Comments on: Should a criminal record bar someone from owning a football club? http://soccerlens.com/club-ownership-and-criminal-records/14250/ Football News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:36:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Daniel Chung http://soccerlens.com/club-ownership-and-criminal-records/14250/#comment-104418 Daniel Chung Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:55:32 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=14250#comment-104418 I think if there's palpable evidence that you've made your money through criminal enterprises in your native land (assuming you're not from the UK) and a competent court of jurisdiction has convicted you, then there's all the reason to bar someone with that pedigree from owning a football club. Years back when Abramovich was taking over Chelsea there were charges that he would be laundering his Sibneft millions through the club. Those allegations were never founded. Having a conviction on your record can't be the bright line test. Abramovich's compatriot and one time oligarch rival, Kodhorovsky (I'm sure I've spelt it wrong), was convicted of fraud and tax evasion but many of us could see the politics behind that investigation and conviction (because if it were solely on the merits of the case Abramovich would be in the same shoes). Case by case is the standard that should be applied. But there should be a ruling body that can make a ruling as to disqualification. That might be for the good of the game in England overall. I think if there’s palpable evidence that you’ve made your money through criminal enterprises in your native land (assuming you’re not from the UK) and a competent court of jurisdiction has convicted you, then there’s all the reason to bar someone with that pedigree from owning a football club. Years back when Abramovich was taking over Chelsea there were charges that he would be laundering his Sibneft millions through the club. Those allegations were never founded. Having a conviction on your record can’t be the bright line test. Abramovich’s compatriot and one time oligarch rival, Kodhorovsky (I’m sure I’ve spelt it wrong), was convicted of fraud and tax evasion but many of us could see the politics behind that investigation and conviction (because if it were solely on the merits of the case Abramovich would be in the same shoes). Case by case is the standard that should be applied. But there should be a ruling body that can make a ruling as to disqualification. That might be for the good of the game in England overall.

]]> By: Clevblue http://soccerlens.com/club-ownership-and-criminal-records/14250/#comment-104406 Clevblue Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:43:13 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=14250#comment-104406 Oh, come on lads! Most wealthy businessmen are criminals who haven't been caught, that's all Oh, come on lads! Most wealthy businessmen are criminals who haven’t been caught, that’s all

]]> By: Gary Andrews http://soccerlens.com/club-ownership-and-criminal-records/14250/#comment-104404 Gary Andrews Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:36:00 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=14250#comment-104404 Well, quite! :) Well, quite! :)

]]> By: Ahmed Bilal http://soccerlens.com/club-ownership-and-criminal-records/14250/#comment-104401 Ahmed Bilal Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:20:14 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=14250#comment-104401 It should be a bar to leading the country as well, but what can you do? :) It should be a bar to leading the country as well, but what can you do? :)

]]> By: Gary Andrews http://soccerlens.com/club-ownership-and-criminal-records/14250/#comment-104399 Gary Andrews Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:01:29 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=14250#comment-104399 It depends. Take (and sorry to use this repeatedly as an example) John Russell, Exeter's old chairman. He had a conviction for fraud when he took over the club. Had the fit and proper person's test been around then, he wouldn't have been allowed to take it over, defraud the club and run it to the brink of insolvency. For me, the bottom line is football still seems to have trouble with transparency of ownership - and transparency in general. If you want to clean up football and increase trust and accountability then the answer to your question is, broadly, yes (although there are probably some offences that would have no relevance on football ownership - but, as I said, I'm talking in broad terms here). It's a complex question - and next to the oligarchs, Shinawatra doesn't look too bad at all. But you've got to have a threshhold, and a conviction for corruption or fraud should, in my eyes, be a bar to football club ownership. It depends. Take (and sorry to use this repeatedly as an example) John Russell, Exeter’s old chairman. He had a conviction for fraud when he took over the club. Had the fit and proper person’s test been around then, he wouldn’t have been allowed to take it over, defraud the club and run it to the brink of insolvency.

For me, the bottom line is football still seems to have trouble with transparency of ownership – and transparency in general.

If you want to clean up football and increase trust and accountability then the answer to your question is, broadly, yes (although there are probably some offences that would have no relevance on football ownership – but, as I said, I’m talking in broad terms here).

It’s a complex question – and next to the oligarchs, Shinawatra doesn’t look too bad at all. But you’ve got to have a threshhold, and a conviction for corruption or fraud should, in my eyes, be a bar to football club ownership.

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