Portsmouth F.C. - They're Not The Victims

You would think that the Blue few would count themselves lucky, £140 million + debt, relegation from the Premier League, and the small addition of administration.

Not sure what`s so lucky about that? Perhaps the fact that Portsmouth have somehow not only remained afloat but kept together a strong squad, not to mention managed to remain in existence should be considered the luckiest of escapes.

But for Pompey fans they see this as 'victimisation`. So let's` look at just what they think is so victimising towards their club.

HMRC`s appeal against administration -

The most recent of actions by the HMRC against Pompey, it seems to me that the blue few have dismissed the idea that it is indeed a legal requirement to pay tax, and that the idea of their club being punished for this is wrong?

They seem to think that 20p in every pound is a wholly acceptable offer and that HMRC should therefore accept it with a thunderous applause. I for one would like to know why they believe a multi million pound business should avoid paying tax, whilst playing in the highest division in English football.

Why is that acceptable? That a football club playing in the highest tier of English football, making the money that they were making should avoid a national law, whilst we 'normal` people must pay our tax bills in full? What would the revenue say if you were to just phone them up and say 'how does 20% sound for you?`

Football clubs pay tax just like any other business, and those who fail to pay those taxes face the legal consequences. The very fact that Chester City football club went bust over a tax bill which was less than 0.1% of the money owed by Pompey?

That is not victimisation that`s evading justice.

Entering administration and incurring a 9pt deduction -

The second action put against the football club that for some reason is not fair on them according to the blue few.

I think they will find that it is very much fair, Leeds United, Leicester city, ourselves, Bournemouth, Luton, Rotherham and every other club that has ever entered administration, has had points deducted. It`s the law of the game.

And yet the skates still see this as unfair treatment on their 'do good` community club?

Maybe they should be thankful that the Premier League were kind enough to give them the deduction this year rather than carry it on into the championship, this is clearly victimisation of course.

The fact that they would be relegated anyway and therefore the deduction has had no effect is of course ignored.

Not only did they have every reason to lose those points, they lost them in the most redundant way possible, can someone explain how the Premier League is still victimising them?

Portsmouth fans need to face some reality, something they have failed to do over the last 18 months or so, perhaps what`s worse is that this 'were victims of a conspiracy` opinion from the blinded blue half has started to affect those outside they`re little bubble. The media and even some of our own fans have started to talk about how Portsmouth have been treated so badly.

So if you are ever tempted by this victim opinion put out by the fans of Portsmouth, just remember the small businesses who will lose out, just remember the football clubs who are no longer with us who have just failed to compete, remember the fact that they`re points deductions have done nothing compared to the punishments faced by so many honest clubs.

And to any Portsmouth fans out there -

If you think that your club are victims then think again, it is your club that built up this debt, not the Premier League and not the HMRC, and it is time many of you gained the humility and courage to admit that this mess is your fault.

Your club are not blameless at all in this, and be thankful that you even have a club because some people have lost theirs.

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