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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Interesting that Brendan spoke about Ntcham as the No 8 he has been looking at for a while. He spoke last week about needing a no 10 too. Hopefully we will still get in a no 10 of high quality. Add those two to last nights team plus Caulker and Paddy and I think we might be almost there (Lustig is better than Laudrup anyway!)
OB- Caulker is on big money at QPR, but is trying hard to sort himself out, he could be a great signing if we can get him.
I’d love Caulker in – 6 foot 3, 400m champion. Would be great for us. Still need a mercurial magician up front too, Mr. Roberts, ready when you are.
Interesting team for today
OB- looked like a Frankie Howerd line there..
OVERSEASBHOY on 15TH JULY 2017 2:23 PM
Re Celtic tv commentary – he kept referring to Lustig as Laudrup. Bring back the bearded ‘shapes yo shoot’ please and Tam Boyd.
He did indeed.A roaster.without Tom Boyd they are rubbidge.
Thanks Bada, hopefully get a sausage to watch game, plenty of interesting guys I’d love to watch today.
Apparently it’s on Canal + France, I normally have the French Channels on an android box and have picked up a few interesting games there but I’ve been through the list 3 or 4 times and for some reason they seem to have disappeared today.
Hope s just late coming in.Looks empty.Poor show if it stays like that with the new boys out,and it being on the books.
http://www.vipleague.is/football/489605/1/celtic-vs-olympique-lyonnais-live-stream-online.html
I may have found a Sausage. Uncooked & untried
Shapes to shoot back for Lyon game ! Normal service resumed on Celtic Tv today
Turkeybhoy.
Its glasgow fair Saturday.
Thousands are away
Hi Paul67,
Good lead… glad your addressing these comments as and when they arise.
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.
Very true but I must say, I’m heartened by Mr Topping’s Comments – in a “is that all you got Ralph” kind of a way.
RT has a concerned constituency, as the retiring SPFL boss, he will not want to be seen by these people as being responsible in any way for the Rangers wrong doing being Reviewed.
There is absolutely no substance to this interview, his – my Lawyer’s smarter than your Arbroath Lawyer – attitude is not untypical of the facetious hubris that certain Scots emit.
It is also heartening hearing his point of view and knowing Mr Doncaster’s point of view, that the SPFL have not issued a statement. It seems to me that the Board is divided.
The fact that Ralph Topping has seen the need to go to a friendly Journalist to get his point on Record suggests Mr Doncaster and Mr Topping are fighting a rear guard action.
Hail Hail
I’m watching the match on French TV and understand what they are saying.
What did that presenter just call me???
tonydonnelly67 on 15th July 2017 12:55 pm
Only a matter of time before PL gets questions asked about his integrity, dear oh dear oh dear :))
=======================
I can understand why you have said that, but if ever there was a time to rise above personal suspicions and past grievances at the Board and CEO it is now.
The people running our game are at best totally incompetent and at worst criminal in the sense of party to a fraud.
That is why they will not investigate further and that is why LNS was set up to give the appearance of an investigation.
Peter Lawwell has always said that he will act in Celtic’s best interests and it is my belief that it is now clearly in Celtic’s best interests to act and they will because they have to.
Not to would make Celtic the biggest victims of industrial scale cheating made all the worse because the cheats have escaped justice. There is no price that could be put on the cost of the damage to the ethos of Celtic, which to me is doing the right thing, and that is surely worth all Celtic supporters up to Board level worth fighting for?
Its what makes Celtic, Celtic.
Celtic as potential trophy and associated prize money winners have a bigger stake in this matter than any of the other clubs in financial terms so it is understandable if other clubs are less concerned but not Celtic.
BRTH has pointed out the findings of UEFA on the Giannina case, where a failure to reveal private agreements in Giannina accounts was viewed by UEFA as failing the requirement under Article 47 and related Annex for accounts to be a “fair presentation” of business.
The financial cost of the SFA failure to pick up on RFC’s use of ebts, especially with Campbell Ogilivie joining the SFA in 2003, is a matter of concern to shareholders in Celtic and so to the Board.
The more folk appreciate the skulduggery at play, the more angry they get. Celtic men on the Board cannot be immune to that anger themselves or unaware of it amongst a support who, with the Affiliation and CST being much more informed on the skulduggery , are growing more aware day by day of the mugs they are being treated as by Doncaster and Regan and the men pushing them from behind.
As Paul says this is SPFL trying to hide behind legals. If the same legals who advised SPL Board not to appeal on the grounds that revealing ebt side letters would not have changed the tax position (which was at that time ebts were lawful) then how can the same legals do somersaults and say that there are no grounds for appeal now ebts as used by RFC are unlawful?
Why when one of the planks on which LNS was based, “there was no question of dishonesty” has been revealed as ridden with wood rot as result of CW trial testimony regarding lieing to HMRC about side letters, can any QC advise the SPFL Board that LNS was sound?
This has been one long saga of non disclosure and what Topping and company do not want to be disclosed is the role the SFA and SPL played by their failure to disclose information damaging to their cover up attempt.
Is that the new pitch?.Looks a bit crap.
AURORABOREALIS79
C’est vrai:))
Madhun the MIB, ….
Bobby Madden ….. mmmmm
you got a daughter in law now jobo, if you’re on ?
First honest mistake from madhun
Benny looking good / madhun found his whistle – Celtic tv claiming a goal !!!
Watching on French TV as well. Canal+, excellent picture. So far the Bhoys dominating.
Chairbhoy on 15th July 2017 2:59 pm
I think Doncaster will have briefed Harper MacLeod in a certain way regarding Doncaster’s most desirable commercial outcome, that what Doncaster gets paid for, not upholding the integrity of the game.
I know for a fact that Topping was unhappy with the sanctions LNS applied, he thought they should be stronger and perhaps he realised latterly that the commissioning was questionable so putting the blame on Doncaster makes sense along with your reasoning.
Good game…you can see Lyon are a good team
Good save De Vries
Good test for young team against a top side
Those who suggested Eboue is a dud are gonna eat a lot of humble pie.
His passing and vision are clear to see.
Young Benju also looking good.
Two great blocks deny Dembele then Benju after lovely skill by Calumn
Ah Missed a fecking sitter. Should be 1 up.
Ooft Kouassi a bit…eh…”keen” with that challenge…
Some lovely passing by Celtic
Benyu looks confident.
Benju might be another brilliant piece of business.
Looks skillful and strong.
Does not look like it will take him to much time to establish himself.
Oops French Eastenders isn’t what i was looking for
Well down Ajer, looking good kid.
The future of Celtic on the field just now.
All out young stars on display.
Two days- two games. Magic.
Ajer with Bobby Moore esq interception
This was the tackle, Ajer’s reminded me of,,,
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wDG047BvFjQ
Another great chance goes a begging but bloody hell I like what I’m seeing here.