A few hours after the final whistle in Rotterdam I contacted the UEFA Media Relations office.
This is what I sent to Switzerland:
Hello
I am a journalist and I have questions about the match between Feyenoord and Rangers in the Europa League.
Has either of these clubs been cited for disciplinary breaches during this match?
For the use of pyrotechnics?
For illicit banners?
For discriminatory chanting?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Many thanks
Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
I did not have to wait long for their reply.
Indeed they only took 21 hours to get back to me:
UEFA Media Relations
Fri, 29 Nov, 15:15
Dear Phil,
We acknowledge receipt of your email. We will notify you once all the reports from aforementioned game have been reviewed.
Kind regards,
UEFA Media & Public Relations.
It is worth noting how prompt and professionally courteous they are to this journalist in Ireland.
This is in marked contrast to the world-class administrators on the 6th floor at Hampden.
To give you one example, I have been pursuing an important legacy matter with the SFA apropos the HMRC investigation into Rangers.
For the record here is the question that I submitted on August 28th this year to the chaps at Hampden:
What date in 2009 was the SFA served with a third party notice under schedule 36 of the finance act (2008) by HMRC regarding Rangers FC?
These poor fellows in Glasgow must be snowed under with work as they have yet to reply to me despite frequent email nudges sent to them by your humble correspondent.
I can only, therefore, surmise that the UEFA chaps don’t have too much to do with their time if they can be so prompt with me.
Presumably, a Champion League Group stage week must be an especially quiet time at Nyon…
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The fans keep the SFA and clubs afloat so as long they turn up week in week out things wont change. Let 4 or 5 thousand show up on a regular basis for home games and get it out there they wont be back at Parkhead or Hampden until the cheating is addressed. Once the crowds dwindle no cash coming in only then will they waken up to it . But right now crowds continue turn up in their 10s of thousands and I blame them for buying into the big fix . Hit them where it hurts most in the pocket .
Stopped asking questions of the SFA some years ago.
If it’s a question that they don’t fancy then your letter/email goes straight into a very large bin.
One of my favourites to Maxwell, and previously Regan, was ‘ how many drug/doping tests have been carried out in the last 3 seasons.’
Simple question you would think, 2 minutes to send a reply but not a squeak from Hampden.
Why? I’ve came to the conclusion that there are zero tests being carried out and players and clubs are free to take advantage as they see fit.
Is Scottish football the only sport in the world that doesn’t have a drug problem?
I have no idea how Maxwell spends his time at Hampden. One thing’s for sure. Just like those who have preceded him he has absolutely no intention of dirtying his hands by entertaining questions from mere fans.
Too busy counting his ridiculous salary and wondering how he ever got the gig in the first place.
Friends in high places no doubt!
Phil , if the SFA won’t respond to you , can you not ask the same question to HMRC
When the SFA dies – which it will, eventually – nobody will bother their @rse to mourn this blight on Scottish football.
[Too harsh…too soft? 🙂 ]
Bob(original) I truly wish I shared your optimism!! It should’ve happened at approximately the same time their pet Klub died,alas it didn’t,as that was the optimal time for fairness and equality to break out and reign supreme.
Would you be so kind as to tell us why their end will come to pass?,…eventually.
My only hope is I live long enough to see their complete and utter capitulation,being replaced by a democratically elected body where All clubs are equal and All play without favour.
I’m not having a go in anyway whatsoever,I just want to share in your optimism🍀
Well, the SFA is a limited company, and could potentially go the same way as Rangers FC.
Currently, it’s financial outlook is not great – but Euros qualification would certainly buy the SFA some more time.
There could also be an argument that the clubs would bail out the SFA, if necessary.
Worst case scenario / most likely scenario:
a few of the blazers will stay awake long enough to realise that the SFA – as a brand – is becoming exponentially devalued and derided to the point of being a liability.
Ergo, a rebranding exercise could ‘kill off’ the SFA: the organisation is called something else, with a new mission published, and claiming to be more tuned in to supporters’ needs, etc…
but the same boll*x will probably continue and the blazers go back to sleep… until something significant changes, or another rebranding is required.
The only ‘big stick’ I can see which could beat the SFA into evolving into a 21st Century organisation is the threat of removal of public monies.
The ultimate irony: as taxpayers we are free to legitimately criticise the SFA, but we still have to subsidise this racket.
The only way (and quite feasible although unlikely) would be for the member clubs to give notice to resign membership and form their own new football association…
The SFA is another ‘entity’ which only exists through having member clubs… no members, no assets = no SFA ..
The SFA would cease to exist overnight.
It’s as simple as that.
Bob thank you for your excellent reply,full of
Thank you for a excellent reply and the info therein.I didn’t know that they were a plc.
Seems easy enough to oust them by withholding funds,though I doubt it would pan out that way.
Celtic have shown their hand this week re. Res.12,they are gutless cowards who fail to hold the pathetic sfa to task and just do the right thing.Dirty rotten money is ALL that the board care about,FQN SHAMEFUL.My auld Da will be spinning in his grave if he knew what transpired from 2012 to date.
Had them by the short n curlies only to shite oot it after it was handed to them on a plate.
Those Res.12 guys must be feqn apoplectic wae rage.My Da woulda gave them what for and then some.Sold Our collective souls for a ‘few dollars more’ I hope it comes back on them All.COWARDS.
Again,thanks for taking the time to reply,and thank you Phil for the prolific output of late,5🌟
Keep on the case Phil .Corruption and collusion is rife in this cesspit of a country. Hopefully UEFA hammer them good and proper. Shame our own Association don`t see anything wrong.What a useless shower .Doncaster , Petrie and Maxwell . The 3 stooges haven`t a look in.HH.