The FIFA president Sepp Blatter was in Scotland last week (presumably not because he wanted to take in a Hearts game) treating us to his sage-like utterings:
‘The idea of Celtic and Rangers moving down south has often been muted but world football’s governing body would not endorse it.
‘It would be detrimental to Scotland if the two best teams leave to try and play in England.
‘It is also good for the political aspects that the British Associations keep their different leagues.’
Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini were in Scotland for the International Football Association Board meeting being held in Gleneagles.
And Blatter promised to hear Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith’s proposals to make use of video evidence to punish players for diving.
This season FIFA regulations prevented Scottish referees from taking part in a scheme where they could penalise players retrospectively if they felt they had dived or feigned injury.
But Blatter said: ‘This is an item which is on the agenda.
‘Gordon is a former footballer, so he knows what he’s talking about and I am eager to hear his argument.
‘However with the subject of diving, it is a delicate matter.
‘It is easier to see a pull of the leg or a kick at somebody or an elbow but I am happy to discuss it.’
So it looks like our SPL will be lumbered with the two Glasgow giants for a long time to come. One can only assume that he is happy for the Champions League and UEFA Cup to remain the only forums for clubs to play at a ‘higher level’.
By inviting certain teams to play in a foreign league, football might become more unstable than it already is. Alternatively, many fans believe that removing teams which have ‘outgrown’ a domestic league may actually improve the competition among remaining teams – and perhaps improve the quality of skills too.
He sounds lukewarm to the idea of detecting ‘simulation’ through video evidence, suggesting (quite rightly) that false accusation can happen. It would interesting therefore, to see his reaction to video replays of bookings for Velicka and Miko in recent matches !!
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Well it seems the SFA now have the go-ahead to retrospectively punish players for diving. Any special conditions for Hearts players of a foreign persuasion I wonder?
Perhaps playing down south might not be quite as attractive for the OF as it once was. I thought that an initiative by Platini meant that all winners of their domestic leage qualify immediately for the CL without the need for pre-qualifiers. Fair enough in recent years they’ve both qualified for the group stages but it would be much more of a struggle for them in England. Mind you – the staggeringly stupid amount of money available down there might go some way to compensate for mediocraty each season.
It would, plus the fact that once the OF had that sort of money they’d be able to attract the best players. I think within 5 years they’d be pretty strong down there – it’s not the great league that many think it is.