The good people over at Scottish Roundup ("The best of Scottish blogging every week" - including me last week) have put together the Scottish Blog Awards.
There's some cracking blogs included in a lengthy list (142 blogs were nominated) and I'm glad to say that The Scottish Football Blog is there as well.
I think there's going to be categories (I'll be in Sport presumably) but at the moment the long list appears as is.
So feel free to visit (they deserve it - it must have been a real labour of love to put it all together) and cast your vote. Obviously if you'd like to vote for me that would be swell. If not there are some cracking blogs to look at including some of my own favourite football blogs.
You've got until 8pm on Wednesday the 27th to have your say. I think the voting is some kind of Strictly Come Dancing type public vote/judges vote hybrid.
Your understanding for sticking with this non football post is appreciated with apologies.
You've got my vote!
ReplyDeleteFC Porto: Leaked Phone Taps Proof in Major Corruption Scandal
ReplyDeleteFor most Portuguese football fans, the brand "FC Porto" is a synonym of corruption. The leader of the club for over 25 years, Mr. Pinto da Costa, is well known for not only being the most successful executive in the football world, but also because of the corruption scandals, which seem to be constantly associated with him
Not long ago, Platini threatened to ban FC Porto from the Champions League because of the same scandal, which brought many referees and executives to the court. Nonetheless, FCP did not get the ban and Platini became a laughing stock in Portugal.
Not even the Portuguese courts were able to punish FC Porto's chairman, since the phone records that proved his involvement in the major corruptions scandal were not accepted as proof by the court.
Today the same phone taps, which were overruled by the court house, were posted on YouTube. The content is just a confirmation of what was already known by the general public.
The tapes include mostly talks between the Portuguese executive and major characters of the Portuguese refereeing scene. According to the conversations Pinto da Costa literally handpicked the officials responsible for FC Porto's fixtures.
Bribes are also a topic. Money is not specifically mentioned, but nonetheless prostitution is broadly discussed under the term "fruit" (prostitutes) and the term "milk and coffee" (which refers to Latin-Brazilian prostitutes), which were offered to referees.
There is also another tape in which the Portuguese executive talks to the then-President of the Portuguese League, in order to ask him for a favor in a disciplinary case against Liedson for elbowing a FC Porto player.
One of the most scandalous tapes for international fans is the one which involves Deco, the famous midfield ace.
The Portuguese midfielder had thrown his boot at a referee after being sent off. Angry about this decision, Pinto da Costa asked a famous journal editor to publish an interview with Deco, in which the player would state that he would reconsider his place in the national team if he was to be punished for his actions against the referee.
The forged interview was carefully prepared, as was the hearing at the League's Disciplinary Committee. Deco carefully followed the instructions of FC Porto's chairman and was not punished by the league - a true scandal.
Now, Portugal eagerly awaits the outcome of this situation. Pinto da Costa has already filed a law suit concerning the leaked tapes. The Portuguese General Attorney is following the situation closely, trying to find those responsible for the publishing of those tapes, since they were held under a confidential status.
However, the question remains: How could Pinto da Costa not have been punished by the legal authorities?
Many suspect that Pinto da Costa also has some influence within the justice system, which is not too far-fetched. He has enjoyed some very intimate relationships with many famous politicians who still have a large influence in the legal system.
A "Godfather" plot in Portuguese.
font: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/330214-...ruption-scandal
Here are the links.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK6nCGYB8Yw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5EMtn0EAYc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCvn2tEEj3E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgwoQoNmT6U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2dX61WvLDE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZAd9kYN5Z0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq87BdP3AaM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL8BCAUspp0
I doubt most of you understand the Portuguese, even with subs, but still. Here it is.
And you mine. Is that vote rigging?
ReplyDeleteQuite possibly. We can share the prize (as long as it's not a romantic holiday for two in a caravan in Largs, mind)
ReplyDelete