Football in crisis, when will we get implicated?

[DifferentClass]

Seen some suggestions on a scouse forum that the LMA might have had something to do with it, practically everyone named having links to it.

 

[Jonboy60]

Seen some suggestions on a scouse forum that the LMA might have had something to do with it, practically everyone named having links to it.

Wouldn't be surprised. If it turns out this is true, I can see a suspension on football in this country, as someone mentioned above) until it's sorted.
At the minimum, transfer embargoes on the top divisions.

 

[Superblades]

Wouldn't be surprised. If it turns out this is true, I can see a suspension on football in this country, as someone mentioned above) until it's sorted.
At the minimum, transfer embargoes on the top divisions.

Is that a possibility?

 

[Sirius]

Given the level of corruption in English football, it wouldn't surprise me if United were implicated. Not that I'm suggesting we've done anything wrong, but it would serve 'the powers that be' if we became the fall guys. Again.

Obviously Wednesday (the team who invented corruption in the modern game) are whiter than white. Insolvency Expert Mandaric? £20m loan being written off by the Co-op? No up-to-date Safety Certificate for the 1989 Semi (and probably others)?

The level of corruption in the game is so great that already, Shameless Sam is talking of walking into another managerial job in England. Would anybody take him? Of course they would! (Which makes United's bowing down to the 'holier-than-thou' brigade over Ched Evans all the more despicable).

Fat Sam's joke about 'entrapment' is gaining some traction from other interested parties and why not? Those guys who robbed Hatton Gardens could similarly claim that, if they hadn't put all that loot there, they wouldn't have been tempted to nick it. At least £400k would be worth the risk, unlike that Barnsley plank who's lost it all for £5k.

Without papers like the Telegraph highlighting what's going on, it would continue. After all, which 'high ups' in football (or any sport) would have blown the whistle on Allardyce when they're all at it? Same with Keith Vaz. Which of the perverts, ponces and paedophiles who infest both Houses would have said anything?

However, as the scandal in football continues, expect as few to be fighting like rats in a sack.

Looking at the scale of the investigations ,and those allegedly involved, it dwarfs the Swan Layne and Kay saga The Old Bill must be sharpening their pencils.

 

[Sirius]

Fat greedy twat (Allardyce not you BTW) but I can't help he's the fall guy for a bigger issue in Football. Money does funny things to people and football is rotten to the core.

Looking at the scale of the investigations ,and those allegedly involved, it dwarfs the Swan Layne and Kay saga The Old Bill must be sharpening their pencils.

Some think Fat Sam and brown paper envelopes are well aquainted

 

[vorpal blade]

aquatinted?

 

[pommpey]

Football's historically been a cash business, arguably still is, indeed the vernacular surrounding players wages is still - per week, a throw back to an era when wages were paid in cash on a weekly basis - the notion of cash and its ready availability is ingrained into the game.

Bungs, backhanders, brown envelopes at motorway service stations, as much a part of the game as the pukka pie.

Again, I am stunned at the 'shock value' of the reaction that football, amongst all competitive sports which has a first principle of punters fishing twenties out of their wallets or subscribing to media packages, is immune from the capricious, venal nature of bastards who have never kicked a ball in their lives or stood on a terrace berating being 0-2- down to Fleetwood or Port Vale's 10-men.

I'd love anyone to name a completely uncorrupt, unaffected business entity on the planet. As much as dreamers would espouse that the nirvanic, sunny uplands of socialism is the answer, we all know that isn't true, less true than capitalism in fact. Private Eye fills its periodic pages with reams of instances where Lord Fuckface of Strathanus has trousered £70k for a three hour consultation to a company he lobbied for in the chambers and whom his wife is a non-paid executive being 'compensated' a retainer indirectly as share dividend via a Cayman bank account, or some public servant twisting the arms of his senior colleagues to sign a contract with a multinational services conglomorate he has been promised a role with once the ink is dry. Why should football be different? It is an exciting, competitive activity, it's supporters (and direct financiers) have vicarious wish-aspiration via the 22 players on the pitch and it is the modern equivalent of the Roman gladiatorial bouts, and I bet a thousand shekels some centurion met frequently with the warriors agents regarding their cut on fees paid and selling the best swordsman to some Icelandic consortium.

pommpey

 

[FlamingLip]

Again, I am stunned at the 'shock value' of the reaction that football, amongst all competitive sports which has a first principle of punters fishing twenties out of their wallets or subscribing to media packages, is immune from the capricious, venal nature of bastards who have never kicked a ball in their lives or stood on a terrace berating being 0-2- down to Fleetwood or Port Vale's 10-men.

I'd love anyone to name a completely uncorrupt, unaffected business entity on the planet. As much as dreamers would espouse that the nirvanic, sunny uplands of socialism is the answer, we all know that isn't true, less true than capitalism in fact. Private Eye fills its periodic pages with reams of instances where Lord Fuckface of Strathanus has trousered £70k for a three hour consultation to a company he lobbied for in the chambers and whom his wife is a non-paid executive being 'compensated' a retainer indirectly as share dividend via a Cayman bank account, or some public servant twisting the arms of his senior colleagues to sign a contract with a multinational services conglomorate he has been promised a role with once the ink is dry. Why should football be different? It is an exciting, competitive activity, it's supporters (and direct financiers) have vicarious wish-aspiration via the 22 players on the pitch and it is the modern equivalent of the Roman gladiatorial bouts, and I bet a thousand shekels some centurion met frequently with the warriors agents regarding their cut on fees paid and selling the best swordsman to some Icelandic consortium.

pommpey

However shocked or expected such practice is, expose the bastards. Make the already sweaty bastards sweat just a bit more. If nothing else it may just make them and their dearest live the rest of their 'illustrious' careers and fattened goose lives with a bit of unshakeable shame. Fuck 'em.

 

[Neuschwanstein]

There are plenty of players that have never had an agent that have done plenty well enough for themselves

I am sure there are players without agents, but I would imagine that they're in the minority. Again the agents have made the players wealthy, and along the way themselves and many football managers too. It is a pure supply and demand business.

 

[Neuschwanstein]

I can't help but think that the majority of players don't particularly give a shiny shite who's involved as long as they get paid.

Players today have made it with the first big contact, they are simply exploiting the system to their advantage and so would I.

 

[Northyorksblade]

No.

There are two current Premier League managers, including one foreigner and four currently out of work (one is, probably, retired). All have been in the game for many years and will have made many millions from their involvement.

If true, they are all guilty of sickening, gut-wrenching greed and have shown utter contempt for their employers and supporters.

Allardyce's inanely, supercilious interview, today, belied the rancid, self-serving culture that exists in English Football. No contrition nor acknowledgement of his wrongdoing, just a sneering side-swipe at the journos who nabbed him. In the murky mind of Big Sam his only crime was getting caught.

The veneer of the Premier League conceals a labyrinth of vested interest and corruption. There are too many hands stuck in too many tills and, consequently, I have almost zero faith in football's ability to police itself. Lineker's demand for a police investigation, and the potential of convictions, offers the only realistic hope of individuals being brought properly to account and the game being cleaned up. I'm not holding my breath.

Very eloquent turn of phrase TB

 

[sheffielder]

You could argue we have already cleaned up, if you look at chief execs and managers that have left in the last few years..

Corruption is everywhere. I look at the purchasers of some teams over the years and you think why did you buy those players, you didn't need them. Look at the Man Utd 6 million club. A load of Brazilian and Portuguese players not fit to where their shirt.

 

[Esablade]

No.

There are two current Premier League managers, including one foreigner and four currently out of work (one is, probably, retired). All have been in the game for many years and will have made many millions from their involvement.

If true, they are all guilty of sickening, gut-wrenching greed and have shown utter contempt for their employers and supporters.

Allardyce's inanely, supercilious interview, today, belied the rancid, self-serving culture that exists in English Football. No contrition nor acknowledgement of his wrongdoing, just a sneering side-swipe at the journos who nabbed him. In the murky mind of Big Sam his only crime was getting caught.

The veneer of the Premier League conceals a labyrinth of vested interest and corruption. There are too many hands stuck in too many tills and, consequently, I have almost zero faith in football's ability to police itself. Lineker's demand for a police investigation, and the potential of convictions, offers the only realistic hope of individuals being brought properly to account and the game being cleaned up. I'm not holding my breath.

They're simply applying how some 'real world' businesses operate to the football world, skirting with legality...bungs, corruption, 'working your way round' legislation/rules/laws....to be more 'profitable'...

Most people on here appear to support that kind of thinking/attitude....

 

[JJ Sefton]

We won't get implicated. Think back over the last couple of years, did anyone need to bribe us to throw a game? Were any of our players worth paying bungs for?

 

[pommpey]

They're simply applying how some 'real world' businesses operate to the football world, skirting with legality...bungs, corruption, 'working your way round' legislation/rules/laws....to be more 'profitable'...

Most people on here appear to support that kind of thinking/attitude....

It's not 'supporting' that thinking.

Truly, if we had a world completely devoid of schonky dealings and absolute, total integrity and honesty, we would still be lobbing bricks at the sun. Most governmental transactions in many departments are riven with backhanders, off balance sheet costings, advisory and compliance costs and flagrant price boosting simply because the customer has to pay to get the deal it wants, and the competition is either part of the top bidder's plans or is simply there to make up the numbers. And that is just public sector. In the private sector (where football is firmly entrenched) no-one goes into a contractual deal without some poor schmuck losing (the fans) and some brainless trough-snuffler winning (Sky/The FA/Allardyce)

Some of you lot should work in the defence sector sometime. Your fucking eyes would swivel at top speed. And that is an industry whose books are frequently opened for scrutiny by 'the public'.

pommpey

 

[Esablade]

It's not 'supporting' that thinking.

Truly, if we had a world completely devoid of schonky dealings and absolute, total integrity and honesty, we would still be lobbing bricks at the sun. Most governmental transactions in many departments are riven with backhanders, off balance sheet costings, advisory and compliance costs and flagrant price boosting simply because the customer has to pay to get the deal it wants, and the competition is either part of the top bidder's plans or is simply there to make up the numbers. And that is just public sector. In the private sector (where football is firmly entrenched) no-one goes into a contractual deal without some poor schmuck losing (the fans) and some brainless trough-snuffler winning (Sky/The FA/Allardyce)

Some of you lot should work in the defence sector sometime. Your fucking eyes would swivel at top speed. And that is an industry whose books are frequently opened for scrutiny by 'the public'.

pommpey

...funny you should say that...a pal of mine once worked as a 'lobbyist' for Westland helicopters amongst others...

 

[Pinchy]

Let's not forget we've been here before with Big Fat Useless Hoofy Sam. Bent, corrupt, dishonest twat. You as well Redknapp you fucking Cockney Spiv.

 

[vorpal blade]

Thats a bit hard on Marcus Bent he only went down for possession and affray.

 

[DifferentClass]

We won't get implicated. Think back over the last couple of years, did anyone need to bribe us to throw a game? Were any of our players worth paying bungs for?

A certain ex-Leicester man?

 

[vorpal blade]

Just had a 'phone call from a mate in Liverpool who knows that town's 'underworld'. He says Allardyce, his financial advisors etc. have been thick as thieves with people in that city that he really shouldn't have known for years. Couple this with the acquaintances who I shouldn't really know and my knowledge of their friendship with football agents and I reach the following conclusion;

not just that football agents are closer to organised crime than they ought to be but that;

(in many cases) football agent = criminal

and therefore, (and this is a short leap) .......... Football (TV) money and Drug money mingle at source.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Trouble is who do you get in ? Southgate who has probably never farted outside a toilet ,but will be totally useless ,Steve Bruce proven greedy ,Eddie Howe still on SMA or go Foreign (noooo). Rather have a shady winner myself.

A bit like giving your savings account to an unethical banker?

Actually, that's a rubbish point, all bankers are unethical. I wonder how many in football are pure?

 

[gavtheblade]

Didn't Jason Puncheon make some remarks about Neil Warnock which implied he had dodgy dealings going on?

Wayne Allison.
That is all.

 

[Sirius]

It's not 'supporting' that thinking.

Truly, if we had a world completely devoid of schonky dealings and absolute, total integrity and honesty, we would still be lobbing bricks at the sun. Most governmental transactions in many departments are riven with backhanders, off balance sheet costings, advisory and compliance costs and flagrant price boosting simply because the customer has to pay to get the deal it wants, and the competition is either part of the top bidder's plans or is simply there to make up the numbers. And that is just public sector. In the private sector (where football is firmly entrenched) no-one goes into a contractual deal without some poor schmuck losing (the fans) and some brainless trough-snuffler winning (Sky/The FA/Allardyce)

Some of you lot should work in the defence sector sometime. Your fucking eyes would swivel at top speed. And that is an industry whose books are frequently opened for scrutiny by 'the public'.

pommpey

Amen to that Bro

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

Just had a 'phone call from a mate in Liverpool who knows that town's 'underworld'. He says Allardyce, his financial advisors etc. have been thick as thieves with people in that city that he really shouldn't have known for years. Couple this with the acquaintances who I shouldn't really know and my knowledge of their friendship with football agents and I reach the following conclusion;

not just that football agents are closer to organised crime than they ought to be but that;

(in many cases) football agent = criminal

and therefore, (and this is a short leap) .......... Football (TV) money and Drug money mingle at source.

do you know Jose?

 

[Chali 2na]

Seen some suggestions on a scouse forum that the LMA might have had something to do with it, practically everyone named having links to it.

That's a huge stretch. Most football managers have links to the LMA.

 

[vorpal blade]

do you know Jose?

I know a José.....



sorry, penny's just dropped. I know people who know him of old.

Liverpool is a narco-economy, I'm not sure anywhere up North isn't now.

 

[ghandi]

Well, look, there is/are a former manager/s of ours who may have been spoken about in the past regarding bungs, but; call me paranoid, I'm not going to write anyone's name here - I suspect the managers of this forum would rather we didn't.

I just saw Maclaren reporting Allardyce as being †'innocent', in the eyes of the law? yes, probably, otherwise the Police wouldn't have let him fly to Costa del Crime yesterday - but it goes to show the isolated 'unreal' world of the football business, and the sheer quantity of money sloshing about in it.

The wages of Sam telling the Telegraph journalists how the 3rd party ownership rules can be broken was £400 000 - unless something damascene happens to me, thats way more than I will ever earn in my lifetime - granted, I'm a poor man.
But £400 000, granted, that's danger money, he knows he was being underhand, undermining the organisation that already rewards him so handsomely - but he'd already told these paparazzi what they needed to know - i.e. (like West Ham did in the Tevez affair) *you pretend that a player's 'owner' is an employee of the club.
So what was Fat Sam going to be paid for - probably little more than one side of an A4 sheet of paper with that* written on it and more seriously, a few names and their mobile 'phone numbers.

Even to a merchant banker with a coke addiction, £400K is crazy money - & to be fair for so little effort, I don't know whether Sam asked for that sum or was offered it by the journos but he didn't smell a rat so I assume its a 'reasonable' reward for so little information. He doesn't understand how greedy he is, he probably doesn't realise how many football supporters are are earning less than £15K/annum, he probably thinks the breadline is about £50K.

This is why, if you want to buy a football shirt, it costs about £50, even though, its covered in sponsors' adverts, even though, it probably cost less than £1 to make. EVERYONE is on the take.

The parallels with simony and the mediaeval Catholic church, and its fat cat Popes and Friar Tucks are inescapable.

For it is easier for Sam Allardyce to crawl through the eye of a needle than it is to for him to find any redemption, regardless, I can see him back in the Sunderland job come 2017.

† ....... redacted comments

You're not seriously suggesting that Pope Alexander VI was involed in simony