{"id":15585,"date":"2020-04-24T08:08:49","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T07:08:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=15585"},"modified":"2020-04-24T08:08:49","modified_gmt":"2020-04-24T07:08:49","slug":"celtic-diary-friday-april-24-the-pot-boils-over","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=15585","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Friday april 24: The Pot Boils Over"},"content":{"rendered":"

We haven’t mentioned the ranch for a few days, largely becaue there’s been nothing to say.<\/p>\n

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And they’re all rather subdued again today, as they savour the news that the club des not expect to be playing home games in front of supporters until season 21\/22.<\/p>\n

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Thats a bit of a bombshell, and it will have serious repercussions on club finances. Although one school of thought would suggest selling a player or two to balance the books, a player can only be sold if another club has the money to buy him, and if Celtic, one of the more astutley ran clubs financially is going to struggle, then what can be said about those who perhaps are not so well off ?<\/p>\n

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Not having gate revenues is a massive issue for Scottish clubs, as the television deals and sponsorship deals have not been used to their full potential, the collapsed deal with Setanta has made negotiators a little afraid to risk losing any deal that is put on the table, but as the world changes then perhaps a little more initiative is required and all ideas from all sources need to be looked at, or we may not have a league to play in.<\/p>\n

Still, there is a little bit of light amongst the gloom, “rangers ” have no chance of surviving this crisis under those circumstances, and their eradication can only add to the freshness of the air now that there’s hardly any cars about.<\/p>\n

Even in a big city, it’ll feel like living in the countryside.<\/p>\n

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This news perhaps goes some way to explain the panic at ibrox, and the demand for heads to roll at the SPFL\/SFA cabal, and though any investigation into that lot, as long as it covers the last decade or so would be welcome, it’s maybe time for all concerned to put their cards on the table and tell it like it is.<\/p>\n

Any more behind closed doors deals are unacceptable, and if clubs need hep they should so why, and be completely transparent about it.<\/p>\n

The brave new post coronavirus world needs to start afresh, not pick up where it left off.<\/p>\n

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The news also puts doubt around season book sales for next term, although with Partick now offering partial refunds for this seasons books, there is little doubt that the board of Celtic will be watched closely when they make their next announcement.<\/p>\n

The news about no crowds for over a year means that income has to be sourced from elsewhere, and that could mean they will have to earn their stipends.<\/p>\n

Even streaming behind closed doors games presents a massive problem, though with the news that Germany intends to play out the rest of their season in this way from May 9 offers encouragement, but there will be restrictions involved…. as it stands at the moment, 322 people will be allowed in the stadia, but the whole story seems mired more in hope than expectation, with Angela Merkel due to meet representatives from all sixteen German states to discuss the matter.<\/p>\n

Germany is doing better than most countries in dealing with Covid 19, but if you look closely you’ll note that there are no major outbreaks in the big metropolitan areas, and with the high communicability of this disease, Merkel will be unwilling to risk such an event..<\/p>\n

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The problem with behind closed doors is that if one player tests positive prior to the match then everyone in that team is put into isolation, leaving them unable to fulfill fixtures, and thus everything ends up back where it started.<\/p>\n

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And can we really expect fans to stay away from important matches, even if they are not allowed in ?<\/p>\n

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Should, as expected, Celtic be awarded the title in the coming days, the club will ask fans not to congregate near the ground. The thing is, fans will congregate somewhere, even if they do stay two metres apart. It’s going to be difficult to police, and don’t be surprised if the SPFL announce the conclusion of the season when no one is looking.<\/p>\n

The UEFA meeting yesterday more or less handed the initiative to the SPFL to decide how to end the season, and they will have government backing when they ask for it.<\/p>\n

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The relevant part of their statement said….<\/p>\n

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The UEFA Executive Committee met today via videoconference. It received updates on the Working Groups established in partnership with the European Club Association (ECA), European Leagues (EL) and FIFPRO Europe. Of the two scenarios being examined by the Calendar Working Group, both envisage domestic football starting before UEFA club competitions, with one seeking to run the competitions in parallel and the other to complete domestic matches before re-starting UEFA matches in August.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Committee heard of the work of the newly-established Medical sub group, chaired by Professor Tim Meyer, examining the health issues surrounding a return to football, which is working alongside the ECA and EL to link the work already being done by leagues and clubs to produce a set of guidelines which will align with the best health protocols available. The Committee valued the unity shown across European football and the emphasis being placed on prioritising health in trying to establish a path to football\u2019s return.<\/em><\/p>\n

As a result of representations made by the football authorities in Belgium and Scotland, the Committee recognises the issues raised and approved the Guidelines on eligibility principles for 2020\/21 UEFA club competitions. The Guidelines reflect the principle that admission to UEFA club competitions is always based on sporting merit.<\/em><\/p>\n

Therefore, UEFA urges National Associations and Leagues to explore all possible options to play all top domestic competitions giving access to UEFA club competitions to their natural conclusion. However, UEFA stresses that the health of players, spectators and all those involved in football as well as the public at large must remain the primary concern at this time.<\/em><\/p>\n

The ideal scenario, should the pandemic situation permit it, is to have the currently suspended domestic competitions completed enabling football clubs to qualify for UEFA club competitions on sporting merit in their original format. Should this outcome not be possible, in particular due to calendar issues, it would be preferable that suspended domestic competitions would restart with a different format in a manner which would still facilitate clubs to qualify on sporting merit.<\/em><\/p>\n

While using best efforts to complete the domestic competitions, National Associations and\/or Leagues might have legitimate reasons to prematurely terminate their domestic competitions, in particular in the following cases:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2022 existence of an official order prohibiting sports events so that the domestic competitions cannot be completed before a date that would make it possible to complete the current season in good time before the next season to start.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2022 insurmountable economic problems which make finishing the season impossible because it would put at risk the long-term financial stability of the domestic competition and\/or clubs.<\/em><\/p>\n

If a domestic competition is prematurely terminated for legitimate reasons in accordance with the above conditions, UEFA would require the National Association concerned to select clubs for the UEFA club competitions 2020\/21 based on sporting merit in the 2019\/20 domestic competitions:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2022 the procedure for selecting clubs should be based on objective, transparent and non-discriminatory principles. National Associations and Leagues, should otherwise have the ability to decide the final positions in their domestic competitions, having regard to the specific circumstances of each competition;<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2022 the final determination of eligible places for the UEFA club competitions should be confirmed by the relevant competent bodies at domestic level.<\/em><\/p>\n

UEFA reserves the right to refuse or evaluate the admission to any club proposed by a National Association from a prematurely terminated domestic competition in particular where:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2022 the domestic competitions have not been prematurely terminated based on the reasons given in these UEFA guidelines or on the basis of any other legitimate public health reasons;<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2022 the clubs were selected pursuant to a procedure which was not objective, transparent and non-discriminatory so that the selected clubs could not be considered as having been qualified on sporting merit;<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2022 there is a public perception of unfairness in the qualification of the club.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The last two make me think that the media driven narrative about the SPFL misgovernance were the foundtions for a complaint by plucky, cash strapped newcomers “rangers ”<\/p>\n

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A third line of attack for them may well have come from the Scottish Junior set up…..<\/p>\n

From the BBC…<\/p>\n

How would you feel about your team winning the title when they’re in third place, 12 points off the top and having played barely half of their league games?<\/em><\/p>\n

That’s exactly what has happened to Scottish junior club Auchinleck Talbot, who have been crowned champions of the West Region Premiership.<\/em><\/p>\n

Why? Well because the Scottish Junior Football Association have ended the league season early on a points-per-game basis with all football in Scotland suspended until at least 10 June because of the coronavirus pandemic.<\/em><\/p>\n

Talbot had earned 41 points to Kilwinning Rangers’ 53, but had no fewer than nine games in hand on their Ayrshire rivals, who had played 25 of their 30 league games. Glasgow side Pollok were second on 42 points from 22 games.<\/em><\/p>\n

But based on a formula looking at points per game average for home and away fixtures, Talbot finish as league winners.<\/em><\/p>\n

Talbot’s reward is that they get to compete in the Scottish Cup, a competition in which they reached the last 16 in 2019 after beating Championship side Ayr United.<\/em><\/p>\n

A statement from the West Junior FA committee said: “We believe we must recognise each club that would have likely gone on to win their respective league titles. Success needs to be recognised even if factors are part of the deciding process.”<\/em><\/p>\n

It has proved a controversial move, especially as it is the last title of its kind, with 63 junior clubs moving to a new West of Scotland League for next season, which allows them to go for promotion towards the SPFL.<\/em><\/p>\n

What a way to go out.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Cue the less stable of the staunch society claiming that Celtic’s thriteen point lead is irrelevant, and demands for some sort of play off between the two sides.<\/p>\n

If that took place then all positions in the league would need to be played off for, starting with a match between the bottom two to see who gets relegated, so expect Hearts to grasp at this straw as well.<\/p>\n

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But that brings us back to the original problems concerning closed door matches, and if Germany does decide to resume it’s season, the narrative for a similar ending in Scotland will be cranked up a notch.<\/p>\n

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Of course, the Junior title has been decided on average points from games played, which doesn;t suit the narrative at all for “rangers ” to claim the Senior title, but it will fuel their arguments of unfairness in the public perception, as we will see when the laptop loyal take up the challenge, and that means the argument could rumble into if not the courts, then certainly the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who must be sick of letters from Scotland by now.<\/p>\n

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Although it is the way of those who are involved in whatever way at Ibrox, this is not a time for conflict.<\/p>\n

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If Scottish football is to move forward and recover from this curent crisis, everyone needs to work together for a common cause, and above all it needs to be transparent.<\/p>\n

There is a chance that we can come out of this with a game to enjoy again, but not if thise involved in the Resolution 12 fiasco of 2011 are allowed a say in how things are done.<\/p>\n

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Yesterday, we showed you this for your consideration…<\/p>\n

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Damian GALLAGHER<\/em><\/div>\n