Retiring SPFL chairman Ralf Topping addressed the issue of Rangers EBTs in the light of the recent Supreme Court ruling in an interview today with The Scotsman. It is clear he is well-briefed on what is ‘in the post’ for the football authorities in Scotland from “fans groups”:
“There are a lot of wealthy people who support football clubs who will fund certain activities around challenges. The authorities just have to accept it and be measured in their response.”
Topping told The Scotsman, their solicitor, “the finest in the land”, made sure they were “ready for any challenges subsequently”.
The SPFL would save themselves and everyone else a lot of time and money if, instead of briefing friendly journalists who would refrain from asking the pertinent questions, they would address the matter in hand.
Why did the SPL (now the SPFL) set the parameters for what became the Lord Nimmo Smith (LNS) Commission to examine from 1998, then, when it became clear Rangers would admit guilt for offenses between 1998 and 2000, change that date to run from 2000?
Why did the SPL not lead evidence to the LNS Commission on the five players Rangers admitted guilt to the First Tier Tribunal, for offenses committed during the period in question (after 2000)?
Why did the SPL not reserve the right to appeal the LNS decision, which was predicated on EBTs being executed legally, pending the HMRS appeal?
Other questions, like who made the above decisions and why, can be addressed later.
If only the SPFL would “be measured in their response”, if only they would respond at all! There has been no response to these questions, only prevarication, misdirection and evasion.
The more those at the top of Scottish football speak, the more they sound like Sepp Blatter, who for years set inquiries and boasted about his robust legal advice on the running of Fifa.
Frankly, Topping and his cronies are not in Blatter’s league. They are not career criminals, but their briefing of selected journalists while studiously avoiding the question every fan would like to see answered, increasingly looks like a cover-up.
Celtic’s call for action will be ignored by the SPFL and SFA, but that must not be the end of it. Just do the right thing, Ralph; answer the questions.
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Some top reading over this morning.
Re mis-registration.
A core wrong by rfc il,
Well said Paul67.
JFH,
Its Celtic that are saying the game is a sell out.I would think they would know.Game is free,so only around 5,000 tickets for sale.Wether the ST holders all turn up is another thing.
Who cares.More important money to be found for the Rosenborg game,which will have 50,000 odd there.
Cutting stuff from James Forrest.
https://thecelticblog.com/2017/07/blogs/could-a-share-issue-bail-sevco-out-of-trouble-dont-count-on-it/
UEFA officials for Wednesday’s game …
Celtic Park, Glasgow (SCO), 20:45 CET
Celtic FC (SCO) – Linfield FC (NIR)
Referee: Stephan Klossner (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Remy Zgraggen (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Efe Kurnazca (SUI)
4th Official: Urs Schnyder (SUI)
UEFA Delegate: Emil Ubias (CZE)
UEFA Referee Observer: Michael Argyrou (CYP)
STSTIVS
My mate delayed the arrival of his new company car till September for that very reason.
He’s hoping for something appropriate. If so,planning to keep the plate long-term.
(Actually,I reckon he’ll keep the 67 plate regardless-as long as the letters aren’t RFC!)
Is that Dessie O’Hare wannabe away yet?
Worst troll ever seen on here.
Most probably an ex-Brit zombie.
Fair play to the CQN crew for their tolerance and patience.
And praise be to Jesus Christ, the redeemer, as per always.
This is the day…
The Border Fox eh?
God bless the Celtic of Glasgow.
HH.
EMBRAMIKE
Eh? Our referee in midweek is a retired hun goalie?
Ffs…
Still,these EBT tax bills have to be paid somehow(!)
Rosenborg/Dundalk (1-1).
Tough call today, green Tyrone or the county Down?
Going for the underdogs.
Up Down.
HH.
BMCUW/Embramike
The UEFA delegate from the Czech Republic sounds like he might not be a neutral either!
If the new boys keep up the form they showed yesterday,just who the hell does BR leave out?.I would hope,Eboue,Ntcham,Wee Benji,would start on Wednesday.Big crowd giving them great support.No idea if BR would risk Ajer in defence,but this game is over.
What a superb clutch of players Lyon have assembled again.Great to watch.Some wonderful skill on display in the 1st half from both teams.
Eboue,Ntcham,Broony,Armstrong,looks a formidable midfield for European away games.
16 ROADS
Probably just me,but any time I hear mention of a certain county,I recall Billy Connolly saying-
“Tyrone,come back here!”
Almost definitely just me…
Referee: Stephan Klossner
Hope thats not a spelling mistake for ,
Stephan Kloss Jnr.
good stuff bmcuwp
BEATBHOY
Good spot!
Should be a good game of football Bobby M.
God bless ye Mister Celtic.
KTF.
The Border Fox himself, posting on CQN.
I’m wanted in 4 counties, for armed robbery…
Amazing.
HH.
Just logged on seems I missed a lot of action.
Turkeybhoy, No way will Ebouie, Olivier & Benji start on Wed.
Olivier won’t be match fit for 2 or 3 weeks, maybe one of the others might get a run from the Subs bench.
I wouldn’t be shocked to see Ajer start for Eric but most likely he will start same eleven unless there is an injury.
Cant see Brendan straying too much from the tried and tested on Wednesday. I think Ntcham will be on the bench. In all honesty Benyu, Eboue and Ajer might not make the bench. Moussa might come in for Leigh but apart from that i don’t see any other changes. It was only Ntcham’s first game yesterday but watching him and the positions he was taking up, he looked more like an no8 than a no10. We shall see how it develops.
On the topic of match officials, yesterday’s MiB Madden’s assessment at the recent Euro U21s didn’t make good reading (marks out of 10 – below 8 is not so good).
Refereeing Assessments Under-21 EURO 2017 – Ranking:
Slavko Vincic (SVN) – 8.50 (8.6 / 8.4)
Tobias Stieler (GER) – 8.45 (8.4 / 8.5)
Benoît Bastien (FRA – 8.40 (8.4 / 8.4)
Jesús Gil Manzano (ESP) – 8.35 (8.3 / 8.4)
Serdar Gözübüyük (NED) – 8.35 (8.3 / 8.4)
Harald Lechner (AUT) – 8.20 (8.4 / 8.0)
Gediminas Mazeika (LTU) – 8.15 (8.1 / 8.2)
Ivan Kruzliak (SVK) – 8.05 (8.2 / 7.9)
Robert Madden (SCO) – 8.05 (7.8 / 8.3)
So lowest ranking of the 9 referees – quelle surprise !
BTW, our current FIFA referees categories as ranked By UEFA for 2017/18 are:
Elite: William Collum, Craig Thomson
First: Robert Madden, John Beaton
Second: Kevin Clancy, Andrew Dalla
Third : Don Robertson
No swearing mind ….
CORKCELT,THE TIM REAPER,
Yep,you are probably right,but we need to get these guys up and running for the next games.I would at least hope they were on the bench,get a couple in the 1st half,then put them on the 2nd.
In all honesty,Wednesday night is nothing more than a dead rubber.
Anyway,looking like our best squad since MON.
https://twitter.com/craigwhyte22/status/886529443497484288
Craig Whyte
@craigwhyte22
Following
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RFC have more chance of winning the Champions League than I have of getting a £5m payout from oldco! Complete nonsense from @Martin1Williams
3:14 AM – 16 Jul 2017
I think Dembele for Griffiths will be the only change to the starting XI for the second leg on Wednesday and Ntcham will take Bitton’s place on the bench. Ajer may replace Izzy on the bench as McGregor can cover left back position if necessary.
Brendan on the new bhoys making a start after the Lyon game said……
Ollie is a couple of weeks short only thing with him is fitness
Benyu is longer, BR said he is here to see how we work for next couple of months
In the next few competitive games BR will stick with last seasons invincibles :-)
Strange we don’t have a game arranged for next weekend. Assuming we KO Linfield, and given our next opponents are mid season, I would have thought another friendly would have been arranged to get more game time for the squad.
Just to run salt in about our FIFA officials here is what they get paid …
(asset last summer with finals in brackets)
Referee Category – Refs – Asst Ref – Additional Asst Refs – 4th Officials
Elite – 5.000 € (6.000 €) – 1.500 € (1.800 €) – 1.500 € (1.800 €) – 750 € (900 €)
First – 2.700 € (3.700 €) – 810 € (1.100 €) – 810 € (1.100 €) – 405 € (555 €)
Second – 1.300 € – 390 € – 390 € – 195 €
Third – 1.200 € – 360 € – 360 € – 180 €
1) All officials get daily allowances in the amount of 200 € per day (including the day of the departure and the day when they return from their international duty).
2) There is a lump sum of 200 € to cover domestic expenses (e.g. a night in a hotel close to the domestic airport before departing to or returning from UEFA duties).
Again – no swearing mind …
EMBRAMIKE
I think that’s only fair. Wouldn’t want them so poorly paid that they’re susceptible to bribery.
Of course,corruption is a different matter.
EmbraMike
Even at the lower end, a nice wee earner for Hugh’s lad.
GARY67 on 16TH JULY 2017 1:54 PM
Strange we don’t have a game arranged for next weekend. Assuming we KO Linfield, and given our next opponents are mid season, I would have thought another friendly would have been arranged to get more game time for the squad.
Exactly Gary.This is what I was getting at when I said BR should give the new guys game time on Wednesday.I know he probably wont,but I have no idea why.This game is nothing more than a fitness excercise.To have no game on Saturday is madness.The new players could all have played in this.No matter against who.
I thought the idea of the likes of Ntcham,especially,was to have him for the qualifiers.Going by what BR is saying,he wont play against Rosenborg either,so that leaves the Sunderland game.
I have to admit,I am puzzled.Maybe worrying too much,but we all know the importance.
From twitter so obviously true…..
Farkakt Altekaker @farkakt
1h
Expecting to see Steven Caulker at Lennoxtown this week
Assuming things go well on Wednesday, Ntcham should get at least 30 minutes playing time.
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 16TH JULY 2017 1:52 PM
Brendan on the new bhoys making a start after the Lyon game said……
Ollie is a couple of weeks short only thing with him is fitness
Benyu is longer, BR said he is here to see how we work for next couple of months
He has since changed that Gerry.Benyu was outstanding against a superb Lyon side yesterday,as were Eboue,and Ntcham.What would be the harm in playing them for at least a half against the dross of Linfield.Would it not help their fitness?.We do not have the luxury of time on our side here.
Cilic bounces the ball about 20 times before he serves the thing, back to the cricket
GARY67 on 16TH JULY 2017 2:13 PM
From twitter so obviously true…..
Farkakt Altekaker @farkakt
1h
Expecting to see Steven Caulker at Lennoxtown this week
H,mmm.Do QPR know about this Gary?.
When he was playing before his troubles he was hailed as the best CH in Englandshire.Undoubted talent.
Lets hope.If anyone can,Brendan can.Good words today from Scotty to the big man.
Tennis time.
Anyone looking for reasons to undermine Topping and any SPFL Board reasoning not to revisit if it emerges as such should read JJ.
https://johnjamessite.com/2017/07/16/neil-doncaster-the-cover-up-mc/
Ive seen references to SPL Board minutes so I wouldn’t dismis.
TURKEYBHOY
In Brendan,we trust!
Seems he was surprised by Benyu’s performance yesterday. Similar to the way he brought back Boyata,this is not a manager who makes a decision and sticks to it. He is always open to the unexpected,and will adapt accordingly.
IMO,that’s a great strength in management,not a weakness.
Another strength he has demonstrated here and elsewhere is to get the best out of players,settle them and get them playing to their potential.
If he can do it for Steven Caulker,we have a top top player.