Neil Doncaster has just been appointed to UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary body.
Look out Hearts and Partick Thistle – throwing up distress flares might now cost you a £10k fine.
This serves only to underline the audacity of Doncaster allowing himself to be put forward for a role with UEFA, far less accepting it.
It was barely two months ago the SPFL, violins playing in the background, explained how short staffed and hard working they all were through the Covid-19 crisis.
They were down to a gang of five as they liaised with the SFA, medical officers, the government, UEFA, other league bodies, commercial partners and clubs.
“Has everything been done perfectly and has it always been fully communicated? Of course it has not,” they confessed in an open letter to clubs on April 28.
The SPFL is now even further mired in a crisis of its own making, which isn’t going away any time soon. It makes the decision of the Teflon Don to take up his position with the blazer brigade of Nyon all the more astonishing.
In recent times Doncaster has bad- mouthed and alienated one of the sport’s most influential sponsors and faced calls for his suspension.
He has overseen a vote that owed more to Harare than Hampden, been accused of breaching his duties, maladministration and
a failure to disclose potential liabilities of up to £10million.
He survived a call from almost a third of Scottish clubs into an independent investigation and may yet be grilled on the witness stand by a leading QC into his whole handling of one of the most unpalatable episodes in Scottish football history.
Doncaster, looking increasingly like a lame duck, may not even be around to take up his UEFA post if the courts find in favour of Hearts and Thistle.
Bluntly, if they win, he has to go – and the writing may already be on the wall for him.
The narrative around Hearts and Partick Thistle must not be allowed to change as they have been treated appallingly throughout a tawdry period.
The Court of Session? The Competitions and Markets Authority may yet be involved after the SPFL effectively made a move that risks putting both clubs out of business.
Ann Budge and Jacqui Low have behaved with class and dignity at all stages, literally pleading with fellow members not to do them down. They have earned the right to do what they now see fit to achieve the justice they deserve.
Apparently, UEFA say Doncaster won’t sit in judgment of Scottish clubs. Just as well.
He has done enough damage already.
