CLARKE: WE WANT AMNESTY INTERNATIONALS
Scot says bookings should be written off for play-offs
BY
STEVE CLARKE wants the World Cup hopefuls to gang up and force rule makers to wipe the slate clean for the Qatar play-offs.
Scotland have EIGHT stars walking a suspension tight rope against Denmark tonight, a card away from missing the semi-final showdown next March.
Several other nations are in the same boat heading in to the play-offs and he is hoping they can put pressure on FIFA to rip up the rule book before the draw at the end of the month.
The Scotland boss (right), who will be without Scott McTominay and is sweating on the fitness of Lyndon Dykes, said: “It’s something which could possibly be addressed, but that is more a conversation for the guys above me. If all the teams that are involved in the play-offs could have a little head-to-head and decide... But they would have to do it very quickly.
“It would have to be done before the draw. That doesn’t leave them much time. Trying to get everybody to sit down and come to some kind of a resolution doesn’t often happen in such a short space of time.
“If it happened it would be good for all the countries involved.
“I’ve got a list of most of the nations and they are all up there with seven, eight, nine bookings.”
Clarke insisted his squad won’t be worried about cautions as they chase the point that will likely seal a place among the top seeds. He said: “You have to learn how to play a game with a yellow card hanging over your head.
“It’s almost impossible to manage because you have so many. You get to the point where who are you protecting and how are you going to do it?
“Over the course of a campaign you are going to pitch some up. We’ll just deal with it.” Clarke will give Dykes time but admitted the striker is touch and go – after getting crocked by Scotland team-mate Scott McKenna.
He said: “It was the game I watched him actually, QPR against Forest.
“There was a tackle with Scott McKenna and Dykes picked up an injury. He played the next two games for QPR but it was never quite right and it’s just flared up a little bit.
“We will have a look at him in the morning, but it is a 50-50 call.”
Addressing the challenge posed by the Danes, Clarke said: “They are one of the best sides in Europe. We respect that and we will go out there to play as well as we can against them.”