My last post was a mini-rant against the big English clubs and their cosy relationship with the football establishment. The thrust of my argument was that it was in none of their interests if the big 4 were not around for the latter stages of the Champions League. Uncle Rupert Murdoch, sugar daddy to the Premiership and major customer of Uefa when it comes to buying up TV rights, would not be happy.
So perhaps it should come as no surprise to us that the Uefa beaks, having heard Arsenal's appeal in the Eduardo case, have decided to ignore the evidence of their own eyes and instead, swallow some fairy story from Arsene Wenger. What could have posssibly been said that changed their minds? The UEFA disciplinary committee had already reviewed the video evidence and concluded, together with the vast majority of a neutral pan-European viewing public, that Eduardo dived in order to deceive the referee. What has changed? Did Arsenal present new video evidence which casts doubt on the original decision? I think not. Here's what's happended.
Rupert M's people made a call to Michel Platini's people and made it clear that Sky would take a dim view of any action which might diminish the chances of one of its "clubs" progressing in the competition and wouldn't it be much better all round if the English clubs and the millions of viewers they bring were not handicapped at such an early stage? Cue much bum-twitching and hand-wringing at Uefa HQ at the thought of Murdoch's millions being jeopardised. Result - Eduardo gets off with a crime against sport, Arsenal show that money talks louder than hard evidence and Celtic is made to look like a wee diddy club that doesn't matter. Absolutely shocking - and proof beyond doubt for me that the Champions League is, first and foremost, a cosy cartel for the rich and greedy.
I really hope that Unirea Urziceni do really well and show that clubs with modest resources and big hearts can be successful without the need to cheat officials.