Let's All Laugh At Papa Smurf

from today's mediawatch
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Let's All Laugh At Papa Smurf
If, like Mediawatch, you have only just wiped the tears of laughter from your eyes after Leeds were given exactly no points back yesterday, then you might have read the full arbitration decision.

Alternatively, if you have a life, you might not have done.

However, luckily for you we have nothing better to do with our time, so we've had a look.

As it turns out, this sorry process could have been solved quite some time ago. The appeal was rejected purely on the basis that Leeds accepted the deduction of the 15 points on August 3 last year, and promised not to appeal against it.

Or put in much more confusing terms:

'Except for the obligations created by this Agreement Leeds hereby covenants that it shall not ... commence, or threaten to commence any proceedings in any jurisdiction before any court, arbitration body ... against [the League] ... arising out of or connected, whether directly or indirectly with any of the Claims.'

However, perhaps more interesting is the mention made by Sir Philip Otton, author of the report, of the tardiness of Leeds' appeal process:

'They did not commence the present Arbitration process until 19 March 2008. No convincing reason or explanation was given why it could not have been commenced in August 2007 - a delay of seven months. The late challenge brought uncertainty to the League near the end of the season.'

Now that is interesting. Especially when you consider loveable Uncle Ken Bates has been banging on for the better part of a year about how the Football League have been dragging their feet, and how they just wanted to get this sorted. You know - for the greater good.

Ken said on February 27: "I'm surprised it's taken so long. This is what we've been trying to get resolved since September."

So who is responsible for the delay?

Is it Otton, who has sat on the Court of Appeal since 1983, chaired numerous FA disciplinary proceedings and is held in the highest regard by the legal community, or Ken Bates, who once commented to Amir Kahn "Oh yes - I think I know your Uncle - Genghis."

It's your call really.

Posted By: blindasabat, May 2, 12:49:57