Posts Tagged: SFA


22
Jan 10

Common sense prevails

So Dunfermline, somewhat against the odds, manage to salvage their Scottish Cup campaign as their expulsion from the competition is successfully overturned on appeal. A replay and a massive fine are the end result, one which, given the circumstances, is probably the correct one. For Dunfermline, preparations for the replay can begin but the club must feel the pressure as the stakes where raised considerably once the verdict was announced. Continue reading →


21
Jan 10

Scottish football integrity is maintained

Browsing through the various football sites today, waiting for the SFA to decide just what the hell to do about the whole Dunfermline fiasco, it struck me that this seems to be a good time to be a lawyer with a healthy business in Scottish football litigation.

I don’t know much about the law, but I do know a lot about how these drama’s usually play out.

You can bet the house and all the furniture in it, that no matter what happens (apart from the SFA telling Dunfermline to get it right up them), Stenhousemuir will appeal the decision. And they’re probably quite right too; after all, there’s a lot of money at stake here. And nevermind pride – once you go out to Celtic in the next round, think of all that lovely lolly in your bank account, estimated to run into quite a large number, relatively speaking.

Look, the way I see it, everyone’s a winner: Dunfermline’s legal team get their money no matter what, as do Stenhousemuir’s when their appeal against Dunfermline’s appeal fails, Celtic progress to the next round after an easy game, and, following the inevitable 9-0 trashing (or 4-0 if Dunfermline win their appeal), the SFA can proudly state that the integrity of Scottish football has been maintained. Continue reading →


15
Jan 10

Integrity is no substitute for common sense

Did you know that in Switzerland it is illegal to flush the toilet after 10 PM? Or that in Thailand, it is illegal to leave your house without wearing underwear? In Los Angeles, a man can legally beat his wife with a leather belt or strap, but the belt can’t be wider than 2 inches, unless he has his wife’s consent to beat her with a wider strap.

And in Scotland, failing to check the paperwork prior to a Scottish Cup game can have you expelled from the competition. Crazy. Continue reading →


8
Jan 10

Football Shorts

With the fourth round of the Scottish Cup taking place this weekend it was always going to be a quiet time in Scottish football. But thanks to the weather, it’s going to be even quieter. Unless you’re East Fife’s lawyer, that is .. Continue reading →


20
Nov 09

On Messrs McGregor, Ferguson and Boyd

There’s very little that surprises us here at Inside Left Towers these days.

When we first heard SFA Chief Executive Gordon Smith blithely announce – only days after he sacked his national team manager – that those pariahs of the Scottish game, Allan McGregor, Barry Ferguson and Kris Boyd would be eligible for selection by any future Scotland manager, we shrugged our shoulders and moved on.

Continue reading →