European Commission seek explanation on Celtic land deals

[sprotson11 147]

Land deal/Football club State Aid investigation opened. Hopefully Celtic are next

PR(14)66

Today, the EFTA Surveillance Authority opened an in-depth investigation into potential state aid to Sandefjord Fotball AS, a professional football club based in Sandefjord, Norway.

In 2006, the municipality of Sandefjord transferred two plots of land free of charge to subsidiaries of Sandefjord Fotball AS. In return, the football club was obliged to build a new stadium. This transfer of land was never notified to the Authority.

In order to help financing the new construction, the football club sold part of the land provided by the municipality to private investors for NOK 40 million. Following a number of complaints, the Authority will now investigate whether this transfer of land entails state aid, and if so, whether such aid is in line with the EEA Agreement.

”Financial assistance to professional sport clubs can be permitted in order to promote sport activities and infrastructure, provided that certain conditions are respected. However, in this case, the Authority has not yet received information allowing us to conclude that this transfer of land did not entail illegal state aid”, Ms Oda Helen Sletnes, president of the EFTA Surveillance Authority, said.

The new stadium was completed in July 2007 at a total cost of NOK 100 million. Sandefjord Fotball AS has since sold the stadium.

Having assessed the information provided by the Norwegian authorities so far, the Authority is not convinced that the transfer of land took place on market terms, and has doubts as to the market value of the plots of land at issue. The Authority will also require more information from the Norwegian authorities in order to assess whether any aid granted to the club is in line with the EEA state aid rules.

The Norwegian authorities, as well as third parties with an interest in the case, are now invited to provide their comments. A non-confidential version of the opening decision will shortly be published on the Authority's website and in the Official Journal of the European Union.

[Bad Robot 21,513]

Yes, hopefully it will be over the next few weeks.

I'm looking forward to these EC press releases.

[Bad Robot 21,513]

.

[B1872 21,954]

Did they ever get done for the activities at the boys club with uncle Jim Torbett? Surely there is a precedent set with Penn State?

Horrible vile club!

[The Mongoose 1,007]

bump

[The Educator 1,572]

Double bump.

[The Educator 1,572]

Soulboy, have you been in touch with PZJ of late?

[Bad Robot 21,513]

I reckon we will here one way or another during November.

[B1872 21,954]

I reckon we will here one way or another during November.

What is that based on? Or is it a guess?

[soulboy 2,530]

Soulboy, have you been in touch with PZJ of late?

No he's been off twitter now for 2 weeks only thing I can think of is to ask in the comments box on football tax havens to see what happened

[B1872 21,954]

No he's been off twitter now for 2 weeks only thing I can think of is to ask in the comments box on football tax havens to see what happened

Is PZJ the only person with the inside info on this? Was no one else involved or got any info?

[Bad Robot 21,513]

What is that based on? Or is it a guess?

based on pzj saying a decision was soon and the fact he's dissapeared off twitter. Plus iv been reading the EC newsletters each week and there seems to be an increase in cases over the last few weeks.

Apart from that it's complete guesswork

[B1872 21,954]

based on pzj saying a decision was soon and the fact he's dissapeared off twitter. Plus iv been reading the EC newsletters each week and there seems to be an increase in cases over the last few weeks.

Apart from that it's complete guesswork

Hopefully we hear something soon as the longer it goes the more I think that nothing will come of it.

[Der Hammer 160]

I emailed John last thursday and asked if everything was ok. He said yes and not to worry. He is quite cryptic so hoping he is back soon.

[soulboy 2,530]

I emailed John last thursday and asked if everything was ok. He said yes and not to worry. He is quite cryptic so hoping he is back soon.

That's good news. Have you any idea why he's off twitter ? complaints ? or shut it down himself ?

[Jonok 1,245]

That's good news. Have you any idea why he's off twitter ? complaints ? or shut it down himself ?

He is back on twitter today m8

[soulboy 2,530]

He is back on twitter today m8

Cheers m8

[soulboy 2,530]

Norwegian club being investigated for possible breach of EU rules on state aid

http://www.uib.no/fg/konkurranse/82065/state-aid-and-football-clubs-%E2%80%93-playing-according-state-aid-rules

the clock is ticking for the scum they're next hopefully

[The Educator 1,572]

Soulboy - "the clock is ticking for the scum they're next hopefully"

They're the only people in the UK that wish they could put the clocks back a month never mind an hour. Seriously their time is running out as it is for the Labour party in Glasgow and those in the EDC who were involved with the Lennoxtown deal. The goings on with GCC and c****c could well ad truly scupper labour at the election in May.

[fuckthespl 2,561]

Soulboy - "the clock is ticking for the scum they're next hopefully"

They're the only people in the UK that wish they could put the clocks back a month never mind an hour. Seriously their time is running out as it is for the Labour party in Glasgow and those in the EDC who were involved with the Lennoxtown deal. The goings on with GCC and c****c could well ad truly scupper labour at the election in May.

Agreed. It's a shame though as we need other parties to be strong against the SNP to stop this independence movement. There will be interesting times ahead....

[soulboy 2,530]

I saw pzj had tweeted Frances Curran about what she said about the lennoxtown initiative in 2003 and 2005 she replied she'd look into it again

[The Educator 1,572]

fuckthespl - "Agreed. It's a shame though as we need other parties to be strong against the SNP to stop this independence movement. There will be interesting times ahead...."

There certainly are interesting times ahead bud, you see the SNP are in this up to their necks as a lot of it has been going on during their watch. They were happy enough to back a plan for the Commonwealth Games that was designed to modernise the land around parkhead and increase the land value of the areas passed to them so cheaply by GCC. Just look at the amounts spent on a 4 hour event for the opening in a venue that would not be used again during the games. The SNP were happy with this as it gave them an event they could use to help push for a yes vote the referendum not only did they not at for the good of the tax payer, but they didn't even get their yes vote ether.

The SNP has had ability to push for an investigation into this for years and they didn't because it didn't fit with their independence agenda and their courting of a certain religious groups votes in Glasgow because of that they are as guilty as the Labour party.

[nachothelegend 1,932]

fuckthespl - "Agreed. It's a shame though as we need other parties to be strong against the SNP to stop this independence movement. There will be interesting times ahead...."

There certainly are interesting times ahead bud, you see the SNP are in this up to their necks as a lot of it has been going on during their watch. They were happy enough to back a plan for the Commonwealth Games that was designed to modernise the land around parkhead and increase the land value of the areas passed to them so cheaply by GCC. Just look at the amounts spent on a 4 hour event for the opening in a venue that would not be used again during the games. The SNP were happy with this as it gave them an event they could use to help push for a yes vote the referendum not only did they not at for the good of the tax payer, but they didn't even get their yes vote ether.

The SNP has had ability to push for an investigation into this for years and they didn't because it didn't fit with their independence agenda and their courting of a certain religious groups votes in Glasgow because of that they are as guilty as the Labour party.

Correct

Glad to say UKIP are on the rise.

[NixonRFC 1,598]

Soulboy - "the clock is ticking for the scum they're next hopefully"

They're the only people in the UK that wish they could put the clocks back a month never mind an hour. Seriously their time is running out as it is for the Labour party in Glasgow and those in the EDC who were involved with the Lennoxtown deal. The goings on with GCC and c****c could well ad truly scupper labour at the election in May.

Labour are a busted flush in Scotland now anyways, finiahed, and its got fuck all to do with land deals mate

[fuckthespl 2,561]

fuckthespl - "Agreed. It's a shame though as we need other parties to be strong against the SNP to stop this independence movement. There will be interesting times ahead...."

There certainly are interesting times ahead bud, you see the SNP are in this up to their necks as a lot of it has been going on during their watch. They were happy enough to back a plan for the Commonwealth Games that was designed to modernise the land around parkhead and increase the land value of the areas passed to them so cheaply by GCC. Just look at the amounts spent on a 4 hour event for the opening in a venue that would not be used again during the games. The SNP were happy with this as it gave them an event they could use to help push for a yes vote the referendum not only did they not at for the good of the tax payer, but they didn't even get their yes vote ether.

The SNP has had ability to push for an investigation into this for years and they didn't because it didn't fit with their independence agenda and their courting of a certain religious groups votes in Glasgow because of that they are as guilty as the Labour party.

Also, the Lib Dems will be aware of what is going on. I can't remember the MSP that said she had the SLA but has now been dragging her heels ever since and has then denied that she ever had it.