Today the British Prime Minister sacked the Conservative Party chair Nadhim Zahawi from the government.
This came after an investigation found he had been insufficiently open about a tax probe which he settled while being Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Actually, Sunak had no real choice after receiving this report from Sir Laurie Magnus CBE.
File under “bang to rights”.
This was yet another example of the Fourth Estate in the Westminster village being up to the task.
Indeed, Zahawi himself, in his self-pitying letter to the Prime Minister, actually referenced them in his letter.
Just like the folks in the Blue Room over the years, there is no acceptance of culpability from Zahawi.
The fact that he was in charge of HMRC while receiving a penalty from them is pure Malcolm Tucker territory.
Yesterday it was another match where the club playing their home games at Ibrox were the beneficiaries of several game-changing decisions.
At this point, the Fitba Fourth Estate must have collective whiplash from averting their eyes in unison.
If only synchronized looking away was an Olympic sport!
Even that nice Mr Beale conceded that “one or two decisions went in our favour”.
Well, you can sing that, Mickey!
Yet the whole of Planet Fitba just shrugs and moves on.
It is just how it is.
That might not be the case if the local media did their job.
If fully functioning journalism can force the hand of a Prime Minister to sack Zahawi because that is what happened today in London, then the SFA should not be immune from journalistic scrutiny.
Your humble correspondent stepped into this area in 2010.
Although the local media covered the sacking of Hugh Dallas, the journalist who broke the story was never mentioned by the succulent ones on the sports desks.
The Guardian saw it differently and commissioned me to write this piece about how I got the scoop.
It was newsworthy because real journalism in Scottish football is so rare.
It is fair to say that the league title is probably gone for this campaign.
However, the second place still gives Sevco another crack at the riches of the Champions League next season.
Someone at Hearts should look at the current league table and work out just how close they would be to the second spot if these fortuitous officiating errors were not happening with such regularity.
Dear reader, incompetence has no pattern.
Yet Sevco’s low calories cousins seem to be ok with a state of affairs that means the Champions League music will not be heard at Tynecastle.
When I looked into the tax affairs of the original Rangers the year after the Dallas scoop, I seemed to be the only journalist working on that story.
I have never thought and never claimed that I got information that was somehow beyond the chaps on the sports desks.
What WAS the case was that I almost certainly was the only NUJ member who wanted to publish stories about what was going on in the Blue Room apropos their tax situation.
In the penultimate year of their existence, the original Rangers should not have been granted a UEFA licence as they owed HMRC monies for what became known as the Wee Tax Case.
All of the forensically sound evidence for that assertion can be found here in this archive.
The failure of the SFA to discharge their duties in this matter denied Hearts a chance at the Champions League.
That was a major story for the local media to dig into.
Yet succulent protocols meant that they, in unison, looked the other way.
When the Fourth Estate knowingly looks the other way in any situation in order to protect the powerful, then they constitute something of a Fifth Collum.
Not a good look.
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Craig Levein was the last manager to properly call out ludicrous decisions by refs especially at Ibrox but that was way back in 2008 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlFpHriMd8A
What’s changed since then? Nothing to be honest if anything it’s got worse. Worth noting too that opposition managers hardly mentioning incidents when they should be foaming at the mouth and in recent weeks we have seen some highly dubious decisions that went against Aberdeen in the League Cup semi and St Johnstone a few days ago at Ibrox but what chance do we have when managers not challenging these crazy decisions because it risks them being banned fir a few games from the dugout or enduring the wrath of the klan probably.
Phil, your point about the Media in Scotland failing in its duty to highlight and forensically discuss matters of Sevco, is well made and accurate.
Therefore ,for anyone to say that Willie Collum’s display in the St. Johnstone game was unacceptable…falls way short of what needs to be said.
I would, therefore, draw your attention to a recent article by your goodself…in which you provide a link to a Craig Levein interview…which he gave after a similar type encounter when manager of Dundee Utd.
Now for the avoidance of doubt…I am no big fan of Mr. Levein…but I do think that Scottish Mangers in general…and Callum Davidson in particular, should take time out to watch the clip…and then consider bringing it into their lives.
( I also urge readers here as well, who perhaps haven’t seen it…to do so.)
The St. Johnstone manager will never have a better opportunity to highlight the obvious wrong decisions made by Collum…and state why.
Will it happen…??…I seriously doubt it.
But unless all Clubs are prepared to call out obvious “biased ” decisions when they arise…then the Fourth Estate will continue to pretend that nothing is wrong in our game…will remain silent…and Sevco will continue to flourish.
Shouldn’t there be a European Penalty Kick Cup…. presented by Tom Daley. That would go down a scream with the uniformed types at Ibrox.
No need to worry.
The SFA CEO, Ian Maxwell – with his O-grade in woodwork – will sort it all out.
Alternativey, President Petrie – the author of the 5 Way Agreement – will help Maxwell to look the other way.
As ever, the SFA itself is the root of all evil in the Scottish game.
Celtic are as much to blame for the current state of affairs as anyone. They allowed the Five Way Agreement to be implemented without so much as a whimper of protest.
ANYONE who didn’t see this coming down the either blind, stupid, happy about the situation, or any combination of the three.
The fact that neither DD nor PL is/was blind or stupid leaves only one conclusion.
The constant “Celtic have called for clarification from the SFA”, “Celtic have expressed their surprise to the SFA”, “Celtic have noted with interest”, bullshit, mealy-mouthed statements, regularly regurgitated as though the hierarchy actually believe that this will satisfy the fans, is clear proof of their complicity.
You have regularly commented Phil that the Celtic fans are no longer willing to accept the ‘back of the bus’ mentality, and I completely agree. That message does not seem to have got through to the Board.
Until the other clubs say enough is enough, nothing will happen. There will be no change in how Scottish football is governed. Sponsorship will continue to dwindle
The journalists and commentators bemoan the lack of consistency in referees and VAR decisions.
All the evidence would point to the opposite conclusion with consistency of decisions being the problem when Rangers are involved. Maybe if journalists care not to see this they shouldn’t ask our canine friends in the street who I am sure would see it.
I do not support either Rangers or Celtic and have no dog or interest in fights between these two clubs. I still personally think this consistency is more down to officials on park being incredibly weak but I understand why fans of other clubs will be suspicious. I do think that Scotland should follow England and get referees to declare if they have a strong affiliation with any particular club eg been a season ticket holder or supporters club member and this should exclude them from refereeing that club. I am not sure it will help outcomes but it would help remove suspicion and doubt.
Two thoughts in the one day! How about the opposition fans boycotting games against Sevco claiming it is a foregone conclusion that they will lose due to cheating. Would make European headlines and grab the attention of
the wider authorities while not harming their clubs financially too much. Could fan groups organise such a thing?
You wonder how far down they would be without the help? It must be near the middle of the league.