Phew! SFA cured of deafness to disown Scots booing own anthem!

Scotland’s latest 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland (the one in which visiting fans were heard to boo any player even suspected to be a supporter of any team with close cultural links to the Republic) appears to have caused consternation amongst those in the know at the SFA (which, for the avoidance of doubt does not stand for “Sweet Fanny Adams” or any less polite descriptive terms).

Apparently, the disquiet was caused by some Scotland fans booing “Northern Ireland's national anthem”, God Save the Queen, according to The Herald’s Martin McMillan, (a writer who exists in name only). The association that ruled “no action” over the Unionist Supremacists’ songbook and has yet to notice racist singing against Scotland’s Irish community was "obviously disappointed that a minority of our fans chose not to respect the visitors' national anthem.”

"The Tartan Army have a richly-deserved reputation as fantastic ambassadors for their country. We do not condone this kind of behaviour."

Furthermore, though the Scotsman wasted only a few lines on the matter, The Herald’s “Name-With-No-Man” reassured us that UEFA spokesman William Gaillard was unable to impose sanctions against Scotland.

The Herald also found an indignant spokesman for the Tartan Army and an unnamed Scottish Government source while even FIFA were mentioned, if only to be declared as disinterested.

With all due respect to the non-existent Martin McMillan, a name that The Herald often applies to PA Scotland stories coined by Rangers historian Ronnie Esplin, a brief moment’s consideration of the facts would have saved the paper some column inches and the Sweet FA the embarrassment of making fools of themselves.

“God Save the Queen” is Northern Ireland’s “national anthem” by dint of the provincial counties’ inclusion in the United Kingdom – an honour shared with Scotland, Wales and England.

It is therefore unfeasible to hold the Scottish fans to account for booing what is, officially, their own anthem.

That, the SFA and The Herald might like to ponder, makes this latest report, officially a non-story. Now, if anyone at either institution has any time to spare, they might question the relevance and good taste of songs referring to the Irish potato famine, the defining event in creating the Irish diaspora, of which Scotland’s Irish community is only one unique manifestation.

Sound bites at the ready, folks, it must be coming soon.






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