ian1964 10,457 Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 By EWING GRAHAME Published on Monday 8 April 2013 00:43 ANNAN Athletic chairman Henry McClelland believes that the court case started by former Celtic star Harry Hoodâ??s pub business can bring down the SPL â?? and he fears that they could take the rest of Scottish football with them if reconstruction goes ahead. Six years ago the SPL used a court order to prevent Hoodâ??s Angels bar in Uddingston from using a Polish decoder to show live matches. The SPL had previously granted rights to Polish broadcasters Polstat to transmit their games in 2006 and 2007. However, in a similar court case involving the Red, White and Blue bar in Portsmouth and Sky TV last year, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that banning the use of foreign decoders and smart cards was a restriction of competition. In the light of that decision, Hoodâ??s company, Lisini Pub Management, is suing the SPL for £1,761,749. Last month Lord Woolman of the Supreme Court dismissed the SPLâ??s attempt to have the claim refused. â??An EC citizen living in say Germany should not be prevented from obtaining a signal from Sky, BBC, RAI, Nova or Polsat,â? he said. â??In my view the ECJ has held that the object of such agreements is to restrict competition.â? The judge stated there will be another hearing to establish how this case progresses â?? but McClelland believes that this could be the first of many claims against the SPL from other bars who were prevented from using foreign decoders. And he reckons the potential cost to the top division could persuade enough Scottish League clubs to torpedo their plans for reconstruction when members vote on the issue at Hampden on 19 April. â??It can certainly reflect the way we vote, if we believe that there is sufficient risk,â? he said. â??Could this open the floodgates? That would open the door for someone to act on behalf of other pubs which have gone down the same route and they could bring the same litigation forward. It could bring the SPL down. http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/top-football-stories/harry-hood-s-pub-could-bring-down-spl-1-2882311 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappa 0 Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Henry McClelland is a smart man if he's concerned about this. The other SFL chairmen should think about it carefully too. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real PapaBear 0 Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Just a wee question: If the SPL goes tits up and the clubs in it have no league to play in, wouldn't the SFL then become Scotland's top league? and with it entry into UEFA competitions? And wouldn't the magnificent 12 have to apply to join the SFL at the bottom? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darthter 542 Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Just a wee question: If the SPL goes tits up and the clubs in it have no league to play in, wouldn't the SFL then become Scotland's top league? and with it entry into UEFA competitions? And wouldn't the magnificent 12 have to apply to join the SFL at the bottom? VERY valid points. Sporting integrity would prevent a new TOP division being created to accommodate them. In order to accommodate the extra 12 teams, the SFL would need to create a new BOTTOM league, but then there could be complaints from other teams looking to join.... Could make for some interesting TV deals from SKY. Partick Thistle or Morton would become Scottish Champs!!!! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappa 0 Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Just a wee question: If the SPL goes tits up and the clubs in it have no league to play in, wouldn't the SFL then become Scotland's top league? and with it entry into UEFA competitions? And wouldn't the magnificent 12 have to apply to join the SFL at the bottom? VERY valid points. Sporting integrity would prevent a new TOP division being created to accommodate them. In order to accommodate the extra 12 teams, the SFL would need to create a new BOTTOM league, but then there could be complaints from other teams looking to join.... Could make for some interesting TV deals from SKY. Partick Thistle or Morton would become Scottish Champs!!!! The SFA would throw sporting integrity out of the window and step in to save the SPL claiming that it needed to be done for the sake of sporting integrity. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darthter 542 Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 The SFA would throw sporting integrity out of the window and step in to save the SPL claiming that it needed to be done for the sake of sporting integrity. while still finding somehow to stick the boot into us.... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
foggy dewhurst 0 Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 would be nice to see the spl getting it right up them:laugh: 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,290 Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Just a wee question: If the SPL goes tits up and the clubs in it have no league to play in, wouldn't the SFL then become Scotland's top league? and with it entry into UEFA competitions? And wouldn't the magnificent 12 have to apply to join the SFL at the bottom? A wee counter-question: Why do you think the SPL does its utmost to push the reconstruction through at any cost right now? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real PapaBear 0 Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 A wee counter-question: Why do you think the SPL does its utmost to push the reconstruction through at any cost right now? <twiddles moustache ponderingly>hmmm , I see what you're getting at Holmes, and by Jove I think you may be on to something!</twiddles moustache ponderingly> 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gisabeer 409 Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 the SPL are doing a very good job destroying their business all by them selves. they dont need any help in that department! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.