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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Evander the real deal and an opportunity missed

In the most entertaining football biography ever, Tony Cascarino recounted an incident involving Jack Charlton.

Members of the Republic of Ireland squad were showing off to each other, practising tricks, none of which impressed the boss. Eventually Big Jack took the ball and said: “Have you seen the one I can do?” He then rolled the ball a few yards with the side of his foot before saying, “Hardest thing in football,” and walking off.

The lesson was obvious – fancy touches look very clever but those players who can just take up good positions, control the ball and reliably move it to a team-mate are a rare and often under-appreciated breed.

I was reminded of that with the news that Evander Sno had left Celtic for Ajax. Having never played a first-team game for Feyenoord, Sno nevertheless arrived at Celtic in 2006 as a hot tip for future success. Early on in his Celtic career he looked likely to justify that expectation, marrying his height and athleticism with a cool head and an admirable ability to play simple passes in high-pressure games.

He was soon being compared to Neil Lennon and thought of as a natural successor to the former captain, though Sno’s mobility prompted many to predict that he would be a star of international standing (indeed he was soon to be included in the Netherlands full squad).

However, there is nothing as unreliable as precocious talent. Partly hampered by injuries, far from cementing his position as a regular midfield starter, in his few appearances in the earlier part of his second season, the player look to have regressed. The cool head appeared to have lost its way to a casual attitude, the first touch was less sound and the passing careless. In one of the most unforgiving areas of the park, he suddenly seemed to be a liability and far from a viable option in the team.

Still, there remained signs that there was immense potential if Evander could channel his frustration at drifting to the fringes of the squad towards tidying up his game rather than simply looking elsewhere. Like many a young man in a hurry he seemed to want a quick fix for the symptoms of his decline rather than working to find a cure.

Today, he has another chance and one that I suspect he will exploit to the full. Under the tutelage of Marco Van Basten – a man who clearly still believes in him – he has the opportunity to return to his home country and establish himself at one of Europe’s foremost clubs.

It will be no surprise to me or many other observers if he becomes a fixture in the Ajax and Dutch national teams before long, and that prospect will cause many to watch the player’s progress wistfully. There is room for a feeling that Celtic lost an opportunity with Sno – but the burden of proof lies with him.

Good luck, Evander.





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Rangers clear-out the dead bricks

As Rangers move onto the next level with a £700 million pound super-stadium, Sir David Moonbeam is ready to clear out the dead bricks from Ibrox Park.

An Ibrox insider revealed: “Rangers’ buy-a-brick scheme is internationally-renowned but the club is always moving forward and we now need bricks to take us to the next level.

“We are under no pressure to sell and do not anticipate any quality bricks leaving. However, some bricks may have to make way. Some could be loaned out and some, unfortunately, may leave us with no choice due to sell-on clauses.

“Believe me when I tell you, we are going for it this time. Sure, we have a listed façade and that will always remain in place. But, for our £700 million stadium, we are looking for a quality of brick that hasn’t been seen in Scotland before.”

That will be bad news for Celtic whose ageing stadium is unlikely to be able to keep up with its southside rival. In fact, a scenario is emerging whereby Rangers are strutting the world stage with their super-stadium while Celtic are confined to domestic oblivion.

Some Rangers supporters groups have already asked for assurances that all brick money will be re-invested but our source allayed those fears: “I can categorically assure you that will be the case.”

OUT: Some of the bricks whose Ibrox days may be numbered.





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