ian1964

Have you not been following the Scottish mHedia?,we're all doomed:)

It does make you wonder what kind of state they will be left in?

Lithuanian announces he is quitting football Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov has confirmed that the club has been put up for sale and that he is quitting football. The Lithuanian has told Russian state newsagency RIA Novosti that he is seeking buyers for Hearts, FBK Kaunas and Belarusian club Partizan Minsk. Russian-born Romanov is now keen to severe ties with Hearts - who he bought in 2005. "I want to leave football. I have given the order to find buyers for all my clubs," Romanov said. During his six years in charge Romanov has gone through eight managers during a up and down tenure since he took control. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11790/7313172/Romanov-puts-Hearts-up-for-sale

Is this true though mate?,just asking,I really hope this is just a rumour!

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STEVEN NAISMITH has opened his heart for the first time over the horror injury that's left his season in pieces. The stricken Rangers ace faces nine months out after snapping his right cruciate against Aberdeen three weeks ago. He tells SunSport the agony he's felt knowing the big games he'll miss after starring for club and country this season. But he insists he WILL be back after recovering from the same injury to his left knee in 2008. Naismith, 25, said: "I've come back from this once to do that and I can do it again. "I was on the upward climb and playing most weeks for Rangers and Scotland but I've got to turn that into my drive forward. "I DID play two full seasons in the Champions League, I DID play most times for Scotland and I DID start scoring goals again. "Is it worse doing it when I was playing at that level? I'd say it's comforting to know I got to that level from the injury. I can do that again." Naismith is totally gutted he's got no chance of playing a major part in trying to help Gers to four in a row. He said: "The feeling of winning the league, of playing a big part in it on that last day or whenever it is, was fantastic. "If you are on the park going for a trophy or winning one, being involved is a massive thing. I know I won't be there. "If that day comes this season I'll be in my suit. "I won't have my gear on and I won't be dirty and sweaty after playing. "There's still a lot of work and points to play for and it could go to the last day like last season. "But that feeling won't be there for me this season. I know that. "It's not the same but I know I have contributed which will help soften the blow. "It's the club I grew up supporting and you will do anything to win. "I think that's shown in my game since I came back. "The first Old Firm game was a great day for us, personally it was a great day scoring my first Old Firm goals. "Not having the chance to experience that feeling again this season is the gutting part." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3940512/Rangers-ace-on-his-injury-hell.html#ixzz1dwVEaRup

There are seminal moments in watching football in childhood that remain vivid as the years gather speed. One remembers sitting on a Glasgow bus before Celtic hosted Rangers in the New Year derby match at Celtic Park in 1988. A man draped in Celtic garb could be viewed waltzing on to the bus with what resembled a carrier bag brimming with bananas. In an era when men sported Graeme Souness moustaches and Frank McAvennie mullets as standard practice, the sight of fruit in Glasgow's East End seemed like an odd occurrence, even before the latest helping of a fractious fixture that has never ceased to throw up large sequences of unplanned mayhem. It later transpired that the bananas - or an 'assortment of fruit' as the television commentator Archie Macpherson later described them that evening - were intended for the black player Mark Walters, a winger who had signed for Rangers from Aston Villa hours before the match. The bananas shamefully lay strewn before a saturated 'Jungle' area of the old Celtic Park, a spot not far from where Celtic's vociferous band of supporters known as the 'Green Brigade' can be found on match days in the revamped ground. This singing section of ultras support the team while also making their political feelings on wider issues, especially relating to the political make-up of Ireland, be known. It has been 23 years since Walters was racially abused at Celtic Park. With a mission statement that describes itself as 'a broad front of anti-fascist, anti-racist and anti-sectarian Celtic supporters', it is perhaps inconceivable that a member of the Green Brigade or the wider Celtic-minded family would racially abuse a player, but old habits die hard in small splinter groups of the Glasgow club's vast support. Celtic have endured problems policing IRA chants away from home, but their emergence on their own doorstep in recent times is something that must be handled with the realisation that while they may be offensive/illicit and unwanted, such chants may not be illegal. In avoiding fraternising with the traditional Scottish media obsession to lump Celtic in with Rangers as part of the Old Firm package, Celtic would be healthier for lancing this festering, historical boil. Celtic Park is private land, and the club should be entitled to ban unruly guests who fail to show the required level of decorum in watching the team, but there is not much else that they can do. UEFA have decided to study footage of Celtic's match with Rennes apparently after Strathclyde Police made the match delegate aware of 'offensive singing'. Celtic will be called before European football's governing body next month to face a charge that songs of an 'unsporting nature' were sung at the Europa League contest. Songs glorifying the IRA may not be filed under the sectarian category, but they remain unsavoury even if they are argued away as political. These songs are unnecessary, irrelevant and damaging to Celtic - who have a body of award-winning supporters on the continent - and Scotland's reputation. More pertinently, they are offensive to many people, some of whom share the same stadium when watching Celtic. Personally, I think they soil the atmosphere of football because they are offensive, but offensive and criminal behaviour are separate strands. "It is offensive," commented the QC and Celtic fan Paul McBride, a figure who has represented manager Neil Lennon in recent times. "What do you say to a 10-year-old child who asks his father why people are singing about killers at a football game? There is no answer to that." In every sense, fans who damage their club's standing by singing IRA songs are a rogue element, almost rebels without a cause. They are hijacking the club crest and the club's Irish background to further an ideal that surely has no place at Celtic Park. Fans are entitled to be in love with Celtic's Irish heritage and the story of the club's beginnings, but there are plenty of other traditional Irish folk songs that can be sung without stinking the place out. That being acknowledged, is it right to demonise such fans? As two enormous clubs in the relative backwater of the Scottish Premier League, it is no coincidence that Rangers and now Celtic have been earmarked for treatment from the authorities, but there is a wider debate to be had on what constitutes 'offensive' singing, and what is punishable. A fine would seem the likely outcome to embarrass Celtic, but it will be interesting to see whether or not Europe's governing body go after the blue-chip names of Barcelona and Real Madrid on similar grounds. How far will UEFA's bid to silence 'illicit' chanting stretch? It is one thing making an example of a club, or making a scapegoat of them. Celtic and Rangers are hardly in splendid isolation in having fans espousing political idealogy, however warped it may seem to others. National anthems from all over the globe could be held up as offensive, political and unsporting on similar grounds. Upon initial inspection, it seems a good human rights lawyer could have a field day with UEFA's criteria for what constitutes 'illicit' chanting in this sphere. Eddie Smith, the former referee turned Strathclyde policeman, who apparently shopped Celtic to UEFA without notifying the club, surely has a duty to encourage similar happenings throughout Scotland. Will East Fife fans be reported for singing 'they are dirty and smelly..and come from near Lochgelly..the Cowden family' or St Mirren's mascot Paisley Panda be banged up for coming out dancing to Cher's 'gypsies, tramps and thieves' when Morton pay a visit? Or will a Scotland fan be fined for wearing a 'we hate Jimmy Hill' t-shirt? What about a Celtic supporter carrying a Palestinian flag? Is this deemed to be offensive? I recall working for an international news organisation in past times, and being told to dispense with using the word 'terrorist' in connection with mentioning paramilitary groups because one man's terrorist group is another man's freedom fighter, however uncomfortably this may sit with some people. On the surface, proposed new laws to tackle sectarianism, bigotry and racism in Scotland are fraught with peril, because they do not appear to make clear what or what is not offensive. In attempting to protect freedom of speech and freedom of expression, it is a dangerous road to go down. Without strict guidelines, the whole legislation drafted by the Scottish National Party could serve to encourage the notion of police harrassment. An Orwellian society is just as unwelcome as one that endorses songs saluting terrorist groups. Celtic and Rangers may be fierce rivals in football, but their fans share a common ground on the subject of freedom of speech. In every respect, ridding Celtic Park of IRA ditties is an initiative that should be welcomed, but the lines quickly become blurred on what else is deemed legitimate. Anti-IRA songs would also have to be outlawed on the same grounds. Unlike the obvious and awful racism Walters suffered in the late 1980s, the issue of 'illicit' singing is far from black and white. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/desmond-kane/article/2603/

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THE Old Firm are monitoring sensational plans for a breakaway European league. Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has claimed the new set up will start in 2014/15 unless football's top brass cave in to demands from the big clubs. The massive overhaul would involve cutting La Liga and England's Premier League from 20 to 16 teams. It would also see the expansion of the Champions League and a switch to weekend games in Europe's top tourney. Both Rangers and Celtic are watching developments in a bid to cash in on any changes to the European landscape. Rosell, vice-chairman of the powerful European Club Association, said: "If UEFA and the ECA reach an agreement, we would like to increase the Champions League under the umbrella of UEFA. "If not, the ECA is entitled to organise their own competition." The current peace deal between UEFA and the clubs runs out in 2014. Rosell said the major clubs would not sign a new agreement with UEFA or a similar treaty with FIFA unless the governing bodies gave them what they wanted. The incredible demands include: EXPANDED Champions League with up to eight teams from one country competing and games played at weekends TOTAL revamp of the international calendar, including the reduction or even abolition of friendly matches CLUBS paid to release players to take part in the World Cup, European Championship and other tournaments A BIGGER share of the money generated by football and a greater say in how the game's run. Rosell wants La Liga to be shrunk to let Barca fix up lucrative friendly matches and to free weekends for Champions League clashes which would draw huge worldwide TV audiences. He admits that the other major European leagues would also have to downsize. Rosell, speaking at the Aspire 4 Sport conference in Qatar, said: "We would like to have a Champions League with more teams. "We hope FIFA and UEFA will hear what we want to tell them. The worst case scenario is that we will go away from UEFA." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3937655/Euro-revolt-could-work-for-big-two.html#ixzz1dr0DnT5R

A tribunal dealing with an appeal by Rangers FC against a disputed tax bill and penalties totalling about £49m is set to continue into January. The First Tier Tribunal in Edinburgh was expected to conclude on Wednesday. It has now been listed to take place on 16, 17 and 18 January 2012. The disputed bill and penalties relates to Rangers' use of Employee Benefit Trusts to pay employees. The club faces the prospect of administration if it loses this case. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) claims that £35m is owed by Rangers in unpaid tax with a further £14m due in interest and penalties. HMRC has also had £2.8m of Rangers assets ring-fenced over a separate tax bill which the club is understood to be disputing. Former board members Donald McIntyre and Martin Bain have also taken Rangers to court to freeze a total of £780,000 of assets pending the outcome of their damages claims. BBC

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RADIO pundit Stuart Cosgrove last night sparked a new BBC row with Rangers when he JOKED about the horror injury that nearly ended Ibrox legend Ian Durrant's career. Off The Ball presenter Cosgrove was discussing possible names for Aberdeen's new £40million stadium which were unacceptable. He said: "The Ian Durrant Stadium â?? something like that?" Durrant was put out of the game for nearly three years following a sickening tackle by Dons defender Neil Simpson in October 1988. A Rangers source said the comment was "crass in the extreme". The BBC has been banned from Ibrox after a programme about club owner Craig Whyte. A BBC Scotland spokesman said: "We have received complaints." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/3936201/BBC-Stu-in-Durrant-joke-row.html#ixzz1dks4onu8

QC Paul McBride has urged Celtic to take sactions against members of its Green Brigade section of fans who continue to glorify the IRA in song. McBride, who has advised Celtic manager Neil Lennon, was reacting to news that Uefa is investigating alleged "illicit chanting" by the club's supporters. "The particular organisation who tend to be involved singing this are called the Green Brigade," said McBride. "Education has not worked and now it is time for sanctions." European football's governing body in April fined Celtic's city rivals, Rangers, £35,000 and banned their fans from their next away European game for sectarian singing in a match against PSV Eindhoven. Now Celtic face an 8 December hearing over chants reported by Strathclyde Police's match commander at their Europa League game against Rennes on 3 November. Continue reading the main story Peter Lawwell will be angry that the club's otherwise excellent reputation is being diminished by this kind of activity and I think we'll see fairly firm action over the next few weeks from the Celtic board Paul McBride QC "To be fair to Celtic, they do have, generally, a very good reputation with their fans in Europe," said McBride about the club he supports. "But we can't ignore the fact that, for a number of years, there have been a small section of the Parkhead crowd who sing songs about the IRA and the provisional IRA and they dress it up by saying that it's political and not religious and it's not sectarian. "But it misses the point entirely. It is offensive. "What do you say to a 10-year-old child who asks his father why people are singing about killers at a football game?" While McBride pointed out that the case against Celtic on this occasion had yet to be proven, he expected that it would result in tougher action from chief executive Peter Lawwell. "Celtic, on the face of it, may have a case to answer and it may well be that, as it is the first time it has been drawn to Uefa's attention, they will be simply given a warning," he said. "But it's a warning shot to Celtic that they will have to deal with it as an issue. "To be fair to Peter Lawwell, he has been doing that for the last couple of seasons. "He has been discussing it with their so-called leaders, I am not sure their leaders are actually in control of all of them, but he has been discussing it with them. "He has been making it clear publicly and privately, he doesn't want this kind of activity and, in a crowd at Celtic Park of say 58,000, we are talking about no more than 500 people. Continue reading the main story The extent of the problem we have seen in Glasgow has been around for years and years, but it's only in the last 12 months that the authorities have really begun to get their heads around it Piara Powar FARE executive director "So it can be done and I think, Peter, he won't be embarrassed, he will be angry that the club's otherwise excellent reputation is being diminished by this kind of activity and I think we'll see fairly firm action over the next few weeks from the Celtic board." Celtic blogger Paul Brennan, though, suggested it was an insignificant problem at Celtic Park and did not know of any such singing at the match against Rennes. "If the police have a matter that they want to act on then it's the police's responsibility to do so," he said. "And it's certainly the police's responsibility to alert the club there and then as to what's going on. "It does the club, it does the fans and our reputation as a nation no good for the police to go behind everyone's back, take no action whatever on the day but raise it with an external body." However, Piara Powar, executive director of the FARE anti-racism network that has previously reported Rangers to Uefa, insists it is right to target sectarian chanting by both sides of the Old Firm. "The extent of the problem we have seen in Glasgow has been around for years and years, but it's only in the last 12 months that the authorities have really begun to get their heads around it," he said. "I think Scottish football had fallen into a place where there was a sense of 'we don't like what happens but the whole city is caught up with it'." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15730417.stm

Rangers Football Club has agreed an out-of-court settlement with a pension advice firm which had been suing the club for unpaid fees. Capita Trustees Services had raised an action at Glasgow Sheriff Court for what it called a "straightforward commercial debt". The amounts involved, or the specifics of what the debt was run up for, have not been revealed. Rangers has recently faced other court action by creditors. HM Revenue and Customs and two former club executives have had assets totalling more than £3m ring-fenced pending the settlement of disputes. Former board members Donald McIntyre and Martin Bain took the club to court to freeze a total of £780,000 of Rangers' assets ahead of damages claims. It was also revealed in a separate court hearing that HMRC had also previously frozen £2.3m, while the club also faces a potential tax liability of £49m which is under appeal.

I can't watch youtube videos here off shore,bad connection:mad:

Aye mate,it was a cracking game.The Dutch were very good,but the we deserved the win,their goal was a fluke,in fact I still don't think the ball was over the line or at least is was impossible to tell. Jordan Rhodes looks a quality player,he scored the first in the first minute and could/should have had a hatrick.Wylde & Forest had good games on the wings,good game and a good win. Perry & Wislon looked solid at the centre of defence.

Cracking performance and fantastic result for the young Sots,well done lads.

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BBC Scotland will not say sorry to Rangers owner Craig Whyte after being threatened with legal action over a documentary about his business career, we can reveal. Whyte - who accused the Beeb of "muckraking" - has offered to drop his damages action against them if they say sorry. He banned the BBC from Ibrox last month after they claimed he may have broken the law in previous business dealings. And Whyte ordered London solicitors Carter Ruck to sue. They wrote to the BBC offering them the chance to retract some of the allegations and apologise to avoid a damages claim. But BBC lawyers have written back standing by the documentary and refusing the offer. Senior sources last night said the Beeb will not be retracting the claims or making an apology. Yesterday a BBC Scotland spokesman said: "We stand by the programme." A spokesman for Whyte said: "This legal action against the BBC is not about money. "Mr Whyte refutes all allegations of criminality made by the BBC." As Carter Ruck are an English firm, they cannot appear in Scottish courts on behalf of Scottish clients. They have hired Glasgow media law firm Bannatyne Kirkwood France, on Whyte's behalf, to sue the corporation. Sunday Mail

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Today on STV from 21:45 to 22:45 Series 6, Episode 3 Legendary footballer Paul Gascoigne joins Piers Morgan for a frank, emotional and revealing interview. He opens up about his battle with the booze and tells of the time when he was drinking four bottles of whisky a day without food or water. He also talks about his drug addiction, his marriage, what made him turn up at the scene of the Raoul Moat siege and, of course, his amazing career.

All the BHEASTS hard work is now coming back to bite them on the arse big time.

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Oman 1 Soceroos 0 HT If anybody is interested in watching it? http://www.footballstreaming.info/streams/todays-links/

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