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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Will be funny to give the little orcs from Belfast a skelping. 9-0 please Celtic.
The Melvin Gael
Anybody that wants to see an end to bigotry, and stands for what is right, deserves praise.
So well done to the people at Windsor Park for helping you and the bhoys out.
There maybe a glimmer of light after all.
HH
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 17TH JULY 2017 11:48 AM
The Melvin Gael
Anybody that wants to see an end to bigotry, and stands for what is right, deserves praise.
So well done to the people at Windsor Park for helping you and the bhoys out.
There maybe a glimmer of light after all.
HH
____
To be fair, Linfield FC’s quick condemnation of the fans who misbehaved is refreshing.
Especially when you consider how others respond
TIMALOY29
I agree, credit where credit is due.
If officials at Linfield are tired of the bigotry and want to be a football club.
Good luck to them.
HH
THEMELVINGAEL
Welcome aboard. Glad you had an enjoyable evening.
I’ve had plenty myself in similar company. Like anything else,it’s the a-holes who ruin it.
I will say this, the wee DUP Celtic supporter, is a brave man:)
HH
THETIMREAPER on 17TH JULY 2017 10:53 AM
Hear Hear.
Thetimreaper,
With due respect, I did not say that one cannot discuss the Stuart Armstrong debate on a fan’s forum.
I simply pointed out that said debate would be devoid of any factual information.
As you mention our manager, even he stated that all he knew was that Stuart liked it at Celtic and wanted to stay. He could not, and did not give, any more information on the issue, because he is not party to any discussions.
Now, if our manager is in such a position, my point is that it is vacuous for any one of us on a fan’s forum to be making definitive statements about a player’s contract, as we know hee haw about it.
Opine all you please.
Equally, for you to conflate the Armstrong issue with the debate regarding the Rangers cheating / registration/tax issues is most disingenuous as there are a great many FACTS already known in the Rangers case, many to which one can refer.
Therefore it is an informed debate.
Also many of the leaders of that debate, Auldheid, BRTH, etc painstaking research their information and present it to us in a way that is informative and factual, therefore not just opinion.
BTW, Stuart Armstrong is my current favourite footballer at Celtic. I hope he stays and becomes our captain. I love his hair. I have no idea if he will stay, what his current contract is or what he wishes for in the future. I’m just a Celtic supporter, ill informed on this issue, who wants the best for my club.
Eurochamps67
Joe O’Rourke at the CSA has made a valiant effort to get some sense out of Stewart Regan but his efforts could have been better served by being co-ordinated with, and proofread by, the Res. 12 bhoys. I believe that there is, at least, one factual error and one grammatical slip in Joe’s reply.
Please do not take this as a criticisim of Joe or the CSA as he has outlined the anomalies in the LNS decision well enough (apart from stating DOS was still deemed legal).
What do the Res 12 bhoys think?
Joe O’Rourke letter
BIG JIMMY on17TH JULY 2017 11:32 AM
Rhetorical question but viable…..why should any Lingield fan get upset with a Celtic player holding g up 5 + 1 fingers ?
Media might use this as a way of passing the buck/delflecting blame from football fans behaving in this manner……
if you read the article he goes on to say
Players are subjected to filth shouted at them about their Mothers , wifes and children but when players react the morons cant handle it .
For me , i would love more players , pundits and media to comment on whats being sang / shouted from the stands from the bileous cretins in the stands .
Ps….. leigh Griffiths put the link between Linfield and Rangers ……why do the 5-1.
new article posted.
Don’t kid yourselves about the rats on the Linfield board trying to turn the corner regarding bigotry.A wee click on Ray McGivern’s Facebook profile will tell you otherwise.Vermin.
Eurochamps67 on 17th July 2017 12:03 pm
Equally, for you to conflate the Armstrong issue with the debate regarding the Rangers cheating / registration/tax issues is most disingenuous as there are a great many FACTS already known in the Rangers case, many to which one can refer.
———-
If you read my post again you will find that I absolutely did not conflate both issues. I pointed out that neither will be resolved on fans forums and then asked you a question. Suggesting anything otherwise is nonsense.
TheGreenMan & cultbhoy,
Cheers Bhoys for yr replies.
I hate trying to type on my phone, so I don’t do much of it if possible.
Healy is a hun liar…he claims not have seen missiles etc….did he also FAIL to see his chairman appealing for calm…did he also FAIL to see the riot Polis ?
This Wednesday, I hope that Police Scotland have undercover cops in the Celtic Park toilets and amongst the scum hun support ?
HH