----- Original Message ----- I think that the FA's further assessment of this case is merely to ensure that this sort of thing doesn't happen again. I may be being naive here, but I too don't think the FA can scupper Cellino's ownership, no matter what happens in June in the Italian courts.
On a critical point this currently has nothing whatsoever to do with the FA. The thinking on the wider subject is that perhaps it SHOULD be under the jurisdiction of the FA, and centralised, but also that it might need the support of legislation to provide the power for enforceability, and protection against legal challenges. There is a private members bill currently in the house which addresses the legislation issue amongst other things. On the other point it has been specifically confirmed over the last couple of months that the D & O test is not a hurdle that you only have to clear once. It is in fact re-tested every summer (by means of self certification) and clubs are supposed to notify the FL of any event which changes the status of any person who needs to pass the test. So anyone can very definitely FAIL the test after having previously passed it. The question is what can the football authorities realistically do about it and how could they avoid obvious sidestepping of an owner who fails. Another point that Leeds fans are unwilling to recognise (the FL hate us, don't they ?) is that what we have just experienced is the FL being forced to apply and uphold a rule which left to themselves they might have much preferred NOT to have to apply. The F & PP test was something forced upon football and they always said that it would be unworkable. It has been revised into the D & O test but it is the wrong tool for the job that is required. It needs a step back and the wider picture needs to be considered. What is needed is a toolbox to protect football specifically from certain types of harmful activity and not a tool which prevents somebody from owning a club when there is nothing in the laws of the land which would do so. After all, Italian Football has not kicked Cellino out so what is English football trying to do here ? If the law says that Cellino can be the owner of an English business then the "law" should be that he can own a Football club. It is what he can do with the club that needs to be controlled and if it was perhaps football clubs would be far less attractive to the wrong sort of owners. In reality the FL were caught in a cleft stick which is, (don't doubt it), NOT of their own making. Blaming the FL for this situation is a little silly and you could just as easily blame the fans for pushing an unworkable rule onto the FL, for that is the truth. The F & PP test was only ever the thin end of the wedge and a foot in the door. It is now time to review the whole picture and where it needs to go is towards a comprehensive football licensing system for all clubs. --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org John 'Grampa' Sykes Rest In Peace old lad 28th Oct 1938 - 12 Nov 2013 MARCHING ON TOGETHER
