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Agm rant by Romanov jr costs Hearts £30,000 fine



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Published Date: 28 August 2008
By Ed Hodge
HEARTS have incurred a £30,000 fine from the SFA for controversial comments made by chairman Roman Romanov at the club's agm earlier this year.
Last month, the club were also fined a record £40,000 by the same body for their poor disciplinary record.

During a gathering of around 400 shareholders at Tynecastle in April, Romanov, the son of Hearts owner, Vladimir, claimed the SPL was "fixed
" and also questioned referring decisions.

The remarks were investigated by the SFA's general purposes committee who have taken the step to both punish the chairman and Hearts for bringing the game into disrepute.

The Gorgie club have been fined £20,000 and Romanov junior £10,000 despite the tirade being heard behind closed doors at Tynecastle.

Romanov said at the time: "It is news to you that this is a fixed league? Rangers and Celtic win titles by 30 points. How many times this season have we been screwed by referees?

"We ask you to help us to fight this system that doesn't allow a smaller club to grow. If a club starts to grow, they use all mechanisms to pull it down."

Hearts, though, are no strangers to controversy under the Romanov's rule. In December 2006, Vladimir was fined £10,000 by the SFA for claiming referees were biased against his club.

An identical fine arrived that October after his claim that Hearts won the Scottish Cup "despite all the efforts and intrigues of referees".





The full article contains 254 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 27 August 2008 10:04 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Heart of Midlothian FC
 
1

SAME RULES APPLY !!!,

28/08/2008 00:21:07
A stupid remark - yes.
Worth a £30,000 fine - no way.

Why not have a word with him and demand a full apology in the strongest possible terms.

I have no time for the Romanovs but this kind of sanction seems disproportionate and draconian.

SAME RULES APPLY !!!
2

GeorgeCowieOrWalterKidd?,

28/08/2008 00:44:55
Incredible. Could someone remind me how much the SFA fined Rangers for the behaviour of a large number of their fans in Manchester that without doubt brought the Scottish game into disrepute around the world? Just wondering...
3

GeorgeCowieOrWalterKidd?,

28/08/2008 01:23:40
#5 Because it would send the right message. In fact, have Rangers ever been punished by the SFA for their widely acknowledged former policy of not signing people due to their religion? There is nothing in Scotland that does more damage to Scottish football's image than the antics of Old Firm fans, and it's only in recent years that the two clubs themselves have made serious efforts to change their ways.
4

Cammy,

Edinburgh 28/08/2008 01:25:39
The SFA is just as childish. Why not just ignore them, the rest of us do.

What does the SFA actually do with all that money they fine clubs and managers?. Perhaps they just add it to their own expenses fund.

Perhaps it should have a dedicated purpose. Like being donated to community youth projects.
5

GeorgeCowieOrWalterKidd?,

28/08/2008 01:31:32
#8 - key word "former". Doesn't excuse it though.
6

GeorgeCowieOrWalterKidd?,

28/08/2008 01:33:20
By the way, if the comments were reported in the media and no-one from the SFA was there and no recording was given to them, how do they know that's what was said. Are newspaper versions seriously reliable evidence? (Although he did say it). Appeal and make them work for their money.
7

GeorgeCowieOrWalterKidd?,

28/08/2008 01:55:38
#11 Do these four things in this order:

1. Engage brain
2. Read relevant material
3. Think for a minute or so (take as long as you want)
4. Carry on

(Maybe go through this process each time you use the Internet?)
8

SOFBTRC,

Far, far from Glasgow 28/08/2008 02:30:33
Remarkable how anything said that the SFA disagree with is suddenly "bringing the game into disrepute".

Who decides what brings the game into disrepute? What if someone from the SFA says something that brings the game into disrepute? Like idiot Peat claiming that Craig Levein's statements were "criminal", for example? Who holds those clowns responsible? I'd say that between them, the blazers and the referees do far more to bring the Scottish game into disrepute than ANY manager of an SPL team. And they can continue to do so with impunity, because they think they are accountable to nobody. They think they are above the law.

One of these days, someone will go the whole way with these corrupt, ignorant, arrogant bullies, in a court of law. Fingers crossed that would be the beginning of the end for Gordon "dumb as a sack of hammers" Smith and his SFA cronies.

SOFBTRC!
9

Daillyman,

28/08/2008 03:56:52
Fine seems a bit OTT.

I wonder how they come to the amount?

Will it help pay for the hangers on to go to the Scotland away WC qualifying matches, they are kicking off soon.

13

It will take legal action to cut these suits and their hangers on down to size. They more than anything bring the game into disrepute.
10

Jon Bon Jovi,

28/08/2008 06:50:34

think 30k is peanuts, should be 100K for anyone dissing the SFA monarchy the way romanov does...
11

the west end general,

28/08/2008 08:09:59
so how much will Hughes and Mixu get fined then? In light of the current refereeing 'difficulties' is what he said really so wrong?
12

busbyfh,

28/08/2008 08:28:27
# 5

As the fans brought the Scottish game into disripute - yes by the SFA. It is anything "done" by a Scottish club to blacken the name of Scottish football
13

StockportJambo,

28/08/2008 08:34:28
Talking about bringing the game into disrepute... the AGM was a PRIVATE MEETING amongst shareholders. The SFA have NO right to fine anyone for what was said at a private meeting.

The Romanovs / Hearts should refuse point blank to pay, as the SFA are breaking their own rules here.

Hopefully Hearts will take it to FIFA for this outrage. It's about time these corrupt cronies were exposed.
14

Toast,

28/08/2008 09:06:57
Romanov/Putin ; no difference,just a pair of blustering bullies with an over inflated opinion of their own importance.
15

"PAWS" FOR THOUGHT,

28/08/2008 09:39:53
#1 SAME RULES APPLY

What a d1ddy !!
I trust the £30K will be paid by him PERSONALLY.....he can well afford it with his reported salary for being daddies tea boy. Get rid!!
16

Royalty,

28/08/2008 09:47:29
Im sick of Hearts & Hibs.

Perenial losers & for a capital city, Edinburgh should stick to rugby.

Its football clubs suck.
17

Linda,

Edinburgh 28/08/2008 09:50:53
Better to support Edinburgh teams than those who milk bigotry for all its worth and pay lip service to wiping it out. Queen of South supporters at least knew which country their team was representing in Europe by flying only Saltire flags.
18

Royalty,

28/08/2008 09:55:35
#23

Typical Edinburgh attitude Linda.

Lose the football argument & throw in the bigotry line.

Priceless!
19

Geo_1875,

Edinburgh 28/08/2008 10:05:55
#24

Nothing to do with Edinburgh attitude, just as the OF are nothing to with Glaswegia or football. they are simply focal points for both sides of the sectarian divide which has brought Scottish football into disrepute for generations. If the OF did not exist, you are your kind would still be fighting your battles on the streets.
20

mybestmatesa,

JHB 28/08/2008 10:38:38
I hate to give the remarks in #25 credence, but, should they be taken at face value, and should they be true (huge assumptions in my opinion), then it could be argued that the OF are performing a vital social and civic duty by keeping violence off the streets (in the West Coast at least).
Incidentally, as someone who has lived out of Scotland in a number of European and African countries, with the exception of other Scots, I am unaware of any great feeling about what goes on in Scottish football circles (disreputable fans or sectarian clubs). Most are interested in their own problems.
Maybe its just our historical belief in our own self-importance that leads us to think that we have an influence on other peoples. An Edinburgh attitude?
21

Geo_1875,

Edinburgh 28/08/2008 10:49:04
#26 I doubt that stabbing each other, both before and after games, is hardly keeping violence off the streets. And I think you'll find that the OF derby is widely watched throughout the world. Usually with the expectation that it will end up like a WWE brawl, both on and off the pitch.
22

mybestmatesa,

JHB 28/08/2008 10:55:36
I agree that the game is watched throughout the world, however as one who will watch it in Johannesburg on Sunday, I can say with a degree of certainty, here in SA, it will be watched predominantly by expatriate Scots. Most other people who live here couldn't care less.
23

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

28/08/2008 11:42:38
I agree entirely with Romanov and his take on the mafia for the mediocre. That he somehow thinks that Celtic are part of Scotlands mafia for the mediocre just betrays his ignorance and reemphasizes that you dont need to be smart to make money. I am certain though that Romanov even in his short time within Scotland has seen that the SFA only recruits washed up ex Rangers employees. If he were to make a list of SFA employees over the last (errm pick a number up to 80) and counted the number of ex Rangers employees compared to Celtic I wonder if Celtics contribution would be a whole number.

Dundee utd in 1987 and Celtic as recently as 2003 asked the SFA if they would consider helping them with their fixture schedule due to them performing well in Europe and getting to European cup finals. The SFA dismissed both clubs requests without question or debate. Rangers get to a EC final and the SFA voluntarily turn up at Charlotte Square in cahoots with the tabloid Daily Record exert pressure on the SPL and its members to bow to their (not Charlotte Squares) will. For the sake of Scottish football?

in 1987 and 2003 Rangers won the SPL ;-)

Why is Terry Butcher (who cant even walk due to knee problems been given the job as Scotlands Assistant manager?) Was it the sterling work he done in his 3 months at Brentford before getting fired cos he wasn´t good enough?

Why was the Ibrox Doctor who was jettisoned by Paul Le Guen for interference immediately employed by the SFA?

Vladimir, you need to look at your own clubs historical complicity with regards the mafia for the mediocre. Once Brother George Peat walks then Brother Campbell Ogilvie will be head of the SFA. he might have been their already if he hadn´t crossed Charlotte Square at boardroom level 7-8 years back? Whether this be beneficial to HMFC I dont know. I suggest he has a word with him duplicity etc. I mean he knows all about that.

If I was a Jamboe I´d be more concerned about the gangsters that are runni
24

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

28/08/2008 11:43:15
.....

If I was a Jamboe I´d be more concerned about the gangsters that are running my club than the mafia for the mediocre. Wasn´t Peat the head of the SFA the only man in Scottish football to bankrupt a club. Airdrieonians .. have you played them recently? mind you that powerhouse of world football invited George onto their board so that he could maintain his position within the SFA and become the 2nd most powerful and influential man in Scottish football. Tell me did Rangers Youth elite team also get threatened with relegation after the recent scandal?

If you can kill two birds with the one stone then go for it. The SFA have tried for 90 years and we are Scottish football. Without Celtic there would be nobody left to hate in the Scottish Game. Champions League draw tonight ... again :-)

Hail Hail
25

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

28/08/2008 11:46:03
correction:

mind you that powerhouse of world football STENHOUSEMUIR invited George onto their board so that he could maintain his position within the SFA and become the 2nd most powerful and influential man in Scottish football. Tell me did Rangers Youth elite team also get threatened with relegation after the recent scandal?
26

mybestmatesa,

JHB 28/08/2008 12:25:01
#27 My apologies if I have misunderstood your comments.
I assumed that you meant: if the OF did not exist, you are your kind would still be fighting your battles on the streets.when you wrote "If the OF did not exist, you are your kind would still be fighting your battles on the streets."
27

Jamtastik,

28/08/2008 13:45:49
He actually has a point but says it wrong. To think there is no biased is wrong, but everywhere there is someone who is crooked...churches, banks everywhere.

are we so nieve to think that there wont be in the SFA.

Of course there is, and until people speak out about it these grubby little individuals will hide behind power and fine anyone who tries to bring the subject to fore.

He also has to understand that his father has a hand in making the attempt harder by interfering with the team that if was run by 1 manager (burley era) then maybe it'd be a damn site easier to try to compete.
28

Mike-S,

www.thetalkothetoun.co.uk 28/08/2008 15:58:34
I think it might be a good idea for Hearts to appoint a non executive chairman to head these meetings as Rodney and his father seem unable to resist having a go at anyone who doesn't agree with them. Right or wrong they know the consequences and it is the club that has to pay these fines not them personally.
29

tommytommy,

29/08/2008 07:27:51
Young Romanov is not the brightest.

If he is going to abuse people and disregard formal procedures he and Hearts are going to pay the price.

The fine will be paid by the fans and added to the debt.

The Romanovs and their mates take out of Hearts.

So far in excess of £20 million and if the transfer fees dont surface it will be nearer £35 million.

Who cares?
30

"PAWS" FOR THOUGHT,

29/08/2008 16:29:41
#35 TOMMY TOMMY

It'll be a total DISGRACE if the club proper ends up paying for this clown's outburst.
Maybe daddy should get him some anger management lessons............in fact, he MIGHT even get a discount for the TWO of them !!
31

Bleeding Heart...,

29/08/2008 22:21:30
Junior is an idiot. Of that, there is little doubt.

But two points made here strike me as very relevant.
Firstly, as "PAWS" states, IF this fine is due, then the club should not take the "hit".

BUT - as "Same Rules" suggests, is £30K not just a tad disproportionate? And for what? Remarks made at a private meeting?

It's difficult NOT to come round to the view that there is a football establishment agenda against Romanov and certain Hearts players.

 

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