The Fir Park miscreants should have had differential treatment
THE post-match stramash at Fir Park (“Game of shame”, The Herald, June 1) may well result in action hitherto unconsidered by all involved authorities. First, why were persons clearly involved in a suspected breach of the peace not instantly detained by the police for interview and possibly detained in the cells overnight? Assuredly, if the miscreants had been members of the public such procedure would have taken place. There is already precedent involving assault on the field of play resulting in criminal conviction.
Secondly, had Motherwell FC not limited the away support to around 1,500 fans the reaction could have occasioned greater mayhem. I would suggest that such practice may well be seriously considered again, albeit gate revenues would drastically suffer.
Due to the swift intervention of club backroom staff and some players the ugly altercation was quickly defused. Unfortunately, the contributions of the stewarding and policing surrounding the flare-up appeared pedestrian at best. Allan C Steele, 22 Forres Avenue, Giffnock. THERE are times when it appears that Stewart Regan, the chief executive of the Scottish Football Association has been moderately successful in driving change at the association but then he spoils it when he feels the need to share his thoughts with the world
Sepp Blatter may not be ideal, but surely it is not too clever for Mr Regan to publicly bad-mouth him immediately after a vote where Mr Blatter has proved that he carries enough votes to get anything through the Fifa congress - including, one suspects, the removal of the anomalous rights of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to exist as independent countries within Fifa.
Mr Regan should perhaps reflect that few ever occupy a true high ground and most have feet of clay. The day of the Fifa vote, was also the anniversary of Heysel – a “JFK moment” for my generation. There can have seldom been any more insensitive decisions than that made by UEFA, the body that Michel Platini now heads, when it went ahead with this match. Mr Platini, now leading the anti-Blatter camp, whilst no doubt reluctantly playing football in front of an impromptu morgue, drew much criticism when he celebrated his winning goal. Robert Bennie, 1 Clayslaps Road, Glasgow. ONCE again, I have had to switch off my television set and turn to the radio coverage of a match from Hampden Park – on this occasion, the Scottish Cup Final – because of the intrusive, distracting and unsettling LED advertising boards on display parkside. All during the match, viewers were subjected to those awful moving and flashing adverts ,an event that is becoming all too common.
How dare the SFA subject licencepayers to this abomination while they are trying to watch and admire the beautiful game? Why do the authorities continue to get away with this imposition upon people like myself, who find it impossible to look at the screen for even a minute or two in these circumstances? Imagine trying to watch EastEnders or Coronation Street with the adverts on. Why should football be any different? Ian S Davidson, 21 Glen Lyon, East Kilbride.