Match-fixing in the red shirt

The Norway vs. Malta saga goes on. Following the decision of UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body, which handed a 10-year ban to (only) one player, reactions on all media abound. My immediate observations where the following (not necessarily in the same order of priority):

1. The paper I submitted at the Sport and EU conference in June needs updating. We had referred to this game as the first case of alleged match-fixing involving the Maltese national team.

 Photo©timesofmalta.com

2. The popular belief seems to be that Kevin Sammut couldn't have been the only one involved, if at all. Quite a few gaps remain, at least on the information rendered public so far. In turn, some comments in social media seem to portray Sammut as a victim.

3. Defence lawyers appear to be going down the 'procedural' path, claiming that the player was not afforded a fair hearing. Thi s is one of those very typical situations where the (autonomous)  sports judicial system comes under the microscope of legal practitioners who ply their trade in courts of law. I must admit that this 'clash of cultures' haunts me as well every now and then. At times is seems unconceivable that certain values, which we take as accepted practice outside of football, are perceived to be somewhat overlooked when deciding summarily within the football family.

A lot has been written on the autonomy of sport and the need to pursue good governance (which includes a fair justice system). Certainly, it is very difficult to comment on the merits of the case when there is not enough informtation to do so. It would be nice to have the full picture so as to determine how suitable the whole disciplinary process was.

4. It is interesting to see that the Malta FA President did not shy away from reiterating that 'overwhelming evidence' suggests the match was indeed fixed and that moreplayers were involved. The case was decided upon by UEFA's disciplinary body because the issue arose in one of its competitions. Does this mean that MFA could not take any further measures on this case if it wanted to? This is UEFA jurisdiction, so I doubt it. Chapter closed, apparently.

Fit and proper? The real test is here and now.

It is encouraging to see that football keeps enjoying constant (increasing?) demand, both from a 'consumption' perspective (i.e. following of the various competitions) as well as from an investment point of view. As a person involved in local football, I fully appreciate how important both are. New investment in the local game is undoubtedly hard to come by. The MFA President keeps harping on the fact the the current structure of most of our clubs is inadequate – and he has a point. What is one investing in when putting money in a local club – a non-profit organisation based on the voluntary contribution of a few?

This summer has been characterised by announcements, rebuttals, retractions and rumours of a spate of investors intending to 'invest' in some of our Premier League clubs. We've been here before. Way back in 2004 – yes, that far back – Msida FC had partnered with Roberto Goveani ('ex-Torino Calcio') who had promised financial backing. I don't know how the story unfolded, but since then Msida had to endure difficult times and now linger in the Second Division. A few other Premier League clubs have had their own moment of glory - does Marsaxlokk FC ring a bell?

The latest news concern Floriana, Sliema, and to a certain extent Qormi. Investors and partners have been unveiled and suddenly their future starts looking somewhat brighter. With all the success I wish these clubs, I cannot but sound a word of caution to all administrators of local clubs. I have on several occasions called for a 'fit and proper' test to be introduced in our regulations. Or at least a framework to that effect, that is adapted to our needs and realities, aimed at safeguarding clubs against the penetration in their administrative structures of persons with a history of offences related to fraud.

I have no doubt the said clubs have done their homework. I actually hope their ventures would prove to be a positive learning experience even for others. We should not, on the other hand, risk the future of perhaps more vulnerable clubs in dire need of fresh capital and unable to undertake the required objective filtering of potential investors. Think of lower division clubs rather than the big few.

At times a google search can already give you an idea of who we're dealing with. In reality, a proper due diligence process is needed. As in any other business context, it is crucial that we protect the local game from speculators, even more so when football relies on the integrity of the game, the presumption of healthy competition, and the unpredictability of the result.

Is it time for the big shift?

I've recently come across a number of reports suggesting that the Premier League's upcoming media rights auction could be attracting not only the usual suspects (BSkyB, Al Jazeera, ESPN), but also a couple of newbies. Tiny detail: these newbies could be Google or even Apple.

Has the time finally come to see football shifting towards a solid online platform, in addition (or at the expense of?) TV? Apple, although the less likely of the two to bid enthusiastically, would strengthen its Apple TV product in Europe. Google, on the other hand, would have infinite possibilities to confirm Youtube as a medium that transcends the nature of the content.

Interesting times.

Read more here:
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/e984902a-954f-11e1-8faf-00144feab49a.html#axzz1vzWYCnxO

Ilbieraħ

Kont qed naħbat nitlef il-fiduċja. Għall-ewwel darba. Ma kinitx paper li twebbilt li nikteb.

Qbadt nidħol ftit aktar fil-fond fuq il-match-fixing u fil-miljun mod kif dan qed jirrovina l-logħba. U appuntu, bdejt nitlef il-fiduċja - jekk kien hemm bżonn - li dil-logħba se titlef l-aktar aspett importanti tagħha: l-imprevedibbiltà.

Imbagħad ilbieraħ kelli test. Il-logħba tal-Milan, id-dmugħ ta' min se jieqaf, se jitlaq, jew se jibqa'. U kif spiċċa l-league Ingliż, 

Tista' tkun ċiniku kemm trid, imma ma flaħtx nara 'l Gattuso jibki, lil Zambrotta jistħi u jaħbi wiċċu, lil Ambrosini qisu qed jitlef lil ħuh. U minn banda nibda nħossha naqra sproporzjonata l-emozzjoni. Dawn nies li fil-verità ma nafhomx minn Adam, m'għandhom x'jaqsmu xejn mal-affarijiet li jġiegħluna nibku fil-ħajja ta' vera!

Imma le, dawn nies li għalkemm ma jafuniex, aħna nafuhom. U nafuhom sew. U nitkellmu dwarhom, narawhom, nisimawhom, naqraw x'jgħidu kuljum. X'aktarx aktar spiss milli nara u nisma' 'l tal-familja!

Stramba meta jitlaq jew jirtira player. Niftakar l-aħħar logħba ta' Van Basten, ta' Baresi, ta' Maldini. Tintebaħ li dawn ikunu kibru miegħek, dejjem hemm lesti biex ipaxxuk u joffrulek emozzjonijiet bla qies. Imbagħad f'daqq waħda meta jieqfu tirrealizza li ż-żmien li għadda minn fuqhom, għadda minn fuqek ukoll. Kif isaffar ir-referee ma tibqax mingħalik li tista' xi darba ssir player kbir daqshom, tħares madwarek u tinduna li sirt raġel, u issa Gattuso bjaditlu xagħru. 

Le, min ma jħobbx il-futbol qatt ma jista' jifhem xi jfisser. Inutli nipprova nkun razzjonali u nispjega ruħi. 

U bilħaqq, fuq kif spiċċa l-league Ingliż...xorta għokritni għajnejja...

New agreement on contract rights for footballers

The social partners representing the professional football sector have recently signed their first Agreement setting minimum contract requirements. The agreement was agreed between FIFPro (Trade Union); EPFL (European Professional Football Leagues), ECA (European Club Association) - and UEFA. It will also be accompanied by a joint letter where all organisations pledge to implement these new commitments.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, László Andor, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion welcomed the agreement saying "This is a significant achievement for EU-level social dialogue in the professional football sector. It is a first step in offering minimum social standards regarding the form of players' contracts - especially young players - and we expect it to come into force across the EU, but also beyond in all 53 UEFA countries".

To ensure that player contracts throughout Europe meet certain minimum standards, contracts must be in writing, they must define the rights and duties of club and player and they must address matters such as salary, health insurance, social security or paid leave. Contracts also must refer to the duty of players to participate in training, to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to comply with disciplinary procedures. Standard contracts will also contain provisions on dispute resolution and applicable law.

The agreement will be signed by Michel Platini (UEFA, President), Frédéric Thiriez (EPFL, President), Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (ECA, President) and Philippe Piat (FIFPro Division Europe, President) and their respective General Secretaries in the presence of László Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion and responsible for social dialogue at EU level. Commissioner Vassiliou, responsible for sport, will also attend the signing ceremony.

The Commission supports the European social dialogue in the professional football sector and will assist EU social partners in the monitoring and implementation of the Autonomous Agreement.

Look and learn - Rangers' sad fate

The report by the public administrators appointed to manage Rangers' insolvency proceedings makes painful reading.

Stuff you pray everyday not to experience at your club.

Compare these 'background' points, on p. 13:

4.3 The Football Club was founded in 1872 and incorporated as the Company in 1899. It is one of the most successful and renowned football clubs in the world. The Club plays in the SPL and has been a member of the SPL since its formation.

4.4 The Club has won 54 league titles, more top flight national titles than any other football club in the world. The Club has also won the Scottish League Cup 27 times and the Scottish Cup 33 times.

4.5 The Club has qualified for the UEFA Champions League 15 times since the inception of the competition in 1992. The Club was runner up in the 2008 UEFA Cup Final and won the European Cup Winners‟ Cup in 1972.

4.6 The Club plays its home matches at Ibrox Stadium which is a 51,082 all-seater stadium in Glasgow and the Playing Staff train at Murray Park located in the outskirts of Glasgow.

To this state of affairs, on p. 15:


5.21 It became apparent that in the absence of a significant introduction of working capital or an agreement with HMRC the Company would be unable to meet its liabilities as they fell due, and the Company could not avoid formal insolvency proceedings.


Not to mention the reality check provided through the hard data in the annexes.

Moral of the story: learn from the experience of others. Do not spend beyond your means.

Full report: http://www.rangers.co.uk/staticFiles/fe/a8/0,,5~174334,00.pdf