Sporting News and Events

Allan McGregor and Barry Ferguson, the Ranger pair had gone on a drinking marathon at the base of the Scotland squad on Loch Lomond. Though they later expressed their regret, the very fact that they flashed V-signs at TV cameras and photographers before the match against Iceland for the World Cup qualifier displayed their real feelings that offended the club reputation.

Taking cognisance of the fact that that it brought disrepute to the club, Glasgow Rangers issued a suspension order for a period of two weeks for the pair and also fined them. As soon as the incident came to the notice of the SFA they issued their verdict of a Life Ban on both the players on representing Scotland.

Now it appears that SFA is of the opinion this decision was made out of the heat of the moment and have backtracked, which is quite evident from the manner the chief executive of SFA Gordon Smith has showed when he refused to confirm the lifetime tenure of the ban. When pressed and questioned repeatedly he stuck to his reply that it was something that has to be looked in future. However the present exclusion of the two was confirmed. This appears to be so, since as long as George Burley is the manager of Scotland, there is no possibility that the either of the two would find a place in the team. However, the fact remains that in future when the regime changes there is a possibility that they may stage a comeback. So whilst McGregor and Ferguson might have dodged a bullet, we think it’ll be awhile before they decide to indulge in Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky, or any other strong alcoholic beverage before any football matches in the future. All the players involved in the breach of the discipline of the team were dealt with by the teams manager and were adequately made clear that this was a completely unacceptable action to him, the squad and the country and those players who stayed beyond 12pm drinking were penalised till this second incident took place.