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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So, it appears Rudi CAN fail.
JIMMYNOTPAUL-thanks for that,I’ve crossed the line myself a good few times, but that last night was just nasty
True there is a long way to go but my point is there’s no gaping requirements ..not too much deadwood…
Anything in or out is likely to improve team. However if we did no business from here on in…I’d be satisfied with what we have.
Fairhill Bhoy.
I agree.
I had a post deleted myself,this morning, for saying pretty much the same as you.
Unfortunately I used an inappropriate adjective, to describe him, that rhymes with trick.
Hail Hail.
just think about 12 months ago – dunno what to expect of next season : CL would be amazing
Is it just me or does the lead in NCIS NEW ORLEANS LOOK LIKE OUR VERY OWN MARSPAPA:-)))without the glasses obviously
Although, the Flaky Multi-poster was still pleading innocence straight after Paul67 had his say.
Ive always felt that one identity at a time is the way to go.
These multi-posters have been causing it on CQN for years.
Maybe we should have ONE officially logged name only?
HH
A big shout out to my boss who retired on Friday after 43 years service.
He lurks on here virtually every day but has never posted.
He was a fab boss, a genuine people person who would help anyone who needed it, equally we knew never to cross the line, one raised eye brow from him would soon make you step back behind the line. He will be missed. Anyway my reason for posting is that he has told me he may start posting now that he has more time on his hands and doesn’t have to keep the likes of me in check any longer.
If you are lurking J.H. this is your moment in time. I can’t wait to ask you that question. :-))
Hail Hail
TGM. 7.13.
Aye that was classic, Paul 67 told Pastry his,account was disabled yet he posted again. That amused me.
Hail Hail.
Whatever happened to the….
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)
….money?
It’s awe in the biscuit tin…
Chairbhoy on 16th July 2017 5:40 pm
AULDHEID @ 2:24 PM,
What should happen imo is that as a matter of procedure the current SPL Board, still under Toppings Chairmanship, should look at the minutes of the meetings at which they decided to put aside misgivings and not appeal and reconsider the whole matter from there.
Not just because of the points you made about the conduct of the Commission itself where Topping appears to share some of your concerns about lack of challenge, but also to take account of the circumstances that led to the Decision (lawful ebts no longer so, dishonesty demonstrated in court backed by documentation provided to Harper MacLeod) , non disclosure in April 2012 of that same documentation as provided to SPFL Board in 2014.
That is what any responsible current Board would do first without thought to the consequences. Having approached it in that fashion the SPFL Board should then advise member clubs of the findings and recommend a course of action to them.
That is how professionals would approach it and as Celtic pride themselves on being a professionally run organisation, they should perhaps evangelise.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/tommy-carberry-35935051.html
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 16th July 2017 2:28 pm
The minutes are genuine. Cannot speak to the first e mail where Topping shows sporting advantage concerns. That is very telling but no reason to disbelieve.
JNP 7.13pm
I think I got a post deleted this morning and am sure there was nothing controversial in it apart from my bad patter, but I have no gripe with the moderators or P67, still canny believe Mike in Toronto has never had a post deleted after all if his Rangers picking in LMS and now Sevco choices in Goals for Shay……that’s pretty offensive in my book :-)
Benyu has if we believe been watched for a wee while,so all the pros and cons have been talked about over and over again,he plays one game,a friendly at that,and all of a sudden BR has changed his mind?????on a friendly???
JIMMYNOTPAUL-you say unfortunately! I say fortunately:-))
Jimmy not Paul he’s obviously a Hun otherwise you’d know by now
Gerryfaethebrig.
Aye it must be between MIT and Connaire 12. for the most amount of posts without deletion.
I’m glad the wedding was a fab occasion.
As you say imagine, having to pay to spend the night in Baurheid. :-))
My sister’s stay there thankfully they don’t read the blog, I get enough grief off them as it is.
Hail Hail
For a people and a cause. 7.44.
Magic.
If he’s reading this I will be receiving a text in a minute.
He may have been called many a thing in his career but never that.
Fairhill Bhoy.
:-)) :-))
Chairbhoy on 16th July 2017 9:24 am
Auldheid @ 8:29 PM,
Even without the evidence of unlawful ebts not being considered, the constructs put on player registration and accepted by a lawyer, who has never ran a football team in his life where a simple error on team lines can have a result turning impact, makes no sense to us who have been in that position.
Bryson handles registrations from all associations so quite how his interpretation is handled by them will be interesting. Every club pulled up for an administration error should appeal.
Furthe if an ineligible player becomes a la Bryson eligible if a fault is not picked up at registration, what is to deter clubs all the way up from amateur level taking a risk if they think it will pay off?
I think as an ex amateur club manager it is that about Bryson that incenses me apart from then realising there was a fix.
This is what happens when the health of our game is left with folk who can only measure it in financial terms..
==============================
Well that’s a huge point you make, has anyone been brought to book for fielding an ineligible Player in Scotland since 2012?
This effects every Football Team in Scotland that has Non-Recreational players.
To save Rangers a few bent Trophies they have made a mockery of the Player Registration Rules, Rules that underpin Association Football across the Planet…
Hail Hail
===============
It falls in the Face of UEFA Values 5.
Value Five
• Grassroots football and solidarity
Football is based on the grass roots, played everywhere by men and women, boys and girls. The top professional level is just the tip of the iceberg. UEFA will continue with, and even strengthen solidarity, both to protect the future of football and to deliver the wider benefits that our sport brings to society as a whole. And it is also because the strength of football lies in its grass roots that we have to preserve the local, regional and national identities of our game, always in accordance with the law.
The other shenanigans don’t looks so good under Values 1and 4 either.
Value One
• Football first
In everything that we do, football must always be the first and most important element that we take into consideration. Football is a game before being a product, a sport before being a market, a show before being a business.
Value Four
• Good governance and autonomy
UEFA and its member associations are committed to good governance. Good governance means openness, democracy, transparency and responsibility. In this spirit, UEFA defends the autonomy of sports structures, so that football bodies – with national associations in the lead – are the ultimate decision-makers in matters concerning football, with no undue interference from governments.
JNP
Cheers, it was a most joyful day (even in Baurheid :-)
Fairhill Bhoy
I mentioned BR talking about the new signings earlier, he was complimentary of them Benyu included, but he did say he wants him to learn how “we” work and play in the coming months, good times ahead methinks
GFTB-sounds like you had a good night boreheed:-)) #paulmcstay
As a (self-proclaimed ) paragon of virtue,I have never had a post deleted but……..
I call for all Celtic supporters in Peebles to be sent to the guillotine for not providing a way for me to see the Linfield match.
Off with their heads.
GFTB-that should have said looked like you had a good night and a big #PAULMCSTAY
Hrvatski Jim
Peebles CSC?
GFTB – Hi G I hope all is well with you and the family. Any movement forward with the wee yin and a return to Paradise after her visit in May?
HH
JIMMYNOTPAUL-love the stories you tell,but for me it’s Paul every time,not just a good footballer:-))
Fairhill Bhoy @7.36
I’m sure when I read Brendan’s quote he said that Benyu had surprised him having seen him training, how physical he was and up for the fight so to speak . Don’t think it’s all down to a decent debut yesterday.
Fairhill Bhoy
One of my mates a Blantir (Blanur) Bhoy texted me on Thursday as he bumped into the Maestro (must have been home for his dad’s funeral) he is nearly 50 and froze, he was scared to speak to him but just smiled and the Maestro gave him a knowingly smile back……
PaulMcStayCSC
traffic cops is on – a bit of common sense at last
Onemalloy 8.01pm
Not a chance in ……..
The wee shoite takes great pleasure in telling me football is rubbish, she had a great day but was more interested in the superstore than the superstars :-)
Typical female, like her mother loves spending my money
Hope all is good, sounds like you had a great trip to Lisbon
Jealous, but reading the posts you all seem to have had a fabulous time
Fairhill Bhoy 8.01.
Thank you for the compliment.
Jimmynotpaul : Will I change it to Paulnot Jimmy..? :-)
Hail Hail.
TGM
Peebles CFC are head of the queue.
Even the bar which is registered as the home of the CFC was not showing it.
I might even extend my fatua to the whole of the border country!
Shame on the decendents of the Stuart Jacobotes of Traquair who provided the southernmost bastion against the Crown.
P.s. MiT us an ameteur with controversial posts .
JIMMYNOTPAUL-so is JH a Hun :-))
JIMMYNOTPAUL-8;01pm,Don’t you dare:-))
Transfer windeas are boring….
when ye play in a pub league…
Having said that,……
what is happening now at the club…
is a set up that I’ve been advocating for years…..
Bring in a savvie manager…..
and then youll get away wi….
bringing in as many projects as ye want….
Simples…..
Sack The Bored to Beat The Cheats – CSC.
…..off-oot.
Chairbhoy on 16th July 2017 10:01 am
The only reference I could find from The SPL Commission that mentioned the 5-Way agreement was an interim Decision Document the Commision Published dated 12-September-2012.
– [7] Newco was not admitted to membership of the SPL. Instead it became the operator of Rangers FC within the Third Division of the Scottish Football League (“the SFL”). It also became a member of the Scottish Football Association (“the SFA”), the governing body of the sport in Scotland. These events were reflected in an agreement among the SFA, the SPL, the SFL, Oldco and Newco which was concluded on 27 July 2012 and in this Commission’s proceedings is referred to as “the 5-Way Agreement”.
=======================
The secret Five Way agreement actually provides three “definitions” of “Rangers”
They are described as one of the parties to the agreement as
(4) THE RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB PLC (IN ADMINISTRATION), a company incorporated in Scotland (registered number SCO 004276) whose registered office is at Ibrox Stadium, 150 Edminston Drive, Glasgow G51 2XD (“RFC”) acting through the joint administrators (defined below)
Then described under Recitals as
D) RFC is a public company limited by shares which
(i) is a full member (as defined in the SFA Legislation (as defined below ) of the SFA.
(ii) owns one of the twelve Shares in the SPL : and
(iii)OWNED AND OPERATED AN ASSOCIATED FOOTBALL CLUB KNOWN AS “RANGERS” FC (defined below ) which played in the Scottish Premier League during season 2011/12 (Caps added for emphasis )
and under Definitions and Interpretation is described as
“Rangers FC” means an association football club OPERATED BY RFC which played in the Scottish Premier League during season 2011/12 and previously.
The above would be drafted by SPL lawyers under instruction from the SPL (Doncaster) in 2012 and In my opinion this is where concept of RFC as a PLC owning itself as a club (an ethereal entity rather than the legal entity UEFA treat as an applicant) entered the vernacular.
I believe It was an invention of the SPL to allow the appearance of continuity for commercial purposes.
In UEFA FFP Regulation terms under Article 12 the concept of a club being operated by a company is only recognised if there is a written contract between a club and the company that operates it.
UEFA recognise applications from football clubs that are either clubs in effect operating themselves or companies who have a written agreement with a club t operate them.
Unless a written agreement between Rangers FC and an operating company can be produced there was no operating company and “holding company” is not a term recognised in UEFA rules.
Presumably Rangers International Football Club have a written contract with The Rangers Football Club and it was RIFC who applied for a UEFA Licence for this season 2017/18?
See that Doncaster, wits he like?
BORGO67-8:03pm I’m sure you’re right but if spend time money and whatever on a project;you would think that you would have already made your mind up on said player,unless