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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Gerryfae
Roger Federer set to be announced as the new Dr Who?
http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/germans-tell-irish-that-the-british-are-a-disgrace-35935039.html
BSR 4.17pm
Dr Who ?
Why would Roger aka Superman take a step down
He is my 2nd favourite Swiss person after Ramon Vega
ALASDAIR MACLEAN on 16TH JULY 2017 2:47 PM
You may be surprised, he’s not the worst…
BENDIGO…
That article misses the whole point of Brexit.It’s all about taking back control of our borders and ensuring our bananas are bent (but not bent like those foreign types,no,curvy bent).That and having pride in our dear old Queen’s flag.Ignore any economic doom everything will be alright if we act British enough.It’s not racism it’s just loving dear old Blighty that’s all.British and proud.We don’t hate foreigners we just prefer them not to be here in dear old England.God bless us.And of course Brexit means Islam will get it’s arse kicked and terrorists will need to Muslimise somewhere else.And that’s ok because somewhere else isn’t good old Great Britain.Rool Bratanya.
Now,let’s go for a pint and a fight. ;)
P.S.Bring back hanging I say.
Gerry , that sounds like you had a terrific time in Baurheid.
The Dalmeny is a nice hotel but like all these wedding venues , very dear for a drink.
We were at a wedding there 5 years ago.
Some of the bride and groom’s families turned up at the rehearsal , the wedding service was in the hotel, to see what bottled beer was on sale.
On the wedding day , the bride’s and groom’s families turned up in their cars , which were full
of boxes of the same bottled beer as sold in the hotel. They bought the first round at the bar then jumped out for some bottles from each of their cars.
A god way of saving money.
JOE FILIPPIS HAIRCUT on 16TH JULY 2017 3:01 PM
TURKEYBHOY. I am talking about bums on seats on Wednesday night not number of seats paid for. H.H.
Ah,OK.apologies.Puts Celtic in a bit of a stushie.They cant sell ST seats only the ones left,and 1,500 Huns have these ones.
BUGGER.
That should read,leaving 5,000 for non ST Tims.
JJ,putting some shoogly Nitro Glycerine out on his blog today.If this is true there are far too many open goals available for that shower of incompetents at Hampden to win.
Interesting comment on the comments section regards CAS.Seems its very possible for anyone to make a complaint.Maybe our experts will know more about this.I hope so.
Dallas 4.41pm
All of our mob had rooms so there was plenty of refreshments available for free, after working in the town for years most places are on a par price wise…….
Hopefully Wednesday is like tonight, sun shining on Celtic park on a lovely summers night, am sure you will be looking forward to it
I think I read on here that if Celtic go through to the next CL round, that they will be at home first, if we are the seeded team why are we not at home in the second leg?
The new Dr.Who is a babe.
Looking forward to the ‘Bikini Timelord v Daleks With Clothes-Disintegrating Rayguns’ episode.
dessybhoy on 16th July 2017 5:17 pm
I think I read on here that if Celtic go through to the next CL round, that they will be at home first, if we are the seeded team why are we not at home in the second leg?
———-
We were away to Astana the first leg last year but at home first against Beer Sheva, maybe it’s random the draw.
I’d forgotten we’ve still another round after Rosenberg (potentially), tough as hell just to get into the CL proper.
DESSYBHOY
They draw one ball from each of the seeded and unseeded pots and place them in an empty third pot . They then draw home team first followed by away team
Gerry, i’m back at work tomorrow .
Your two week break from my havering will be over lol
Thanks guys
Craigy Whyte set for £5M pay out.
AULDHEID @ 2:24 PM,
“Anyone looking for reasons to undermine Topping and any SPFL Board reasoning not to revisit if it emerges as such should read JJ.”
Very interesting piece…
You have to wonder, why the SPL Board were in such a fix at the time. They seem to be caught out by; the timescales of the appeals process, what they can and can’t appeal and if there is a Board concensus and what that is…
Should it not be up to the Legal Advisors to make the Board aware of the Directions and Timescales in such a Process. I don’t know where Mr Toppings finest legal minds were at the time but the Board were certainly totally unprepared, Eric Rielly on another time zone.
The Solicitor informed the Chairman of the SPL Board that “in a nutshell” they had to appeal that day…. MMmmmmmmmmm.
Ralph Topping seems totally put out by the paltry nature of the fine, as you said yesterday and the fact that the finest Legal minds didn’t make a case for Sporting Disadvantage
Mr Topping’s obvious ire towards the Commission’s sanctions seems to be in marked contrast to his attitude in yesterday’s Press interview.
Either he has changed his tune or as I intimated yesterday, he was concerned that by placing inadequate Sanctions on Rangers this Issue was always coming back…
Hail Hail
This is a very atypical transfer window. Much less anxiety. Some vague discussion about potential departures and potential arrivals but not sense of desperation either way…
There’s a muchore solid secure feeling since Lawwell started sticking to his remit ( which he carries out well)…and Brendan started calling the shots.
Cultsbhoy says Hail Hail to Hector and Brendan on 16th July 2017 5:41 pm
This is a very atypical transfer window. Much less anxiety. Some vague discussion about potential departures and potential arrivals but not sense of desperation either way…
There’s a muchore solid secure feeling since Lawwell started sticking to his remit ( which he carries out well)…and Brendan started calling the shots.
————-
BR always talked about having a leaner, smaller squad (which I agree with). I don’t think we are any closer to a leaner squad despite the number of players that have left.
I think PL has always stuck to his remit, he just gets the blame when things fail but never the praise :O)
CULTSBHOY SAYS HAIL HAIL TO HECTOR AND BRENDAN on 16TH JULY 2017 5:41 PM
This is a very atypical transfer window. Much less anxiety. Some vague discussion about potential departures and potential arrivals but not sense of desperation either way…
There’s a muchore solid secure feeling since Lawwell started sticking to his remit ( which he carries out well)…and Brendan started calling the shots.
Long may it continue.
THE_HUDDLE on 16TH JULY 2017 5:47 PM,
A long way to go yet in the window.
Yesterday for the umpteen time I watched once again the Godfather Trilogy and the scene from GFII where Hyman Roth says to Michael “I’ve loved baseball ever since Arnold Rothstien fixed the World Series in 1919”
That struck a chord with me where a city, fans and countries dreams were destroyed because of the greed of a corrupt shower.
The 1919 WS was the last ever to take place without a Commissioner of Baseball in place. In 1920 a Commissioner was appointed granting him absolute control over the sport in order to restore its integrity. Despite acquittals in a public trial in 1921, all eight men accused were permanently banned from professional baseball, which includes banishment from post-career honors such as consideration for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Despite requests for reinstatement in the decades that followed (particularly in the case of Shoeless Joe Jackson), the ban remains in force as of 2017.
It would be 60 years before the WS won a Pennant and 86 for a World Series victory. Karma.
Meanwhile in the best wee bigoted and corrupt country we have a scandal just as big where the deceitfulness of a rugby supporter has brought our game almost to its knees nationally and at club level also and he “walks” away scot free. The only person charged in a relation to this, and hysterically banned fae the game, was our wee hero who is now getting ready tae sink them again. Karma tae.
But where are the rest who walked away, some will end up bankrupt due tae their own EBTS but where are the handcuffs and the bannings.
The USA was founded by the craft but at least over there they have a wee bit of integrity.
Sandman on 16th July 2017 5:22 pm
The new Dr.Who is a babe.
Looking forward to the ‘Bikini Timelord v Daleks With Clothes-Disintegrating Rayguns’ episode.
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
Nae luck Sandman. That episode was last week – even though it hasn’t happened yet. That’s just how Timelords work…
I didn’t see anything about violence in Luxembourg when Sevco go the boot.
I was expecting a sacking of the city compared to that of the Vandals, Goths and of course the original Huns.
BMCUW @ 1:00 PM,
Good piece by James Forrest, it could be ironic , now that Ashley’s gone, DCK finds himself with the % to get his share issue done but is stymied on so many fronts.
I say could be ironic but you get the feeling Ashley was going nowhere ’til this was the case.
Although JF touches on it, I think he under plays the importance of Dave King’s cauld shoulder. With this in place no Financial Institution is going to touch Sevco.
My hope is that Aberdeen and Hibs can show enough consistency to ensure they’re out of the running for honours and Europe this Season.
Hail Hail
Dallas 17.25pm
Hope you had a good break, nothing has changed since you have been away so am sure you will be itching to get back :-)
I finish up on the 28th for three weeks, until the wee yin is back at school, i know for a fact work is an easier shift :-)
The Huddle
Leaner squad undr Brendan Rodgers
Kolo Toure ( contract expired )
Aidan Mcllduff
Theo Archibald
Kris Commons
Josh Kerr
Efe Ambrose
Eoghan O’Connell
Fiacre Kelleher
Shaun Bowers
Brandon Payne
Conor McManus
Luke Donnelly
Aidan McAdams
Paul McMullan
Saidy Janko
Logan Bailly
Gary Mackay-Steven
Scott Allan (Loan)
Ryan Christie (Loan)
Jamie Lindsay (Loan)
Exodus CSC
p.s. Patrick Roberts
bournesouprecipe on 16th July 2017 6:17 pm
——-
Though the majority of them weren’t even close to the squad let alone starting 11.
We’ve added 2 players that are joining the queue of mids to play, plus throw in Kouassi (who has to make the break through this year), bringing back Ajer. We are a fatty squad :O)
BSR
Fingers crossed Patrick ‘boomerang’Roberts
Gerry, I cant ‘wait to return’ to work.
A fortnight of gardening and driving the famiy about is not good for you.
It still feels strange playing competiitive games in the middle of July. its only 7 weeks since the cup final.
Gene
I wish, but we may have moved on considering we’ve signed three seniors
I love lists CSC
Mike in Toronto
The only thing Celtic got was back in 2014 as part of the package of witheld info from LNS sent to Harper McLeod and copied to SPL Board members.
Because it was an SPFL matter to address and because the appetite to do so would be so much greater after final verdict on BTC ebts, it was never something that Res12ers focussed on since Celtic’s stated position on LNS, whilst frustrating, made sense.
And before you ask Celtic’s latest position makes sense to me.
Speak softy have big stick handy is how I would play it.
Mike in Toronto.
That package was an SFM initiative.
BSR
You are probably right
liveinhopeCSC
Just reading back from last night,has rudi/rye been pulled up for his pish yet?HT and the MINX enjoy the second leg of the honeymoon guys:-))
Fairhill Bhoy.
All his posts deleted and although Paul 67 doesn’t name him, I think he may have had his account deleted.
Hail Hail