Fascinating headline in The Sun today, proclaiming England’s five wealthiest clubs are “in talks to leave Champions League”, completely missing the irony that Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have been planning to do without Champions League football all season.
Directors of those clubs, Arsenal and Manchester City, met in London to discuss the possibility of binning the Champions League in favour of a competition where Europe’s wealthiest were invited to participate, without the need to qualify. The meeting was attended by US sports entrepreneur, Stephen Ross.
There are a few points worth making:
The clubs leaked this story to The Sun. The intention is not to plot a breakaway, but to be seen to be plotting.
Breakaways have been threatened in football since the 1970s US ‘soccer’ league wanted to acquire top European players without paying transfer fees. They have never happened. Only change based on approval has ever been possible.
European law would stop such a breakaway in its tracks. The European Union allows football to operate various cartels under terms known as the Specificity of Sport. The game is already testing the boundaries of these provisions (which may be worth testing in court), but any move to like this would have no chance of succeeding.
Change
Change of some sort is inevitable, there is just too much money to be made for it not to happen. The risk is that the wealthy clubs put enough money on the table (or in brown envelopes) to get their own way.
Clubs in Europe will not allow their competitiveness in relation to clubs in England diminish.
Clubs in England will not perpetually allow their premium games against Barcelona et al to generate less revenue than games against Norwich City.
Top clubs in England have already tired of sharing around £1billion a year with smaller clubs who contribute little to the pot.
I know people are alarmed by this but as one of the already disenfranchised, we have little to lose. The status quo is squeezing the life out of our game. We need change. Most of all someone to put the money on the table required to create a meritocratic European weekend league – like Gazprom did with Russia and Ukraine.
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The Exiled Tim
hi mate hope all is good at the hun free mountain.now i am not a betting man but i will take you up on your bet offered to TBB,
i will bet you the symbolic amount of £1
craigwhyteCsc:-))
HH
From An Tearmann link above( Spot the difference between America and Scotland):
“Hailing from the Emerald Isle, generations of Irishmen and women have helped shape the idea of America, overcoming hardship and strife through strength and sacrifice, faith and family. With an undying belief that tomorrow always yields a brighter day, Irish Americans symbolize the perpetual optimism that defines our country, and they have long embodied the truth at the heart of our promise — that no matter who you are or where you come from, in America, you can make it if you try.”
JJ
PS Before I receive a barrage of political posts,please remember I am only highlighting Scotland`s response to the Irish. I am not saying America is wonderful.
Johnston guilty on one charge. Not guilty with t’other.
HH
“I was told another lounge similar to the jerry dale will be ready for next season”
Masty,
I thought we were getting a Bavarian themed lounge there :p
HH
MAsty said:
“My season ticket will be purchased next year, but like your cousin, I won’t attend any game against them, if fact I intend to ask the SLO the chances of buying my ticket cheaper by not attending ”
I like that idea ( cheaper tickets for non-attendance at Sevco games!!)
I do not intend going to Sevco games either but I would like the point to be more obvious via empty seats rather than by someone else sitting in my normal seat. What do you think?
JJ
Geordie
Bavarian? I thought you would be more into the Ol` Barn Dance theme 0:-)
Are you going tonight?
JJ
Happy Birthday to the one and only Scottish player to captain a Scottish team to lift the European Cup
Billy McNeill
God Bless you
==========================
Go to work Celts and get us that victory,
take care Celts
HH
JJ,
Yeeehah.
Not I’m not neebs. I’m protesting.
Nah my wumin has left me for the wee and I’ve got the gruesome twosome to watch. :(
Are you going?
HH
The Green Man
Run away, zombie
Trad88. A lot of time ? well that is an individuals point of view. I know for fact ( sorry to upset your statement) that I spend much more time on CQN supporting Ronny.Now im just a simple bloke but if I go into a pub and four patrons are playing cards and ask me to join them but I know one of them is the biggest cheat in the pub and nine times out of ten he goes home with the winnings in my opinion I would be a mug to join them you however it seems would give him another chance and go home with your pockets empty. Of course it is your money your choice but dont knock others for not agreeing.I also think a blog is for discussing such differences of opinion but you appear think trying to bully posters is the way forward what a pity. H.H.
Jungle Jim/Masty I was thinking the same thing I could not bring myself not to renew I’ve not missed a season since 1980.So I would love to get a ticket that allows entry to all games except the one that most of the part timers seem to be looking forward to………………….If you believe the press that is.
As a follow up if I can’t get a ticket with no sevco games I’ll sell it for the day to a desperate old firm part timer for £100.Anyone up for it?
TIMMY7_NOTED on 2ND MARCH 2016 4:50 PM
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£100 .. Jeez Lawell will spill his champagne when he reads that
Team sheet latest………………………wee Scotty
Nyetimber
Broadbent sounds better than Broadfoot….
Stefan Johansen left out of Celtic’s 18-man squad tonight for his own good. Full story @scotsunsport
No intention of giving them a hit,I hope him and Forrest are being hawked round Chinese leagues
Geordie, Celtic wanted to make a fanzone where the upper bus park is. Once they never got the alcohol license we got our bus park back.
Bournes
Wit himself?
Geordie
Aye, just leaving now to meet ACGR.
See you again some time,
JJ
PS I am really looking forward to the game regardless of what some on here would have you think of the experience of going to watch Celtic.
An T
Got to love the power and majesty of a Presidential Proclamation!
I’m sure the First Minister is penning something similar at this very moment!
HH
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 2ND MARCH 2016 4:57 PM
Team sheet latest………………………wee Scotty
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OK with that although not overly impressed so far.Roberts should get a run also,will he ??
The Green Man
Paint Celtic supporters faces onto the seats in the Dookit?. Fill unoccupied areas
with inflatable Jimmy Johnstones, trick SMSM into thinking its a packed Paradise?
The two tiered Dookit for Barca games and all the Doo’s – then lower tier Dookit when
all the Don’ts flounce again.
Mouldy Old Dough —— Lt Pigeon CSC
excathedra44
Looking forward to it – enjoy.
HH
Joe Filippis Haircut on 2nd March 2016 4:45 pm
Look at the league table mate. Do the same this time next year.
Think about what happened and ask yourself if when your club needs your support packing it in is the first option to take.
Masty
Only some things in life are certain.
HH
Team sheet very latest……………………..Paddy Roberts
Celtic Park…………………..under the lights, ole EuroChamps67 heading for the Gazebo
New Article?
Trad88. It has absolutely nothing to do with where Celtic are in the league at the moment or where we will be in the league this time next year. I have watched Celtic for many many years and in my opinion one our best teams was the Tommy Burns team they played some great football but just could not beat Rangers (with there EBT players ) Tommy eventually got the sack.Now unfortunately Tommy will never see justice over them and neither will we if we just simply accept them into the SPL claiming to be the same club that cheated.I said earlier its your money so you can just throw good after bad but many many Hoops supporters wont be joining you. H.H.
TontineTim,
Yes, Forrest used to run rings round big Billy. Probably because he played him on the ground and they avoided playing high balls to him.
Billy actually was a poor striker of the ball, but his heading and tackling were superb…..as was his greatest asset, John Clark.
Giggsy,
Interesting. I think there’s a place and need for it.
JJ,
Aye, catch you soon. I’ve missed so much football recently with one thing or another. Choking to get back.
Enjoy. I know I will ;)
HH
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 2ND MARCH 2016 5:09 PM
excathedra44
Looking forward to it – enjoy.
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You too,heading now.
HH
Hope Stefan has not been left out to protect him from the abuse he has been getting. He might not be having the best run of form but he does not hide and gives 100% every week.
I don’t know how the Big Tax Case will finally turn out, I don’t know how how the various Court cases involving the Huns will turn out, I don’t know if there are any more nasty surprises for the Huns and finally I don’t know what either the Celtic Board will say or do or what the rest of the Clubs in Scottish Football will say or do when the smoke finally clears.
I find the endless speculation and threats about these unknown issues a monumental waste of time,
I do know the Huns used Financial Doping to win Titles, I know Referees have blatantly favoured the Huns and finally I know the bastards were liquidated and no matter what they or anyone else say they can never eradicate what happened.
I know it is almost definite the Tribute Act will be in the SPFL next year, I know they will not be able to Financial Dope again, I know they are Financially crippled and likely to be that way for a few years. I know their squad is weak and I know that in the modern day, it will become increasingly difficult for bent referees to help them.
I know that Celtic are in a very good Financial State, I believe we have the nucleus of a good squad, I have strong doubts about the suitability of present Management team but I believe this will be resolved either close season or early next season, either by a road to Damascus type turnaround or by them being replaced.
I believe every Celtic Supporter needs to get behind the team, we need to be totally vigilant to highlight referee cheating as that is the only way they can get near challenging us. If and when it happens we need to raise Cain both with the custodians of our own Club and with Scottish Soccer as a whole, If we can put a lid on referee cheating, we can continue to dominate the game in Scotland for the next 5 years.
Finally when the Tribute Act roll into Celtic Park, would I attend. Bloody sure I would. Why the Hell would I allow a horde of bloody zombies prevent me from supporting Celtic.
garygillespies @ 5.38
Ditto
In the event of young James meandiring off to China I have a parting gift for him
http://edisonchopsticks.com.au/
yours in Celtic
Jerry Dale
corkcelt @ 5.39
Thanks,……..that’s a good spiel, at just on two hours before the Celtic run out.