Karren and David's arrests are a violation of their human rights

I feel compelled to address the issue that set a cloud over Birmingham City last week, and express my disdain over how Karren Brady and David Sullivan have been treated. Their arrests have tarnished and tainted their reputation unjustly.

It was, to put it mildly, unnecessary to arrest David and Karren, but the police did so to ensure all questions were answered over monies paid. I can guarantee to the fullest that both Karren and David have nothing but the best interest of the club in their hearts and they have received no personal gain in any transfer deal. 

This leaves accountancy errors as the only possible issue, not something that justifies the atrocious treatment the authorities have subjected both Karren and David to.

Birmingham have, without fail, been nothing but supportive of police investigations since we were initially approached eight months ago. I was dismayed, therefore, when the club offices were raided three weeks ago.

Again we were accommodating and agreed to further interviews and answered all questions asked of us. This is why I was furious with the arrests made last week.

I am a great supporter of the law and for what it stands for, and normally how it is represented, but there has been an abuse of power in this case. I think it is a violation of Karren and David’s human rights, and rubbishes the democracy we should be proud to live in.

Addressing more football matters, following the results from the weekend we have found ourselves in a less amicable position than last week. I believe our destiny is in our hands, and three points against Everton would not have been an unfair outcome. Instead, we were only able to gain one point from the match.

We were unfortunate that things didn’t go our way, but I am still optimistic. I would much rather be in the position we are in than any of our competitors Bolton, Fulham or Reading. We have the points advantage over Bolton and Fulham and have two home games still to play, which favours our position over Reading.

Ultimately, somebody determines their own fate, and the pieces of the puzzle seem to be fitting into place for Birmingham. We have James McFadden returning from injury for our upcoming games, which is a blessing and with Mauro Zarate’s current form he could be the secret weapon in our armoury.

He scored a super free-kick last weekend and finished clinically twice against Manchester City two weeks ago. We are yet to cement our place in the Premier League and have found ourselves combating relegation for the majority of our Premiership tenure, but I full heartedly believe that staying up is achievable.

We have fought ourselves back from relegation battles before, showing the underlying fire and ambition at the club and I fully believe this ethos can help us establish ourselves in the Premiership.

My thoughts on the FA Cup Final

Football is a wonderful game but it is also about sub-plots, this is currently illustrated both in the league and FA Cup. That's what helps keep our fascination.

Managers play a part these days like they didn't used to, disputes between directors - or even ex-managers and their old board - play a part these days like they didn't used to. It all adds to the interest and intrigue.

In terms of the FA Cup Final, the sub-plot is, I suppose, Harry Redknapp, the 'people's champion' reaching his first final and Portsmouth, last appearing in the FA Cup final 69 years ago. With Cardiff City, there's Peter Ridsdale, a hero to some people, a villain to others.

And having a Welsh team in the final in itself adds to the excitement. Because of these sub-plots, we've probably arrived at the best formula for the FA Cup Final.

Also, with my Birmingham hat on, it will be nice to see two of our former players, Darren Purse and Tony Capaldi, of Cardiff, involved in probably the biggest day in the domestic calendar.

Comments

[Jarrad Wilkes]

Funniest thing I have read all week, a hilarious article.

What about Eduardo's human right to play a game of football without having his career shattered David?

[Andrew]

Isn't the problem that a change in the law/procedures means that they now need to 'arrest' a suspect before they can question them if there is a chance it goes to court - the problem is the media cannot understand the difference between arrest and charging - just as is the case in a number of other recent cases (including Madeline McCann in Portugal). It is only if someone is charged that the police believe there is a case to answer, an arrest just means that there are questions that have to be answered and those arrested MAY have to go to court if the answers to those questions indicate illegality so and arrest means that those answers can be used in court since they are undertaken under caution - without arrest they are not under caution and so cannot be used in court. It is a legal definition not an accusation of wrong doing

[Sophie]

I think David's been a little strong with 'human rights violation', but I would be interested to know the police justification for having to arrest them rather than simply questioning them. Particularly over what, by all accounts, seems to have been an administrative error which, you would suspect, occurred at a lower level than the owner and the MD. Far be it from me to be cynical about this, but Harry Redknapp was arrested months ago and has yet to be charged, nothing has actually happened of any note to bring any of these allegations to court. Sounds like a lot of noise and not much substance from the Police, perhaps David and Karren were arrested for the headlines and the illusion that the investigation is getting somewhere...

[Joseph]

Lets face it Martin, David Golds reputation with the fans is so low that it couldn't get tarnished much more. If Mr Golds wants my sympathy after the way he supported the 39th game, he can forget it!
Also, Birmingham do well out of transfers - Birminghams value goes up. Birminghams value goes up - Gold makes more money when he sells his shares.
Whether you believe is his intentions were purely innocent, it doesn't change the fact that the guy wants to make as much money as possible; whether it's at the fans expense or not? I'm sure he sleeps with a clear conscious either way.

[Gavin Dunn]

It'd bring a tear to a glass eye: Guantanamo Bay, Darfur, Tibet, St Andrews...human rights violations that are a stain on all our consciences.

Mr Gold should give it a rest really. What was it Simon Jordan said about impaling himself on one of the Gold Bros' "marital aids" again?