Mackay: Racism row won’t affect players

MALKY MACKAY is confident that animosity between Ross County and Dundee United over unfounded accusations of racism will have no bearing on today’s clash in Dingwall. United boss Tam Courts held up a Show Racism the Red Card T-shirt in front of the Staggies’ away support at Tannadice in October after midfielder Jeando Fuchs alleged he’d been racially abused by a fan. County, the SPFL and police carried out investigations and no evidence of wrongdoing was found. The Highland club were furious at Courts’ actions at the final whistle but the Tannadice boss felt he had no reason to apologise. County boss Mackay insisted yesterday that the incident won’t ‘have any effect on the playing side at all’. However, in a thinly-veiled criticism of Courts, he said: ‘There were events there that I don’t think, at times, put certain people in a good light, but I was very impressed by Steven Ferguson, our chief executive, and the way he and club secretary Fiona MacBean handled it. ‘We were proven to be correct in terms of the process they went through with the league, the football authorities and the police. ‘It was excellent for the club, but more so for our supporters who are a fantastic group of people. ‘You would hope lessons will be learned in certain quarters about how to handle things. ‘But as far as the actual football side of things goes, no, the pitch is the pitch. ‘We’ll be concentrating on football and I’m absolutely sure Dundee United will be as well.’ Mackay, whose side are just a point behind Dundee at the bottom of the table, added: ‘It’s a tough game against a team that’s doing well.’