ian1964

Naismith is suspended mate

Paul McBride will make peace with Stewart Regan and the Scottish Football Association ââ?¬â?? probably today, I can reveal ââ?¬â?? and thus draw some sort of line under a week when allegations and counteraccusations threatened to derail the process of administration of the game in Scotland. The high-profile QC will have to deploy all of his formidable eloquence to persuade the SFA chief executive that he did not intend to inflict irreparable damage to the associationââ?¬â?¢s reputation when he gave an interview to the BBC and employed such phrases as ââ?¬Å?they [the SFA] have been shown to be not merely dysfunctional and not merely dishonest but biasedââ?¬Â. I have no doubt that Regan will say his piece and say it with force of passion, but McBrideââ?¬â?¢s conciliatory approach is both welcome and necessary ââ?¬â?? whether he has been prompted by a period of personal reflection or the SFAââ?¬â?¢s complaint to the Faculty of Advocates, of which he is a member. Regan has made it a mission to deliver reform of the SFAââ?¬â?¢s elephantine procedures ââ?¬â?? a process started by the outgoing president, George Peat ââ?¬â?? and has enough of a task to assemble the necessary resolutions for consideration at the annual general meeting on June 7 without having to help prepare a defamation suit against a prominent public figure. Certainly words were said on both sides this week that greatly exceeded intentions or capacity to deliver. McBride will tell Regan that he does not believe ââ?¬â?? and did not intend to convey ââ?¬â?? that there is bigotry or institutional bias against Celtic within the SFA. However, he is likely maintain his insistence that the disciplinary proceedings that this week heard the cases of the Rangers trio Ally McCoist, Madjid Bougherra and El Hadji Diouf resulted in outcomes which most people ââ?¬â?? this correspondent included ââ?¬â?? believe to be skewed and that the Ibrox club have been the beneficiaries of deficiencies in the process of football justice. On the other side, there was never any danger that the SFA would sue the newspapers and broadcasters who relayed McBrideââ?¬â?¢s criticism to their audiences. Leaving aside the PR meltdown that would have resulted from trying to claim damages from every publisher, TV and radio outlet involved ââ?¬â?? never mind the independent websites and news agencies which carried the story ââ?¬â?? it is a certainty that every one of them would have presented the public interest defence. A leading QC accuses the governing body of football in Scotland of bias, dishonesty, hypocrisy and incompetence ââ?¬â?? on what grounds could any editor or producer decline to report that indictment? As for suing McBride himself, you can be sure that had the SFA gone head to head with McBride in his natural arena the result would have been bloody and costly. The courtroom is an adversarial arena and the SFA would have presented a much larger target for McBride than he would have done for the SFA. Since the art of administration is to balance enforcement with compromise, a ruling body runs a perpetual risk of being accused of double dealing, political manoeuvring and partiality. An accusation of naked bias, however, is another matter entirely and all the more so in the context of Scottish football and its domination by the behemoths of Celtic and Rangers. The Daily Telegraph yesterday exclusively revealed the rationale behind the disciplinary committeeââ?¬â?¢s decisions in respect of McCoist, Bougherra and Diouf. It might be felt that the right reasons produced the wrong verdict but Paul McBride knows better than most that the same phenomenon is also an unremarkable product of the system that gives him his living. And while he is aggrieved that Bougherra was not banned for laying hands on the referee and can cite a long list of players who have been suspended for that offence, what mââ?¬â?¢learned friend cannot do is offer a single instance where the referee involved actually entered a plea in mitigation on behalf of the offender. Frankly, that fact would have been the focus of attention and argument had McBride not diverted attention with his explosive comments. Calum Murray could have stated in his report quite simply that Bougherra had manhandled him. The outcome would unquestionably have been a ban for the Rangers defender. Instead, Murray declared that, as I disclosed, Bougherra had taken his left wrist ââ?¬Å?in a pleading gesture not to be sent offââ?¬Â. Murrayââ?¬â?¢s intervention ââ?¬â?? and the fact that he told the committee that, at worst, Bougherraââ?¬â?¢s action was worth no more than a yellow card ââ?¬â?? immediately precluded a lengthy suspension for the player. That, and the fact that that there was a QC in the room, who would instantly have demanded to know what precedent the SFA could cite for imposing a swingeing ban on the basis of a caution. Diouf was likewise not mentioned by the referee for having gone to the Rangers support and throwing his jersey into their ranks after being shown a red card. The police did not take action against him, complain or comment to the SFA. Again, while you and I might suppose the SFA should have had Diouf on a disrepute charge, his QC would have asked for precedent. As far as one can judge from the deliberations that went on, the committeeââ?¬â?¢s caution - timidity, even ââ?¬â?? was practically guaranteed by McBrideââ?¬â?¢s successful intervention on behalf of Neil Lennon over the issue of whether the Celtic manager should serve suspensions concurrently or consecutively. At any rate, while the arguments and conspiracy theories rage on, mainly in the obsessive world of Old Firm websites, McBride will speak his conciliatory words to Regan. Peace in our time? One would like to think so. On the other hand, during John Reidââ?¬â?¢s time as chairman at Parkhead, Celtic have become political street fighters, as Regan has discovered the hard way. I am sure that the presence of the Baron Reid of Cardowan and the adoption of a mixture of bare-knuckle tactics and the appearance of proxy spokesmen for the club is all mere coincidence. But Iââ?¬â?¢ll bet the RAF would like to have as much operational capacity as the squadron of pigs which just flew overhead. Meanwhile, we look forward to the photographs of Paul McBride and Stewart Regan shaking hands with the relief of men who have just wrestled on a precipice - and realised how jagged are the rocks below. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/scottish-premier/8452543/Paul-McBride-to-make-peace-with-Stewart-Regan-and-SFA-over-Rangers-rant.html

I never seen that one mate,cheers.

out of interest,has anybody listened/watched the games back???.

I agree there are certain songs that the Rangers fans should not be singing,however it is only because of the MOPES that they are now illegal,also make no mistake here that a lot of this happened because Rangers FC has allowed these songs to be banned,what songs will the MOPES be offended by next??,again a real question as they will not stop until they have done as much damage to Rangers FC as they possibly can due to their sad,bitter existence. I do wonder what they would be complaining about if Rangers were non existent. Now is the time to start a real fight but sadly we as Rangers fans can't agree on the colour of shite,so hopefuly Rangers FC wake up and smell the coffee otherwise we will continualy be hunted until we have no songs left to sing.

A big can of worms has been opened IMO,and the BHEASTS have opened it,make no mistake of that fact,there will be repercussions and it WILL come back and bite the bitter,twisted scummy BASTARDS.

I'm going for a win tomorrow,no surprise there eh?. The Champions 3 Jelavic 2,Lafferty St Midden 0 :spl:

This whole senario is such a pile of shite,if Rangers have any decent lawyers I'm convinced they could drive a big hole through this FARE shite as it is already clear to me,and I know feck all about them,that they have an agenda against Rangers FC. I aint no lawyer but the this stinks.

Rangers disciplinary proceedings opened Published: Friday 15 April 2011, 10.00CET Disciplinary proceedings have been launched against Rangers FC in relation to the Scottish club's UEFA Europa League round of 16 first and second-leg games against PSV Eindhoven. UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Rangers FC with respect to last month's UEFA Europa League round of 16 first and second-leg matches between the Scottish club and PSV Eindhoven. Rangers are to face charges of discriminatory behaviour relating to chanting by their supporters at the above-mentioned matches on 10 and 17 March. Both cases will be heard by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body on Thursday 28 April. http://www.uefa.com/uefa/footballfirst/matchorganisation/disciplinary/news/newsid=1620449.html

http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/2011/04/dark-forces-at-work-against-rangers.html

Aye,decent enough for me as well

Paul McBride QC today refused to back down in his war with the SFA – and opted to launch another stinging broadside at chief executive Stewart Regan. Regan released a statement last night threatening legal action after McBride had said the governing body were institutionally dysfunctional, intellectually dishonest and institutionally incapable of coming to reasonable and consistent decisions in the wake of the Disciplinary Commitee’s punishments handed out to Rangers trio Ally McCoist, Madjid Bougherra and El-Hadji Diouf. “It (the SFA) has no credibility whatsoever,” McBride said today. “Nobody now can rely on it at all, and I think even Stewart Regan recognises that himself. I also find it somewhat astonishing that that SFA chief executive, who recently complained about the amount of money being spent on legal advice, has decided to embark on this course of action. Mr Regan must consider if he is fit to be in the job which he apparently has.” In their statement, which noted McBride does not act on behalf of or as a spokesman for Celtic or their manager Neil Lennon, the SFA said they would be making a formal complaint to the Faculty of Advocates. McBride responded by claiming that, as a QC, he could not speak on behalf of anyone else, but that, as a member of the public, he was entitled to make what he would consider to be fair comment. He said of the SFA statement: “My first reaction was it was a missing page of a Monty Python sketch. It is hilarious and ludicrous and bizarre. In the unlikely event that they were mad enough to take legal action against me – and apparently every media outlet who has printed what I said – then I would look forward to vigorously defending my position. “The comments I made about them were fair, they were accurate, they were in the public interest. And the public, I think, would be interested – in the unlikely event of this going to court – seeing behind this inept, incredulous and Neanderthal organisation. “I think I’m entitled, as an ordinary member of the public, to make my views clear, as have journalists all over the country and people on various phone-ins, including Kenny Clark, a former Grade One referee who said their decisions were incompetent and he envisaged the possibility of referees going on strike.” http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/paul-mcbride-takes-aim-again-1.1096405

The SFAââ?¬â?¢S Disciplinary Committee were left with no option but to effectively slap the wrists of Rangers trio Ally McCoist, El-Hadji Diouf and Madjid Bougherra ââ?¬â?? after no evidence was presented that could allow them to impose stiffer penalties. Details have emerged of what went on at Hampden on Tuesday, when the Ibrox three appeared to explain their conduct in the now infamous Old Firm ââ?¬Ë?shame gameââ?¬â?¢ on March 2. McCoist was cleared of any wrongdoing after his touchline spat with Neil Lennon, who didnââ?¬â?¢t appeal his charge and accepted a four-game ban. Diouf was fined Ã?£5000 after he was sent off at time-up, Bougherra was fined Ã?£2500 for manhandling referee Calum Murray as he tried to send him off, with both players severely censured and warned about their future conduct. The punishments dished out were in stark contrast to the hard line SFA chief Stewart Regan promised to take in the immediate aftermath of the game ââ?¬â?? and has led to claims of ââ?¬Ë?biasââ?¬â?¢ from the QC who has represented Celtic in two high- profile battles with the governing body already this season, Paul McBride. Rangers were represented by their own high-powered three- strong legal team ââ?¬â?? headed up by Alistair Clark QC ââ?¬â?? and the three cases broke down like this ... McCOIST There was no evidence presented against McCoist to back up the SFA charge of misconduct. The Disciplinary Committee looked at TV footage of the moment when he and Lennon shook each otherââ?¬â?¢s hands at time-up. McCoist said something in the Celtic managerââ?¬â?¢s ear, to which Lennon reacted. McCoistââ?¬â?¢s comment was not heard by the referee or fourth official ââ?¬â?? and was not cited in the charge against him. The TV pictures shows Lennon pointing his finger at McCoistââ?¬â?¢s face, but there was no movement from the Gers No.2 ââ?¬â?? and that ensured the success of his appeal. BOUGHERRA The Algerian grabbed Murrayââ?¬â?¢s wrist as he tried to show him a second yellow card, but the officialââ?¬â?¢s report says that the player did so ââ?¬Å?in a pleading gesture not to be sent offââ?¬Â. It did not, therefore, constitute violent or threatening conduct. The Committee also heard evidence from Murray which downplayed the incident. DIOUF The Algerian was cautioned for his part in bumping into the Celtic physio as he ran on to the park, and for being involved in a touchline spat with Lennon during the first half. He was then given a second yellow, and subsequent red, for comments made to Murray at time up. He was not mentioned in the refereeââ?¬â?¢s report as requiring any further action to be taken, with Murray happy that he had dealt with Diouf adequately at the time. Rangersââ?¬â?¢ legal team argued that there ââ?¬Ë?is no rule to say a player has to leave the field when his red card was shown after play has endedââ?¬â?¢. Given that Murray had not reported him for any additional misconduct, nor had the police reported the player to the match official despite an officer attempting to stop him from throwing his jersey into the crowd, the Disciplinary Committee had no evidence to impose anything more than a fine. Meanwhile, it emerged today that Willie Young, the former whistler who was refereesââ?¬â?¢ supervisor on the night, wanted Bougherra hit with a hefty ban for his actions. In another move, the SFA could be set to replace the Disciplinary Committee with a compliance officer whose job will be to flag up incidents within 48 hours of them happening and implement new procedures to avoid repeats of this seasonââ?¬â?¢s emabarassments. The appointment could be rubber stamped at the SFA AGM in June. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/why-rangers-trio-escaped-bans-1.1096389

I think Whittaker deserves a mention,he has played all over the park this season and while he may not be evryones cup of tea he just gets on with it and has looked quite comfortable at CB,he was excellent last night,of course a lot of that will be down to SDOW helping him,but his input desrves credit

Not yet mate. Will season ticket renewal affect the take over in any way??,what I mean is will Whyte be waiting to see what ticket sales are made??,or does it not have any bearing at all?.

Prso was never described as pacy either

I think he is still to reach peak fitness,maybe after a good pre-season we will see a much better/quicker Jelavic ???.

Dougie Vipond asked him "Celtic have said in the past couple of weeks that there's no war with the SFA. Have things changed now?" McBride answered "No, there is no war with the SFA. There never was a war with the SFA". So to borrow a phrase from the Queen's Counsel, 'any sensible person' would have to draw the conclusion that he is speaking on behalf of Celtc FC, no?

More shite from the desperate BHEASTS. Whyte keeps his cards very close to his chest,so much so that nobody knows what he is worth I would imagine.

Not forgetting his sublime free kick last week against Accies. I don't mind any player using Rangers as a steppting srone because if they get their move it's because they are playing good enough to earn one.

http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/2011/04/creep-linked-to-uefa-probe.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKAG1Xrh2qA

Look John,I know,and everybody knows,the pain you are all feeling right now,it's tough,it's hard to take,but just relax,take deep breaths and count to ten. Feeling better John?, right,here's the facts, your wee buddy Lennon is a complete and utter turd with a history of agressive behaviour and his anger will be triggered by the slightest thing,he's on the edge,whereas Mr Mcoist is such a pleasant,funny,good natured angel and his history all through his playing career and as a top sky sports summariser tells you what a decent bloke he is and would never harm anyone or cause trouble,he's also a good and practising christian. All he probably said to Lennon was thanks for a good game and I'll see you next time. There,feel better now John?.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, the pain they are feeling gives me such a warm feeling

I'm sure when anybody is standing in the dock the judge/jury would want to know the persons past history before making judgement???