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Romanov says he was misquoted
Scotland - 19 February, 2007
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Scottish Hearts' owner Vladimir Romanov is adamant that he was misquoted when a magazine quoted him that he accused the Old Firm of "buying off" players and referees.
Scottish clubs Celtic and Rangers are consulting its lawyers about the comments printed in the Russian magazine Futbol.
"I don't expect anything except lies and distortion of my quotes," Romanov posted on the club's website.
"Thank God I haven't come across any corruption in Scotland."
It appears Romanov may have taken another jab at Celtic, which recently signed Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley, after the Scottish internationals left Hearts.
"To my mind, there are no values in this life that are worth betrayal, even if we're talking about hooped shirts," he said.
"If kids are being pushed towards betrayal, I call it seduction, but seduction of their souls."
According to the magazine, Romanov was quoted as accusing some Hearts' players of undermining former stand-in coach, Eduard Malofeev, by working for rival clubs within Tynecastle.
Pressley, Hartley and goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who reportedly met Romanov for confrontational talks on Thursday after being dropped from the Hearts club, had in October revealed "significant dressing-room unrest" at Tynecastle.
"What we call underhandedness, they call the norm," Romanov was quoted as saying about the British by the Russian magazine.
"For them, it's just normal to betray your home club, hold talks behind each others' backs."
Romanov, who also owns an interest in Lithuanian club Kaunas, was also quoted as saying that Scottish football is more corrupt than in his adopted homeland.
"And the referees," added Romanov. "If a team is weaker, then no-one can help them, but if they're equally matched then the referee can have a real influence on the outcome.
"Dodgy's not the word for it. I, myself, went there in the hope of avoiding all the sleaze we're so used to over here.
"I thought it was all clean, by the book, all gentlemen. It turns out it's much worse."
"They've just turned football into show business with their underhand games, paying off players.
"What we call underhandedness, they call the norm," Romanov said in reference to the Old Firm.
Romanov is also involved in a legal dispute with the Scottish FA after he appealed a fine for when he accused Scottish referees of bias last season.
The Scottish FA will also be looking into the latest comments.
"If the comments are confirmed, it is a matter we would refer to the club's lawyers and the SFA," Martin Bain, Rangers chief executive, told BBC Scotland.
"I think it is absurd. Absolutely ridiculous. If he is saying this, I will take legal advice," Brian Quinn, Celtic chairman, told BBC Radio Four.
"The Scottish Football Association will clearly take a clear view of this," Quinn said on the Today programme.
Scottish clubs Celtic and Rangers are consulting its lawyers about the comments printed in the Russian magazine Futbol.
"I don't expect anything except lies and distortion of my quotes," Romanov posted on the club's website.
"Thank God I haven't come across any corruption in Scotland."
It appears Romanov may have taken another jab at Celtic, which recently signed Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley, after the Scottish internationals left Hearts.
"To my mind, there are no values in this life that are worth betrayal, even if we're talking about hooped shirts," he said.
"If kids are being pushed towards betrayal, I call it seduction, but seduction of their souls."
According to the magazine, Romanov was quoted as accusing some Hearts' players of undermining former stand-in coach, Eduard Malofeev, by working for rival clubs within Tynecastle.
Pressley, Hartley and goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who reportedly met Romanov for confrontational talks on Thursday after being dropped from the Hearts club, had in October revealed "significant dressing-room unrest" at Tynecastle.
"What we call underhandedness, they call the norm," Romanov was quoted as saying about the British by the Russian magazine.
"For them, it's just normal to betray your home club, hold talks behind each others' backs."
Romanov, who also owns an interest in Lithuanian club Kaunas, was also quoted as saying that Scottish football is more corrupt than in his adopted homeland.
"And the referees," added Romanov. "If a team is weaker, then no-one can help them, but if they're equally matched then the referee can have a real influence on the outcome.
"Dodgy's not the word for it. I, myself, went there in the hope of avoiding all the sleaze we're so used to over here.
"I thought it was all clean, by the book, all gentlemen. It turns out it's much worse."
"They've just turned football into show business with their underhand games, paying off players.
"What we call underhandedness, they call the norm," Romanov said in reference to the Old Firm.
Romanov is also involved in a legal dispute with the Scottish FA after he appealed a fine for when he accused Scottish referees of bias last season.
The Scottish FA will also be looking into the latest comments.
"If the comments are confirmed, it is a matter we would refer to the club's lawyers and the SFA," Martin Bain, Rangers chief executive, told BBC Scotland.
"I think it is absurd. Absolutely ridiculous. If he is saying this, I will take legal advice," Brian Quinn, Celtic chairman, told BBC Radio Four.
"The Scottish Football Association will clearly take a clear view of this," Quinn said on the Today programme.
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