Who is in the mood for some virtue signalling this afternoon? English Premier League teams yesterday agreed to prohibit gambling advertising on the front of their shirts. This is a gesture towards the ethical lobby which for the major clubs is practically costless. Gambling ads can remain on the shirt sleeves (or elsewhere) or displayed prominently on hoardings.
Most crucially, the EPL’s main TV partner will continue to drown their EPL coverage with promotions of their in-house gambling platform. Sky Bet rubs up against other gambling companies, who can call on partisanship to promote loyalty. It would be better for Sky if such competition was shoved to the margins and what’s better for Sky usually has a way of becoming better for the EPL. The game there will do no more than shrug at this decision.
The EPL has a global reach and top clubs attract brands who can benefit from international coverage. Airlines, telecoms, software and financial services brands are on all the most valuable shirts. Newly valuable Newcastle has a gambling sponsor, but they have not troubled European tournaments in a decade; next time they will hook an advertiser with a global reach.
Brands with global reach don’t travel up the M74, we do not have the profile they look for. The overwhelming extent of Celtic’s media coverage is in the domestic market; what we wear on our shirts, reflects us, or to be more specific, our vices.
Saying, “No gambling or alcohol partnerships” is an easy virtue signal to send out, but it is no more than that, especially from those support the drink and gambling industries with their custom, or serve alcohol in their bars and restaurants. “Yes, I would like a bet/drink, but my club really should take its lead from someone else.”
As with many ethical questions, this one is not as clear as it seems and that’s before we thrown the fuel of commercial realities and the pressure of winning, that you and I are more than happy to pour into the mix. Still, it’s an easy virtual signalling opp.
Where to start on the six match ban for headbutting a coach after a match when the victim is looking the other way? Acts of physical agression should not take place between coaches, never mind an assault such as this. Missing a month’s worth of games does not reach the deterrent threashold.
342 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Who aske you anyway?
Remember
T-shirts 2 for a fiver.
Laters
D :)
Today’s prediction.
3-0 Celtic.
Kyogo to grab our 100th league goal of the season.
Hopefully a win that will push Kilmarnock one step closer to relegation and one less artificial surface in the Premiership.
Tom
And Livingston to join them. Probably unlikely.
Tom
Klinsmann is coming to have a look at Oh. Begs the question does he know its on a carpet; its of a low grade quality; they don’t water the pitch to make the ball stick thereby reducing the quality of football on offer…….
Would Livingston still be in the SPL if they hadn`t had the advantage of their plastic pitch over the years?
Hot Smoked
No and nor would Killie. There should be a rule in place that you can only have a plastic pitch in the league if both teams agree that it has been watered sufficiently for football to be played. The advantage it gives both clubs is ridiculous. If we were lucky enough to get rid of Killie they should vote to ban them.
I`ve played a few games on a plastic pitch and found it benefitted the more skillful players. That being so, I would have thought that it would be a plus for us.
My experiences were quite some time ago but as it was at Loughborough University, I think it would have been a top grade synthetic surface and not far behing the quality of Killie`s pitch.
So in a week of horse racing and gambling controversy my pals sister trained the horse which won the biggest race of the week yesterday. Pleased for the family as apart from making half decent gin and very good single malt whisky they are passionate about their horses.
“MARKIEBHOY on 16TH APRIL 2023 9:55
The advantage it gives both clubs is ridiculous. ”
That has always been my view and I THINK the stats would show that teams with these surfaces do have a better than expected Home record.
BURNLEY78 on 16TH APRIL 2023 9:57 AM
I thought you were the man involved in `making half decent gin and very good single malt whisky `.
No ?
Certain plastic pitches, properly maintained and watered pre game, could be acceptable.
In my experience at certain levels they benefit the skilful teams. Although nothing beats a perfect grass surface.
Our problem in Scotland is we have few perfect grass pitches and no clear guidelines on standards / preparation of plastic.
That said hopefully it can be of help to our faster paced passing game today.
Dickinson and Muir is a worrying combo !
Some might suggest Both with lodge points to claim.
Hopefully we can take them right out of the game with an early explosion.
We have missed our early blitz this past 4 or 5 league games.
“BURNLEY78 on 16TH APRIL 2023 10:04 AM
Dickinson and Muir is a worrying combo !”
Can you think of any combination that isn`t worrying?
Worried about Hatate for the semi final, he’ll almost certainly not start it if he’s out next weekend.
Anyway, today, I’d rest CalMac and give Iwata a run out. Mooy needs the minutes and MoR played quite well against the huns so he should keep his place.
Ange won’t do that though, CalMac will start and Iwata will be on the bench.
Anyone know if you can place a bet on who the referee for a match will be ? Beaton is nailed on for Hampden.
I had a discussion many moons ago with my Killie supporting cousin who knew the ground staff. Can’t remember what quality standard that pitch is but it certainly isn’t top of the range.
Some of my mates play games on it!! Mind you at 61 years old you would think walking the dug would be preferable 🤔
Hot Smoked
Re Gin and Whisky
I guess the Russell’s have been doing it even longer than me.
The Russell family own Glengoyne, Tamdu, and now restored Rosebank (Falkirk) distilleries and Edinburgh gin. Sadly their dad died recently and he really had been around the industry for ever.
DAVID66
“Who asked you anyway” T-Shirt is a brilliant idea!
Can you imagine 20 of us wearing the T-shirts and wandering through Glasgow heading for the Shipbank?
We’d have a crowd following us!
What about the colour?
Hope you are good my friend!
ps Where is BIG JIMMY? Hope he is ok.
An Dun
Fair point re Hatate
Hoping Ange just didn’t want to risk him on the plastic.
A run out next week would be perfect rehab if so.
I got a free bottle of gin in my Easter hamper from my wine club, Ramble 4I, very tasty 🍸🧋
Prestonpans
Is there no end to your folly?🤔
No and the bottle is nearly finished too 👌👏👏
Youngsters nowadays. No self control.
The impact of plastic pitches is I suspect dependent on the standard of football we are talking about.
Amy sort of amateur football then it favours the tanner ba more skilful sides …. as you go up through the professional ranks , in my view it favours the home (plastic) team , primarily as getting down the wings is a challenge and turning quickly anywhere is more difficult than grass hence many games see the ball ping pong about waiting for an opening.
I’d favour a ban but also favour Europe-wide a more equitable split of Euro money so that teams like Killie , Accies , Livi could replace their pitches ….. a raising of the standards across the board in Scottish football would be a good objective , currently that would mean we will drop more points than we are at present but it would also have the affect of dragging the Huns into a fight for 3rd or 4th
HH
Philbhoy 10.18
Jimmy is fine, he’s busy putting dubbin on his heid. (Courtesy of Melbourne Mick)
Hearing Jota out today.
Could be a start for Oh Bhoy.
Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Kobayashi, Starfelt, Taylor, O’Riley, McGregor, Iwata, Maeda, Hakšabanović, Kyogo.
Subs: Bain, Welsh, Ralston, Mooy, Turnbull, Hyeongyu Oh, Bernabei, Vata, Summers.
Any win will do today for me.
Plus no injuries.
I assume Jota and CCV have been given the weekend off, Ange said Friday there were no new injury concerns.
Bit surprised we haven’t looked to get minutes into Mooy but happy to see Iwata in the midfield. That may be an early indication for how we’re thinking about the semi final.
Is CCV suspended for next week’s game 6 bookings ?
No Jota or Cameron Carter Vickers, I assume rested only? Ange didn’t mention them as injured at his Press Conference
Prestonpans Bhoy
No one being judgy here re gin consumption.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend and have cause to celebrate at 2pm or so.
An Dun
Agree re minutes into Mooy
Maybe just being super careful re plastic pitch.
Mooy Hatate Jota and CCV all back for next week will be fine.
Chance to see if Haksa really can do it from the start.
Not sure re him playing out on right though.
Cutting in from left is his forte so far. Hope I am wrong.
Burnley78
No plastic pitch should be acceptable to our top professional league.its crap Imo and a health and safety risk to players.
Get them beat Celtic and get a grass park into the league next season
HH
Hart, AJ, Kobayashi, Starfelt, Taylor
Calmac, Iwata, O Reilly,
Maeda, Haksa, Kyogo
live updates up