Popular Post Carling1873 1,404 Posted January 8, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2014 Celtic representatives have been in Brussels as part of a preliminary investigation by the European Commission into land deals between Celtic and Glasgow City Council. The probe relates to question marks over the purchase of various plots of land, including their Lennoxtown training complex, which it has been alleged constitute State Aid.In recent months, the European Commission Directorate General for Competition State Aid has announced several formal investigations into allegations of State Aid involving Spanish and Dutch clubs - including Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSV Eindhoven. The latest club to become embroiled in an investigation, over an arrangement with their local council regarding the Liberty Stadium, is Swansea City.The situation with Celtic is not yet at the same stage as the Spanish and Dutch investigations, but preliminary meetings have been held and information has been requested by the European Commission. When contacted by the Rangers Standard, an EC spokesperson said:"We have indeed received complaints about alleged aid in land deals between Glasgow and Celtic and we have requested and received detailed information from the UK authorities, lastly in December 2013.""There is no legal deadline to conclude a State aid investigation; the duration depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of the case".It is understood that both Celtic and Glasgow City Council are extremely concerned at the possibility of the preliminary investigation leading to the type of full investigation which has been initiated in respect of Spanish and Dutch clubs.Celtic have purchased several plots of land from State organisations, which have historically been Labour controlled, at low prices. These include the purchase for only, £497,000, of the land their Lennoxtown training ground was built on. It is believed that the recent sale of London Road Primary School may also now fall under examination.If you are interested in more forensic detail on the various purchases and valuations then you should visit the excellent http://footballtaxha...ase-for-the-eu/The European Commission has wide ranging powers if there is found to have been a breach of the regulations. The Commission can require the Member State to recover the aid with interest from the beneficiary (in this case Celtic). This could lead to a potential bill of over £30m for Celtic, which would have to be repaid over a maximum period of ten years. Any finding of guilt would put pressure on the SFA to probe any sporting advantage that discounted deals brought. It may also fall foul of new UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations.This news comes only a day after the announcement that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are to examine the conduct of Co-Op Bank officials over allegations of tie ins with the Labour Party.Celtic, who can count former Labour Minister, John Reid and former Labour MP, Brian Wilson amongst their former and current directors, were the recipients of extremely favourable loan deals from the Co-Op Bank and those are almost certain to be examined as part of the investigation. It is believed that the State-owned land obtained by Celtic was used as security for these loans.http://www.thisismon...tball-Club.htmlThe European Commission probe is separate to this however and Celtic will potentially have to fight on two fronts to show that they have not been the beneficiaries of either State Aid or politically motivated, favourable loans secured against the land purchased. Last year Celtic employed a lawyer with litigation experience as their Company Secretary.If anyone has any information regarding these allegations then please contact The Rangers Standard in confidence and we will incorporate it into any further enquiries. Anyone with detailed information or any specific complaints relating to State Aid on this matter should contact the European Commission at Stateaidgreffe@ec.europa.eu This email address is being protected from spambots. You need Javascript enabled to view it. . Also if you have any relevant details on the Co-Op investigation you can contact the PRA at PRAwhistleblowing@bankofengland.co.uk This email address is being protected from spambots. You need Javascript enabled to view it. .From TRS, things heating up a bit now. One Jock Wallace, CheckMateCharlie, Helicopter Sundae and 16 others 19 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluenosebrad 452 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I hope this all gathers speed and get into those Mhanky bs in the east. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Guardian 4,281 Posted January 8, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2014 With this and the political storm over the coop and labour party deals, now us the time for the Rangers support to mobilise and do anything in our power to ensure every wee detail and dodgy practice is highlighted so the powers that be have no scope to sweep this under the carpet or give them an easy out.They did it to us, so we should not hesitate to kick them when the opportunity presents. That would be karma. TheCutch, pensionerbear, CheckMateCharlie and 19 others 22 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilko89 507 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 With this and the political storm over the coop and labour party deals, now us the time for the Rangers support to mobilise and do anything in our power to ensure every wee detail and dodgy practice is highlighted so the powers that be have no scope to sweep this under the carpet or give them an easy out.They did it to us, so we should not hesitate to kick them when the opportunity presents.That would be karma.Yip, no more turning a blind eye. scottishowl 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carsons Dog 9,878 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Is this not from the Rangers Standard as opposed to the RST? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eskbankloyal 19,446 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Is this not from the Rangers Standard as opposed to the RST?Yes, it is TRS not RST. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
devref 201 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 lets hope that the press now at last follow this lot up they same way the hounded us. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanCurtis 155 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Glad that something VB brought up is being embraced by us all!! Lets attack our real enemies and let them know the Rangers are here! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Frank Reynolds 3,359 Posted January 8, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2014 Well, turns out I was wrong yesterday.Well done to fellow bears who kept the pressure on scottishowl, surfsup2, pensionerbear and 2 others 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carling1873 1,404 Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 Is this not from the Rangers Standard as opposed to the RST?Yes, it is TRS not RST.Apologies guy's; got a bit overexcited cauing the typo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Valley 234 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I am assuming that the Scottish media have been gagged from reporting this as I haven't saw or heard it mentioned anywhere apart from Rangers forums? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carsons Dog 9,878 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Apologies guy's; got a bit over when excited cauing the typo.I knew it wasn't the RST when they didn't ask for money at the end. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courtyard Bear 41,357 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Tick Tock timmy Tick Tock. WATP-FOREVER 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEPPS BOY 74,195 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I'm sure Doncaster and co are close to appointing a commision to look into this as we speak Financial doping, sporting integrity annat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lutonblue 1,974 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 BearsDen Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFC55 109,207 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Absolutely fuck all will come of this North Rd 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanCurtis 155 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 BearsDen Not being funny, but what does that mean? (newish to the site so a bit unsure) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lutonblue 1,974 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Not being funny, but what does that mean? (newish to the site so a bit unsure)its what a few posters say if they think it's not Rangers related , but I ment it as a joke , keep up the good work lads oh and I do think its Rangers related ianb1547 and blueyonderbill 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kris1984 1,272 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Absolutely fuck all will come of thisi agree, some people clutching at straws here Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Hubbard 280 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 who are the "uk authorities", and what details have they submitted ? Should this not be available under FOI Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Getstiffed 8,863 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Well, turns out I was wrong yesterday.Well done to fellow bears who kept the pressure onHave you apologised to Scarkev yet? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iang2911 423 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I am assuming that the Scottish media have been gagged from reporting this as I haven't saw or heard it mentioned anywhere apart from Rangers forums?It was apparently brought up on radio clyde, the reply was that the loans etc were all legal, a bit like EBT's I thought at the time, however that misses the point. State Aid investigations and FFP rules don't care if these financial dealings are legally set up, they care if it can be proven to provide financial benefit to the club. In this case I think it is pretty clear that it has and also, given the ruling of LNS etc., it was a process which others could not have taken advantage of and therefore may constitute and unfair sporting advantage. Bobby Hume, bluedart1952, cumnockbear and 1 other 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBluebells 6,898 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Absolutely fuck all will come of thisYou're right, it would open too big a can of worms with other clubs so i don't see it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyalfollower 1,543 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 They can sweep it under the carpet in Scotland. It just gets bigger and bigger until the European commission see it. Fools Gold 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post choochooblue 342 Posted January 8, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2014 i agree, some people clutching at straws hereNot clutching at straws when PZJ who has been working on this for almost a year and has been continually in contact with GCC via FOI act to gather information, but suspicions arise when GCC start putting obstacles up to prevent the divulging of details and then the guy at GCC goes AWOL aswell , we all smell a rhat and now is not the time to stop pressuring . BigAlThePuntersPal, The New Era, iang2911 and 7 others 10 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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