC fail to tell the football authorities all about the money it was paying players as part of an elaborate tax avoidance scheme – a scheme which may yet be found to be illegal if HMRC wins its appeal?
If they did not tell all, then Lord Nimmo Smith and his deputies, Charles Flint QC and Nicholas Stewart QC, can pretty much pass any and every sanction under the sun upon the old club, from expelling them from the league to asking them politely if they wouldn’t mind stop cheating.
Since the old club is liquidated, this is somewhat academic . But it is all laid out in section G6 of the SPL rulebook.
What the trio can very much do – if they find that the authorities were not informed about full payments – is rule that every time any of the players concerned kicked a football in earnest for Rangers, that match is forfeit because that player’s papers were not in order.
This would clearly involve a massive and unprecedented re-writing of club history, re-engraving of a lot of silverware, and Rangers would be saddled with the reputation of being the biggest cheats in football history – in sporting history.
So rather a lot is at stake.
The positive note for fans of Rangers and others, is that the first part of the process is simple and self-contained. The trio of the learned simply hear the arguments and submissions. They go away. They ponder. They judge. They punish. It is the Nimmo Smith independent commission which hands down sanctions upon the old club.
According to the SPL, the club can then appeal, and this would be to the Scottish FA. It would seem on the face of it that the SFA have few options but to go along with the findings of the independent commission, or the independent commission would very soon end up looking not very independent. A reasonable outsider might make that observation. But in the cauldron of Glasgow football, nothing is quite so simple or clear cut.
It’s high-tension stuff. Lord Nimmo Smith has already had to put out a statement pointing out that he is independent and objective. It’s rather like a polar bear pointing out that he’s white and furry. Yet in Glasgow football, such things are deemed necessary in the miasma of suspcicion that never lifts far from the Clyde.
Equally Charles Green, the new boss of the new club at Ibrox, has gone out of his way to be rude about the independent commission, telling anybody who wants to listen that Rangers will boycott the entire process and yah boo sucks. Some might observe this is not the most tactically astute approach with regard to a law lord entrusted to investigate case where the lawyers say there is “a case to answer”. But that is a matter for Mr Green.
The independent commission nevertheless extends a welcome to Mr Green or his staff to attend at Hampden Park from today, should they so wish:
“Newco, as the current owner and operator of Rangers FC, although not alleged by the SPL to have committed any breach of SPL rules, will also have the right to appear and be represented at all hearings of the commission and to make such submissions as it thinks fit.”
We do not, of course, know how long it will take the Hampden Three to reach a decision on whether or not Rangers were cheats on a massive or occasional scale, or indeed wholly innocent of the allegations put to them.
But the odds are, it will be less agonising than the apparently unending tax case which continues to hang over the club. And it’s potentially all about titles, cups, championships, history, culture, reputation – the things fans care a hell of a lot more about.
Now as i see it and i have been right on here once or twice
they will find the deadco guilty i dont see how they can do anything other .
but what they can do is fudge the justice ie and this is what i expect
” We find oldco in breech of the principal issues but find it was administrative in nature
and they never tried to conceal the payments in general and has been declared what they thought was correct the issues should have been picked up by the spl in there own administration.”
or something like that ………
and then watch the meltdown
they will order no action taken as it will not be able to prove that the admin oversight had a detrimental effect on the competition. (sic)
also despite what we think ……… and want to happen i for one dont believe LNS will go disagree with FTT findings THAT WOULD OPEN HIMSELF UP TO POSSIBLE LEGAL CHALLENGE AND HASSLE HE WILL PROBABLY NOT WANT TO GET EMBROILED IN
THIS IN MY OPINION WILL BE THE CRUX OF THE CASE IS LNS GOING TO ARGUE THE FTT IS WRONG IN THERE DETERMINATION …….. I DOUBT IT
Alex Thomson
After Rangers, English football warned: put your house in order
The long-running tax investigation in to Rangers’ elaborate tax-avoidance programme has now washed up on the shores of the British parliament in the shape of none other than George Galloway.
He has tabled an early day motion asking for the law to be tightened to avoid the age-old process of fly-by-night companies liquidating and thus avoiding their responsibilities to the British taxpayer. The motion is as follows:
“That this House notes that the owners of the club now playing in the Scottish Third Division called Rangers claim that it is the same club with the same history as the liquidated club also known as Rangers; further notes that 14 million in VAT and PAYE was withheld in the run-up to administration by the previous Rangers; further notes that the club is now cash-rich through a share issue which raised in excess of 20 million; condemns the use of insolvency laws to avoid paying tax owed; and calls on the Government to take steps to reclaim the outstanding monies from Rangers and to bring forward legislative proposals to prevent clubs and companies sidestepping their liabilities through liquidation and then carrying on trading with effectively the same name and in exactly the same business.”
And lo! It came to pass that The English finally began to wake up and smell the coffee! Today the culture, media and sport committee of MPs says it is so fed up with the English football authorities’ inability to offer anything meaningful to get the game run better that it’s put the pistol to the heads of the blazers. Many fans will cheer loudly.
The MPs say the Culture , Media and Sport Department must now tell the English game to make the changes necessary to enshrine proper financial management and real fan involvement for the sustainability of the game, and given them a year to do it. If they don’t , they pledge legislation should follow.
And why have our MPs down here in London town finally woken up to the way casino-sport is being run? Well, yes, because of the toxic smell the former mismanagers of Rangers emitted all over the game north of the border.
The report notes:
“The severe financial problems faced by some clubs as the result of overspending, underregulation and financial mismanagement were underlined by the liquidation of Rangers Football Club in June. Though the club was part of the Scottish Premier League and regulated by the Scottish Football Association – and therefore subject to different rules from English clubs – it is a powerful example of the excesses of professional clubs in competing with one another, and the consequences for their community when mismanagement leads to financial collapse.”
And thus far – surprise surprise – the response from the English game (like the English media, to be frank) has been as if Glasgow is in Tierra del Fuego.
Committee chair John Whittingdale MP assessed the response by English football to his invitation to get its house in order, in the following terms:
“…the financial proposals were hugely disappointing: the financial risk-taking by clubs is a threat to the sustainability of football as a family and community-orientated game, which it should be. This is a central issue which must be addressed and real solutions – and the will to make the necessary changes – have been glaringly absent from the proposals so far.”
The Scottish game may very well not have learned any lessons from the Rangers implosion. The English game gives every impression of never even having heard of Rangers, or Scottish football, at all. They simply appear too absorbed in the real issues like making sure their latest signings have the paint-job finished on the Bentley.
As regards my previous post as to where would either the dead club or Sevco find the money from to pay for the redistribution of prize money . One way would be for the SFA to say deduct 30% of any future prize money from Sevco. Of course the obvious flaw in this suggestion is it could be the end of the century before the other clubs are fully compensated. !
Paul67,
Can you clear this up for me.
1) I know the SPL have came out and said oldco have a case to answer, but did they said oldco are guilty or is it this commission that will decide the verdict?
2) Who decides what the punishment will be?
3) If they are found guilty and they appeal, is it the SFA that has the final say on innocent or guilty?
4) If found guilty do you think UEFA or other European teams will want some justice also?
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
13:31 on
29 January, 2013
Monaghan…,
cheers for that, the way its marked up, I suspect thats Tinkerbell FC’s copy :o)
————
Also looks as though there’s some important stuff missing – the proposed sanctions. If they had agreed to these they’d have been in the First Division.
Tet
Its an Spl commission who judge and sentence. If Rangers appeal it will be to SFA.
This where CO’s position becomes absolutely untenable as he has a clear conflict of interest and as President is in a position to influence the appeal decision.
Good afternoon all.
First post here.
Regarding the appeal, I read on the BBC that the RFFF were funding the lawyers for the defense of soon to be deadco. I assume that if Paul is correct and that justice prevails, then the appeal would have to come from the RFFF.
If that is the case the a few questions arise.
1. Do the RFFF have sufficient funds to take it to appeal?
2. Could someone, perhaps Sevco, take up the battle on behalf of RFFF?
Lots of speculation has centred on the so-called ‘stripping of titles’ but in the event the Commission upholds the charge the voiding of results will happen as a matter of consequence; it should not subject to speculation.
That sounds reasonable enough to me. Yet any time Doncaster has been asked about “title stripping” he said said it is one of the range of “sanctions” available to them to apply if guilty. This would indicate to me that they will conjure up a way of finding them guilty but NOT void the results.
quantum
Redistribution of prize money could come from selling their assets. Sell the stadium!
LB
ASonOfDan @ 13 32 .
Yes —and there are still people who think Platini is being sincere when he blabs about Financial Fair Play .
Saw this on a Juve blog recently——-
” Saw Platini at the airport -still wearing the stained crumpled suit and the 20 yr old coat that is 2 sizes too big —–standard hustler”s trick -dress like a tramp and nobody thinks you’ve got millions salted away in the Caymans “
Wrong again Monaghan.
For anyone interested in the five-way agreement above, to see the whole document you need to scroll to the right.
A question for anybody, how many penalties did Henrik score for the Hoops?
I think it was 32 but unsure. If you can help can you e-mail me as I am at work.
Lennybhoycfc@gmail.com
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
michael,
Surely the absence of any mention of a suspension on the International Clearance Cert, is a clear indication that a player has no impediment to playing for his new club?
The SFA included the impediment when they issued Wilson’s cert to Liverpool, thereby informing the English club that Wilson had a suspension hanging over him.
He obviously served that by being left out of a Liverpool game. Easily done
The fact that he arrived back at Hearts with no suspension hanging over him, means that he was eligible to play.
Unfortunately, nothing to see here, Michael.
BOB,
the FTTT decision has no baring on the SPL rules.
Monaghan..,
I expect that had to change after the vote :o)
ALSO
the first team squad should be made to train at barrowfeild this week to “toughen” them up a bit and get there heads right for the weekend ….and that includes out in the pissing rain .
maybe they have forgotten what lower teams conditions of employment are .apart from the big wads of cash they get every month .
and i hope there is no half days this week get then taught a lesson on being professorial
this week with a taste of whats to come with a poor display this weekend
lennybhoycfc@gmail.com
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
ASonOfDan, aye.
Gerry, the Commission will decide guilt. The SFA will decide any appeal. I don’t think any of this will register with Uefa or beyond.
50 shades, who’s shouting for Neil’s head after Sunday’s
Exit from the mickey mouse trophy?
Good article Paul67 the said corrupt mod are in a rut
catch 22 situation out of 115 dodgy EBT’s 35 of them
where shown/proved to be correct by the fair minded
Judge not the other two from the local Lodge that is
the third tier level Judgement in said tax/grand larceny
avoidance case so they are not exactly completely
innocent of said serious avoidance and should not be
just given a slap on the wrist also with other Club’s
watching the outcome all over Europe as well
Also, what about the 300 or so Companies which they
ripped off as well?
The have brought Scottish Football into disrepute and
they should be punished accordingly or it’s a case of
seriously sending out the wrong message a complete
cover up/swept under the carpet and the said authority
should be taken to task under gross miss-leadership
and being totally incompetent in the powers that they
are privileged to have/been given it’s as simple as that
cdave 1346
The hun fund is excess of 1/2 a million so we are told so they have the money to fund it another reason chuckles is grinning or is that gurning from ear to ear
Pau67
Indeed we shall.
Stewart Regan or anyone at the SFA when they handed it over didn’t know either, the process is underway.
Here comes the Judge.
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
13:49 on
29 January, 2013
Monaghan..,
I expect that had to change after the vote :o)
———
A mere detail!
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
Yes i am aware of this
lns will not produce a outcome that may call into question here repoprt or that can in any way been construed to be different in its determination
This from the Scotsman is causing what passes for consternation on FF (usually teated by tranquilisers fired from distance):
“Rangers, as a new club, are currently only associate members of the SFL and aren’t allowed to vote at meetings until they’ve belonged to the organisation for four years. However, it’s possible they may be granted full membership status, and voting rights, with the new league. “You’re way ahead of us on that one,” said Longmuir. “The rule book will need to be worked on but we haven’t started on that level of detail just yet.” ”
“The rule book will need to be worked on” – You don’t say!
A good write up by Alex Thompson
Well pointed out Son of Dan
THE EXILED TIM
13:32 on
29 January, 2013
So as this is a SPL tribunal, it effectively lets the SFA off the hook, Yes…No…
Exile, It looks like the SFA are trying to do a Pontius Pilot with said serious Matter
Now I know how Jabba is such an expert on semi-literacy…..that’s the maximum level of his barely literate target audience.
And he has to up his game to be able to communicate with them, such is his vacancy of thought.
His mind : a space of infinite irrelevance.
My worry is that the SFA/SPL seem to run scared of Green. He has only to growl at them if they threaten to pinch one of his sweeties. Can’t really see them having the hawmaws to take the whole packet.
Hope I’m wrong and Paul is right.
auldheid 12:31 Paul I’m waiting for a claim from Traynor that ebt details were registered in invisible ink as a jape.
> If only the Parcel of Brogues had thought of that. Could have saved them a £450 Shred-It liability for starters.
There are guys here telling us the result, the punishments, who will appeal to who, the result of the appeal etc. FFS lets just wait & see flying into a rage about a result that might not happen at all, is totally stupid.
All I know is when the dust has settled there will still be a team in Green & White Hoops playing for a People and a Cause and thats the most important thing of all for me.
BOB,
your not getting it at all.
LNS is not using the same parameters as the FTTT.
His decision has no implication on the FTTT decision.
The FTTT is about TAX legalities
The SPL is about SPL rules
Tax status is not relevant.
Have to be honest Paul67, I have absolutely no faith in justice being done. I fully expect the carcass of Rangers to be given a token punishment (i.e. anything but titles and cups being awarded to it’s rightful winners) whilst Sevco are allowed to continue pretending to be something they’re not without one objection raised.
The Scottish football authorities will not bring themselves to heap yet more shame on their favoured (ex) club.
Hope I’m wrong though.
RepresentingCeltic wins again today. One to keep an eye on for the future.
It’s won it’s last 3 races. Only 8/11 today though.
LB
Saint Stivs @13:12,
Re Vic’s brothers I don’t think he has any younger brothers. He has Thomas (23) a defender/midfielder who plays for Sofapaka in Nairobi. McDonald Mariga (25) the well known midfielder who plays for Inter and Sylvester who is 36 and play for Sony Sugar.
There might be another one but I haven’t heard any mention of him and can find no details.
HH
/Bishop B
From FF
Another misfiring zombie synapse
Re: Why They Can’t Strip Titles From Gers
Sense triumphing over bigotry, the majority of us would hope for this.
The biggest problem faced is that the terminally obsessed are not fighting a football war, they’re fighting a holy war, a war where the see a chance to kill a Protestant institution.
With this in mind I do not believe they will let common sense prevail. We’ve already saw how they’d rather damage themselves by enforcing unjust punishments, and these are before all the issues surrounding whats happened to us are settled.
Lets face it, they did as they always do, they believed we were guilty of alsorts and acted pre-emptively. Even with the evidence against us being dispproved and they had a chance to stop this charade, they didn’t take it. They continued on the oppressed action and want us found guilty of something just to prove a point.
The RFFF must not accept anything less the total admonishment, for I and many others I know have had enough of they’re behaviour. I now know why my forefathers told me not to trust them, not to give them a chance for they will try and kill all of us, and all because we’re not papists.