Block and Röhl

Celtic are the champions.

Dear reader, that is a simple fact that has many in Fair Caledonia spitting.

So much so that my Fenian happiness has been triggering for some.

The poor dears.

I can’t remember the last time I used the block function on Twitter/X so much.

Sin mar a atá…

The usual succulent suspects provide unintended entertainment, as they try to pretend that they articulate the Fourth Estate’s task of forensic scrutiny.

As regular readers will know, this member of the National Union of Journalists has been singularly unimpressed by the local media on Planet Fitba since, well, since pretty much forever.

Consequently, any time something emerges from Scotland that looks like journalism, I applaud.

For the avoidance of doubt, I do not know Ms Given or her previous work.

The reason I share the piece is that it displays an essential grasp of what makes the establishment of Celtic in the 19th century a specific cultural way marker in the creation of modern Scotland.

Closer to home, this  piece in the Irish Times by the always readable Ken Early pays due respect to  the old Irishman in the Celtic dugout.

Ken is a good people.

Our paths have crossed a few times, back in the day.

Certainly, at the Aviva Stadium covering Ireland matches and, if my old memory is serving me, before the WebSummit decanted to Lisbon.

As the Stenography Corps   do their succulent thing, the Fifth Estate on Planet Fitba continues to deliver.

Alan Morrison of the Huddle Breakdown has been holding power to account for several years, with assistance from an active-duty referee in England.

The Sheffield-based data analytics guy just calls him the “Yorkshire Whistler”.

Here is the ref’s  professional take on the end of the match at Parkhead last Saturday:

Incident 5

Referee: Don Robertson

Game Minute: 90^th

Score At Time: 2-1

Incident: Osmand scores for Celtic

Outcome: Goal to Celtic and games does not restart

Evidence: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002wpcw/sportscene-premiership-highlights-202526-16052026?seriesId=unsliced

At 24:54

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

Osmand scores for Celtic

IOD: Goal to Celtic and the game does then not restart.

As Osmand scores the goal deep in stoppage time which effectively confirms the outcome of the game, a pitch invasion ensues and the referee decides the match is complete and does not restart with a kick off.

Under IFAB laws, the referee has the authority to complete the game without having to restart play. The referee was entitled under Law 5 and Law 7 to stop proceedings and declare the match complete.

There have been other fixtures historically that have also been deemed to have been completed when interrupted by crowd disorder pragmatically:

• if the remaining time is negligible,

• the result is already effectively decided,

• and restarting would create safety risks,

So, in conclusion I have no concerns or issues with how this fixture concluded

Verdict: NO ISSUE WITH GAME CONCLUSION.

Expected Points Outcome: No impact

 

 

Now was all of that beyond any of the Stenography Corps?

Meanwhile, across the city, the main standard-bearers of Nativism in North Britain haven’t yet fully realised that they’ve lost control of the entity that allows them to gather and vent about the Fenians.

As previously stated here, Herr Röhl is in situ for the foreseeable.

The new owners gambled in January that they would win the SPFL and gain access to the riches of the Champions League.

At the time, it was the smart move, just like Tessio going over to Barzini.

Now, savings will have to be made.

In an interview with Sevco Vision, Mr Cavenagh was appropriately circumspect when asked what funds would be available for the young German to strengthen his squad.

For the new owners, it’s about the Dollars.

Always the Dollars.

That said, the Stateside guys certainly know their customers.

That’s why I wasn’t surprised to hear more uplifting stuff about stadium expansion.

Sound familiar?

Always keep the receipts…

On Saturday at Hampden, Martin O’Neill will send his guys out to settle all Celtic Family business this season.

The mediocre ones in the Stenography Corps will be there, many of them quietly seething, as they see the club formed by Irish immigrants attempt an unlikely league and cup double.

The featured image is a simple numerical data point for those who gushed about “Fifty Five”.

That cringeworthy triumphalism in a pandemic was wrapped up in liquidation denial, dating back to 2012, when they wilfully missed the huge financial storm clouds over Ibrox for the previous two years.

Some of the hacks know that they’ve been guilty of crimes against journalism.

All I would say to them is don’t tell me you’re innocent.

It insults my intelligence.