How do you find out that a footballer is betting on the game? They don’t walk into bookies and hand a slip over at the counter, this stuff is all done on smartphones or by telephone.
Betting information is protected by the Data Protection Act, the SFA have no authority to ask and bookmakers have no authority to tell, even if they know a player is breaking SFA rules.
Even if a player sits in the dressing room, and announces that he’s just bet on the match about to take place, and all his team-mates reported him, he would be able to dismiss the charge on the basis that his comments were a joke. No one could prove otherwise.
But, very specific charges are levelled at players.
The betting industry survives on the quality of their information being better than that of their customers. “Are you likely to win at the weekend?”, “Any inside info on who the new manager will be?”, “Who’s struggling to be fit for Saturday (and therefore unlikely to be first scorer)?”
If you are a player, you have the inside line on a market worth hundreds of millions each year. Football has an unhealthy relationship with bookmakers, at some clubs, the betting partner has their own lounge and has full access to the players’ lounge. Many players are big gamblers and some have big incomes. They are both significant clients for bookies and potential sources of inside information. Like many big gamblers, they are offered special odds, not available to the general public.
Let me tell you one way of catching a player who is gambling on football. He is tempted away from his old bookie to one who has become friendly with, possibly after giving his former bookie a bum steer on a striker who was supposed to be injured. The former bookie then ‘discovers’ that the name on one of their accounts doesn’t match the name on the linked bank account, and that this account holder is a footballer.
The bookie is now officially concerned that illegal match fixing is going on. With the possibility of criminality (even if it is without basis), they can alert the authorities. That would teach the player a lesson for leaving, while making money through advantageous odds and feeding bum information back, and destroy whatever competitive advantage the other bookie has.
Does anyone know of any other way a specific charge of gambling on football could be raised?
Maybe the players are all just daft laddies. Maybe the SFA decline to release reports into players gambling because there is nothing to see in them. Maybe you can break the rules on betting but not be punished because it’s a silly rule.
You don’t need to be match fixing to be involved in serious criminality when dealing with a bookmaker. The football watching public need transparency from the SFA on this issue, no matter how much money floods into the game from the gambling industry.
Book your tickets now for the CQN11 St Patrick’s Day event at the Kerrydale Suite on Friday 13 March. It’s going to be another great Celtic night. You can buy tickets direct near the bottom of this page or email me, celticquicknews@gmail.com
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SuperSutton(ThePlayer), same team as finished on the park on Wednesday will do nicely.
Why do I think this wont happen…………..
Stop tinkering when it’s going great.
Petec, I’m not a great rap fan but I do prefer this to the song you posted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8frzT3gxoHI
HH and mon the Marshall
petec @ 01:41
If you’re ever looking for a film to watch, regardless of your mood, watch the Straight Story. It’ll warm the cockles of your heart, whatever that means.
Even if you don’t fancy it from the trailer, whatever your mood, just watch it.
Trust me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yUwF3vskF8
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
01:59 on 24 January, 2015
Petec, I’m not a great rap fan but I do prefer this to the song you posted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8frzT3gxoHI
HH and mon the Marshall
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rE..
acgr,
Many moons ago and before I came out to Oz, I used to enjoy going into Peckhams in Glasgow Central station, mostly because of their quite incredible for the time, beer selection. Among one or two I tried was the afore mentioned Delirium Tremens with the yellow and pink elephants, pretty high alc % if I remember and not so easy on the palette. Another was the Forbidden Fruit which is now readily available in the Belgian Beer Cafe chain here in Oz.
Bit like why the Italians are so keen on Tennents Super Lager?
AR
AR,
Ah, beers in Central Station.
Upstairs was good for a coffee, and indeed, a few times, met some pals upstairs in the bar for a night out (but was it called Peckhams?, sounds right but not sure).
Back in the day, there was a right jakey bar for the low-levellers. I spent many a pound in there waiting for the next train, which somehow cost me 3 or 4 hours.
The lesson? Stay away from train stations – just ask BMCUW.
.
Gordon64
00:05 on
24 January, 2015
Off to Berlin next weekend with my good lady.
Any CQNrs advise on where i can avoid watching the game on TV.
HH
..
Oscar Wilde’s is the Best Irish Bar in Berlin not far from Friedrichstraße Station..Do a Great Breakfast Sunday is a Big Day there so get in Early..
http://berlin.barwick.de/freetime-leisure/irish-pubs-in-berlin/oscar-wilde-irish-pub.html
001
I was disgusted that Fergus put out the begging bowl.
FFM, Carstairs village sounds a bit like Whitfield in Dundee. Mrs ACGR used to have to go and do house visits in her job as a school nurse visiting parents of troubled children.
My neighbour is a policeman and comes from Whitfield and told me that they will not enter a house there (and in other areas of the city) unless there are two of them and back up is within a five minute call away.
Mrs ACGR is not brave, just a bit naïve and doesn’t see the threat or the evil in people. Very sweet actually but I keep telling her that one day it’s going to put her in a hospital.
I fear for her safety most days of the week.
FTQ…..
The Queen is just a wewewewe tool.
antipodean red, Belgian beer café in Oz you say? Where abouts?
As luck would have it my immediate future lies in Aus, Perth to be precise. I’ll be looking for some info on good bars and a CSC to watch the glorious Glasgow Celtic play. First trip is looking like about six weeks from the beginning of March then one month in three thereafter.
Should I wax my board:_)
HH
Celtic is incredible.
ACGR,
Mrs ACGR sounds like as sound a person as yourself.
But don’t think this post means I’m kissing arse.
You wear onesies.
Even if they’re Celtic Onesies.
It’s still unacceptable amigo.
Enough of that nonsense now.
Here’s 12 mins of outstanding live music from two of the best in the business, with the help of a fantastic Indian ensemble.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzEYNsFC2gE
GLASGOW CELTIC is all about th3 Support.
Focus -F\/ck you.
Petec, that’s not nice. She’s just a wee wizened auld lady who wore green and bowed to the brave soldiers of the Emerald Isle not long ago.
By all means rip into the system that put her there but don’t make it personal to the auld bint:-)
.
ACGR..
Rosie O’Grady’s is the Best bar in Perth and Home of Perth CSC Circa 350 Members they have better KO Times that Melbourne..Not sure if you will get Belgium Beer Cafe in Perth it’s quite a small place..
Summa
Hoi FFM, I don’t “wear onesies”. I’ve worn a Celtic onesie on several very special occasion.
It’s a very comfortable garment and if the truth be told I’d wear it every day if I could do it withoot getting ma heid kicked in in Aberdeen.
Style is not that important unless you are with your friends:_))
Summa, thankyou. As long as I can find a place to watch Celtic with like minded people I’ll be a happy Tim, with or without beer from Belgium.
HH
acgr,
I’m about 75km south of Perth, have been here for 17 years. The Belgian Beer cafe is in most cities, in Perth it is on Murray Street in the heart of the city, lots of good small bars and eating places if you look carefully.
The local CSC watch games at Rosie O’Grady’s in Northbridge in Perth, good crowd of Bhoys and Ghirls, most games are on in there. Down here in Mandurah, we have a small CSC which watches at Friar Tucks on the south edge of the town, the owner is a Cork mhan and we generally have a good night. Outside of that it’s CelticTV for me.
Wax the board man but bring a spear gun!
AR
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
02:28 on 24 January, 2015
Petec, that’s not nice. She’s just a wee wizened auld lady who wore green and bowed to the brave soldiers of the Emerald Isle not long ago.
By all means rip into the system that put her there but don’t make it personal to the auld bint:-)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love your LOVE , and you hit hard. If I had a Wife I’d be making sure she wAS THE Greateat ever.
Ooh aAAAaaah up the Ra.
Christ
Time for some zeds before the game tomorrow.
Goodnight Celtic men and wummin and Alfie Noakes. I much preferred John Noakes. I still remember the day Shep passed away. Tragic so it wiz.
HH
petec @ 02:27
HH to that my good friend !
Feck em, sad, evil bast@rds.
Summa is the Greatest Celt, ever online.
I will be watching the Celts bash th£ Cheaters.
In the style of my pal Weefra I’me employing a seven stage strategy of going to bed. Stage one is complete.
Petec,………………………:_))
Stay single bro.
ACGR @ 02:33,
I’ve seen better men than you (few to be fair ! ) fall victim to the “onesie”.
It’s a mug’s game amigo.
It’s about weakening the individual’s ability to rebel.
How many fholk took you seriously when you sang rebel songs wearing it?
petec 02:42 on 24 January, 2015
Summa is the Greatest Celt, ever online.
……………………..
Naw he isnay. I can think of at least five, six or three hunner others.
Stage two jettisoned.
ACGR,
“Stay single bro.”
My maw spent 30 years of my life giving me that advice, look where it got me :))
.
Courtesy: The Football Life..
The *Blank* Firm – A Celtic and Rangers League Cup Semi Final Preview
When Celtic-Rangers was pulled out of the metaphorical hat as a League Cup Semi Final, the media went into overdrive about an Old Firm clash. Almost as quickly, many went into a backlash to say that the Old Firm died with Rangers in 2012. Then, tired debates over the nature of continuity itself played out all over again. For me, I just regret Dundee United and Aberdeen became the New Firm as they stole the most obvious name from everyone.
But that is the crux of this particular matter and this whole preview. There will be 90 minutes of football played but, if I’m being totally honest, most people care more about the symbolism than the result.
The result, for what it’s worth, is in little doubt if one looks at the form. On one hand, you have a Celtic side who have twice soundly beaten the only undefeated league side in any professional league in the UK. On the other, you have a Rangers side who have twice been soundly beaten by the only undefeated league side in any professional league in the UK. That speaks for itself.
That isn’t to say, though, that Rangers are completely without hope. After all, this Celtic side is a team who managed to lose to a Morton side last season that was their worst is a long time. Then, Celtic didn’t take their opposition seriously. That shouldn’t be an issue on 1st February. But Rangers will still hope that they catch Celtic on an off day where their attack is misfiring. Meeting Celtic on those terms is still daunting but frustrating Celtic in the sort of atmosphere that will be present at Hampden could get the fans on Celtic’s backs and make it into a test of nerve rather than a test of footballing talent – still a big challenge, but less so than if they actually attempt to out play Celtic. Even so, the wide Hampden pitch will not be in their favour in trying to frustrate Celtic.
It is impossible to be completely dismissive of Rangers simply because of one major caveat – assuming something bizarre doesn’t happen, Celtic will win and handsomely. If ever there were a game where something bizarre was likely to happen, though, this is it. The cauldron of football in Glasgow has never been the least pressured of places but this time, at Hampden, there has never been more riding on it.
But rather than fighting for silverware, which is what Celtic vs Rangers would traditionally be, both sides are fighting for relevance. Celtic are fighting for pride where the fans expect a certain level of performance and score and where, failing that would undermine Ronny Deila for months. Rangers, however, have more on the line. In a season where their title challenge and credibility have sunk to their lowest ebb in tandem, getting a hiding in the one match that really matters to the fans could be enough to bury the club once and for all.
Those elements will play out in the stands and on the streets rather than on the pitch. Whereas the New Firm clash in the other Semi Final is equally intriguing for all the right reasons, Celtic-Rangers is a must watch for all the wrong ones because, at some point, you just know that a car crash is coming.
And that car crash is both on the pitch and off the pitch. Given the fractious nature of relations between the Glasgow giants and the emotional investment players feel, it would be unreasonable to expect anything other than a derby that was fired by blood and thunder. In fact, it’d be near impossible to expect it to pass without a red card. With players as tough tackling as Scott Brown and Ian Black in the midfield combined with players as passionate and unthinking as Leigh Griffiths and Lee McCulloch, the odds of someone seeing the red mist and doing something stupid must be short. Referee Craig Thomson, one of Scotland’s best at not grabbing attention and actually letting a game flow, has plenty of experience of fractious games (Italy-Serbia, Hearts-Hibs and more) but must be mindful to set the bar for what can be allowed early on so as to ensure things do not get out of control.
Off the pitch are the real concerns. The recent Hearts game showed the potential for issues from the Rangers support simply from their frustration at the running of their own club. Adding to that frustration next week will be seeing the bitterest rivals deny their existence and generally take the piss out of them. For Celtic fans, it is the case that it will be impossible for them not to indulge themselves in a bit of “banter”. – a Green Brigade banner isn’t likely, but loud renditions of Zombie Nation and generally getting under the skin of their opponents is a given. The question that remains is what happens if Rangers fans react?
It is improbable that they won’t and, even in what will be a tightly policed game, the chances are that there will be at least one eruption from one side or the other. From whom, it is hard to say. There will be plenty of provocation from both sides and, ultimately, it only takes one person to react or to have had a drink too many – even at a 1:30pm kick off, the chances of there not being more than a few bevvied fans at the game is nil.
The fact is that, at the end of the day, the result will be what will matter but it’s unlikely to be what’s on the front pages the next day. This game is, however, what will be on the back pages for the next week and that is why, more than anything, I’m putting this out with a weekend of league games to go before it – because this game is going to be that all-encompassing. It is already – my twitter feed is ablaze with discussion about it, rather than the Ross County-Celtic game tomorrow lunchtime. With a further week of hype and hyperbole to come, what is at fever pitch now will reach hitherto unforseen levels of anticipation.
So what will the score be? To me, there is little doubt as to the victor. Rangers have shown plenty this season that a side who press high and press throughout the game can get a lot of joy against them as they are often too pedestrian in their movement and work too much in straight vertical lines with their passing to do much of anything against a side who are denying them space and time. Ronny Deila’s Celtic are a team set up to do exactly that. More so, Celtic are gelling and have threatened to tear sides apart – this isn’t to say the Rangers will catch Celtic on the wrong day but, even on a bad day, Celtic are set up too much to exploit Rangers’ obvious weaknesses to do anything other than win 2-0 or 3-0. If Celtic have a day where their luck is in and the shots that have so often hit the post or been unlucky start going in rather than staying out, then it could a rout of historic proportions. Rangers’ only hope is to get an early goal and then defend for the rest of the game.
Summa
FFM, that’s a fair point bud but when you wear the glorious Celtic onesie you don’t ask to be taken seriously. It’s the modern day equivalent of a hooped pigs bladder on a stick.
As for singing rebel songs, have you heard my singing. It would have made the late great Pavarotti cry.
Goodnight, definitely off to ma cot………………………..:))
FFM – I’m the only conspiracy theorist in the village)
02:42 on 24 January, 2015
petec @ 02:27
HH to that my good friend !
Feck em, sad, evil bast@rds
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Looking for 3/4 tickets for Dens Park.
I’m a Selfish person, I am so selfish.
It would be Unbelievable if we get to Tayside…. your the 4th Mark
I’m a really crap singer, I can SHOUT , howevaah.
Did I just hear a kitten cry there. Bed time again. Cot time for sure ra Celtic for me.
Mon weefra get up and rip the pish oota me ya bam.
Off for sure this time.
Celtic, HH the hoops
Every one’s ignoring me, I’m off to my cot.
HH
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
02:46 on 24 January, 2015
petec 02:42 on 24 January, 2015
Summa is the Greatest Celt, ever online.
……………………..
Naw he isnay. I can think of at least five, six or three hunner others.
Stage two jettisoned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I cannae sing to save myself.
You will, hopefully, love my terrible voice, I play Counterstrike GO, I meet many nationalities.
Night cqn.
http://vimeo.com/61794331
HH
Weefra, I hope you read back tomorrow and realise I’m pulling your leg. I hope I see you back on here soon and in the reality zone at your beloved corner at paradise.
This is the real acgr, last survivor of previous two hootenannies signing off for good…….for tonight.
Enjoy the game tomorrow everyone and be happy.
Night night….:_)
A wee petec bus headshotting to Dundee.
DD is magnificent, his knowledge is incredible.
Mark, join us, Aidan needs to hear whit his olde Fella hears.
weefrae is the bees knees.