The future for Rangers and Scottish football.

[wabashcannonball 0]

How do you see our future in particular and that of Scottish football in general, is there hope of greater or better things to come, or are we consigned for the foreseeable future to life in the backwaters.

 

I doubt we or the game here in general can expect any encouragement from the powers that be ....SFA or European bodies, to hear 'enry spoutin about �£500 million to put our situation Scottish fitba that is onto some sort of equilibrium, is to me somewhat embarrassing, are the same people who brought us to this position going to be entrusted with repairing the damage they are still causing.

 

I think the major Euro teams will eventually break free in a sort of Euro Premier League situation, but will we get an invite ?

 

The trouble with our game is that everything takes so long to implement, that wouldn't be tolerated in any other business where money and future are at stake.

 

It is way beyond time for Scottish football to be run by one body, to many blazer wearing freeloaders, who do nothing for the game except take out of it, and time for two leagues of twenty or there abouts.

[rbr 1,247]

How do you see our future in particular and that of Scottish football in general, is there hope of greater or better things to come, or are we consigned for the foreseeable future to life in the backwaters.

 

I doubt we or the game here in general can expect any encouragement from the powers that be ....SFA or European bodies, to hear 'enry spoutin about �£500 million to put our situation Scottish fitba that is onto some sort of equilibrium, is to me somewhat embarrassing, are the same people who brought us to this position going to be entrusted with repairing the damage they are still causing.

 

I think the major Euro teams will eventually break free in a sort of Euro Premier League situation, but will we get an invite ?

The trouble with our game is that everything takes so long to implement, that wouldn't be tolerated in any other business where money and future are at stake.

 

It is way beyond time for Scottish football to be run by one body, to many blazer wearing freeloaders, who do nothing for the game except take out of it, and time for two leagues of twenty or there abouts.

 

 

 

That will be the crux of any future financial break through , one thing we do have is a following throughout not just Europe but world wide and any future breakaway league will require teams that have the greatest draw possible.

 

No one can tell me that a Birmingham or Stoke deserve the money they get through the teams they are , they are just in the fortunate position that they play in the richest league in the world , one that believes in equal share for all (with the exception of the prize money for league position) .

No other league in Europe operates in this way I believe with many leagues and clubs allowed to negotiate their own TV deals , Barcelona , Juventus , Real Madrid to name but three , however even these clubs with their riches are finding it hard to compete as the absolutely crazy fees and wages they are paying cannot be met by their incomes , even the C/L does not pay percentage wise what it did even just a few years ago .

 

Now if Platini's plans for 6 home plus 5 away players is finally introduced the season after next ( and it has been signed up for by not just FIFA but every UEFA country also ) then things will certainly change and rapidly , within three years the shape of European football will be totally different to the model we now watch , whether we are involved at this or not only time will tell .

[rbr 1,247]

Scottish football clubs could feel the heat under European Commission debt proposals, according to an international law firm.

 

HBJ Gateley Wareing has said the EC could force clubs to reduce the levels of debt they currently hold.

 

In Scotland, Rangers FC has debts of about �£25m and Scottish football overall has debts of more than �£100m.

 

The legal firm said one reason that clubs were feeling the financial strain was ever greater transfer fees.

 

Under the 300-page EU rulebook, which came into force in December last year, the European Commission gained a greater say in the area of sport.

 

The commissioner, Androulla Vassiliou, plans to publish a communication outlining a new EU framework for co-operation in sport later this year.

 

She has said the commission could try to reduce the currently high levels of debt carried by some European football clubs, especially in the UK and Spain.

 

Simon Catto of HBJ Gateley Wareing said: "These are challenging times for many football clubs, and concerns are being raised by some bodies over the role of UEFA and potential interference by the European Commission on the debt levels experienced by many football clubs."

 

Great timing Wabash

[wabashcannonball 0]

The timing was fortunate to say the least, .... but Uefa may find themselves kyboshed by another Bosman type case....freedom of trade for clubs as well as players. Fitba' is a business now like any other....... if governments can't or won't cap bankers pay and bonuses, I don't see much hope of Uefa winning any court case to force it or those capping ideas on football clubs. Uefa has proven itself to be about as tuned in as the SFA.

[Zappa 0]

The timing was fortunate to say the least, .... but Uefa may find themselves kyboshed by another Bosman type case....freedom of trade for clubs as well as players. Fitba' is a business now like any other....... if governments can't or won't cap bankers pay and bonuses, I don't see much hope of Uefa winning any court case to force it or those capping ideas on football clubs. Uefa has proven itself to be about as tuned in as the SFA.

.

It's national associations that would do the enforcing though, not UEFA directly. All UEFA have to do is write out a document designed to force or at least pressure the national associations to cap salaries and it will be largely adhered to. Only the biggest clubs and greediest players would even try to boycott it.

[wabashcannonball 0]

.

It's national associations that would do the enforcing though, not UEFA directly. All UEFA have to do is write out a document designed to force or at least pressure the national associations to cap salaries and it will be largely adhered to. Only the biggest clubs and greediest players would even try to boycott it.

 

It doesn't matter who attempts to do it, national associations had to bow to the Bosman ruling, as they would most likely have to bow to a club ruling given by the European court. Uefa are to all intents and purposes "aw mooth an nae troosers".........

[rbr 1,247]

The great arguement has always been and will always be what is the greater , FIFA , the governing body or the European union , if all the countries that are affiliated through their various associations accept ,which they have , this rule then how can UEFA go against it .

 

Also the English are already starting to implement this , the following article was written last Sept :

 

The Premier League will introduce a squad cap of 25 players and a quota on home-grown players from next season, chief executive Richard Scudamore has confirmed.

 

The 20 clubs met last Thursday to agree the introduction of a home-grown player rule, which will take effect at the start of next term, and the immediate implementation of financial reporting rules. "As of next season clubs will be required to have a squad named of up to 25 players, of which no more than 17 can be over the age of 21 and not home grown," said Scudamore.

 

"The definition of home grown is trained for three years under the age of 21 by somebody in the English and Welsh professional system. Clubs will have to declare their 25 at the end of August when the window shuts and then again at the end of January."

 

Scudamore denies the move will encourage clubs to hoard young foreign players and claims the England team will ultimately reap the reward. "It's not in the club's interests to stockpile players. It will make buying home-grown talent more attractive," he said.

 

"We're not going down the route of a nationality test but what this will mean is that you just can't buy a team from abroad. We think it will give clubs an extra incentive to invest in youth. We think that one of the benefits will be that it will help the England team."

 

All 20 Premier League members also agreed to adhere to a set of financial reporting rules designed to protect the viability and sustainability of the clubs. "They will all have to annually submit accounts and future financial information," said Scudamore.

 

"At all times the board of the Premier League will be applying a test which basically says this: can the club fulfil its fixtures, pay off its creditors when they are due and also to meet obligations to the Premier League's contracts and partners?

 

"If the board believe a club is at risk of not meeting those obligations, it has to then step in and agree a budget for the running of that club. Any transfers can be embargoed. It's absolutely crucial that these clubs are run as ongoing viable concerns. These financial rules apply immediately.

 

"This is tied in, and we passed the rule during the summer, to a 'fit and proper person test'. At our club meeting last week, the clubs absolutely endorsed our position of not linking expenditure to income."

[wabashcannonball 0]

It would appear that rules of footballing bodies will always be subject to the greater laws of elected governments, be they European or indigenous.

[rbr 1,247]

FROM REUTERSEU backs UEFA homegrown in bid to avert FIFA quotas vote

Darren Ennis

BRUSSELS

Wed May 28, 2008 3:41am EDTBRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission formally backed UEFA's "home-grown player rule" on Wednesday in a bid to avert controversial FIFA plans to curb the number of foreigners at soccer clubs which Brussels said is illegal.

 

Sports

 

The EU executive hopes the move will be enough of an olive branch for soccer's world governing body to ditch Friday's vote on president Sepp Blatter's "6+5 rule", which limits the number of foreign players starting any club match to five.

 

"After intensive discussion, in-depth analysis and a report carried out by the European Commission, I can for the first time say that UEFA's so-called homegrown player rule is compatible with EU rules concerning free movement of workers," EU Sports Commissioner Jan Figel told Reuters in a telephone interview.

 

"I do not tell FIFA what to do ... but the FIFA rule which is currently on the table constitutes a clear direct discrimination based on nationality which is against EU laws.

 

"We think the UEFA rule is the best rule, but I can now offer even more intense and open dialogue with Sepp Blatter."

 

UEFA's home-grown player rule sets a quota of locally-trained players at clubs but without any discrimination on nationality. But FIFA had said it opposed the rule arguing it encourages recruitment at a young age.

 

"The rules adopted by UEFA are necessary and proportionate. We cannot see any need for additional rules such imposing further restrictions on the transfer of young players," Figel said.

 

On Tuesday, Blatter said despite EU opposition he would forge ahead with his plans after FIFA's executive committee backed "the objectives of 6+5", which soccer's top official believes will ensure the sport's growth and prevent a handful of rich clubs dominating honors.

 

NEW SCENARIOS

 

But UEFA officials said the move by Brussels may persuade the FIFA chief not to put the issue to a vote at the congress in Sydney, thus avoiding a showdown with the EU and placing the European governing body in a difficult position.

 

"The key word is objective. The home-grown player rule achieves most of the objectives of 6+5, so hopefully Blatter will see this as a compromise, at least in Europe," one senior UEFA official told Reuters.

 

The UEFA officials said Blatter now faces a number of possible scenarios:

 

-- go ahead with Friday's vote, angering the EU and forcing a confrontation with UEFA boss and ally Michel Platini who said his organization will not pursue 6+5 on legal grounds.

 

-- vote on 6+5 with the exception of Europe, which UEFA says is workable, but others say will lead to future complications for FIFA.

 

-- replace his 6+5 with UEFA's homegrown player formula

 

-- postpone the vote for a year and have further discussions with the various confederations.

 

Whatever Blatter decides, UEFA, which only enforces its home-grown player rule in its own club competitions such as the Champions League, said it would not be asking its associations to automatically impose its rule domestically.

 

"That is something for them to decide themselves. They now know if they want to, they can without contravening any EU laws," a spokesman for UEFA said.

[rbr 1,247]

Rama Yade: France will be up to the task(FIFA.com) Tuesday 30 March 2010

Print Email my friend Share

 

France’s Secretary of State for Sport, Rama Yade, paid a visit to the Home of FIFA in Zurich on Monday, 29 March, 2010. One of the rising stars of French politics, Yade was appointed to the government in May 2007 as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights. Since moving posts just under a year ago, the 33-year-old has been responsible for the future prospects of French sport in general and football in particular.

 

Following a recent tour of South Africa in January, where she visited the Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, the Secretary of State met with FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter on Monday. The meeting notably provided an opportunity to discuss the 2010 edition of the FIFA World Cup™, which is being held on African soil for the first time.

 

 

The French public is quite demanding, which is completely natural. However, we have to get fully behind the team and leave Raymond Domenech alone to get on with the job.France’s Secretary of State for Sport Rama Yade on the chances of Les Bleus

 

 

The event is a powerful symbol for Yade, who was born in Dakar, in Senegal. "It’s a source of pride for all Africans to welcome this major competition,” said the French politician. "The continent will have the chance to feel that it can play a leading role on the international stage and promote a positive image."

 

When asked about France’s chances in the competition, the Secretary of State said that she was fairly confident. “The players will prove that they are up to the task of competing in this great tournament. The French public is quite demanding, which is completely natural. However, we have to get fully behind the team and leave Raymond Domenech alone to get on with the job."

 

Finally, to round off this first visit to Zurich, at the home of world football’s governing body, Rama Yade assured President Blatter of her support for the 6+5 rule. “I’m delighted that things are progressing well. The 6+5 rule is important because it will enable young people to identify with professional sport and to have the opportunity to shine at the top level in their own country. It’s a plan which is equally paramount for clubs' sense of identity."