KEATINGS?
Amid this snobbery yesterday was the irony over their handling of the James Keatings miscarriage of justice.
In extremis when properly translated? It means: “At the point of death.”’
How fitting for the SFA, which is a prehistoric wreck of an institution.
But all the big words and legalese in the world couldn’t disguise the measure of panic contained therein.
Let’s make it simple and use rhyming slang: Are you at the Buster Keaton?
It’s been a torturous few days of farce and indignation as Inverness battled to clear the name of their star.
The striker was shown a second yellow card for diving in last Sunday’s 2-1 Challenge Cup semifinal victory over Rangers Colts. An appeal by Inverness was controversially dismissed by a three- man SFA tribunal on Wednesday. We all know by now that match ref Greg Aitken should never have handed the player a second yellow for diving.
Video evidence shows there was clear contact from Ciaran Dickson.
Nobody but nobody saw it as simulation other than the nameless trio who somehow sat on a panel and deemed Aiken’s decision as the correct one.
The only conclusion to be drawn is that it must have been taken over a liquid lunch inside some pub in Mount Florida. However, the game’s governing body have now said that decision is invalid as one of the former referees looking into the case did not consider all available evidence.
A second appeal hearing will now take place. To summarise the statement: The SFA are admitting the panel reached the wrong conclusion but K e a t i n g s remains banned until another p a ne l is convened to get it right. I genuinely believe SFA chief exexecutive Ian Maxwell ( left) to be a tatalented and forward- thinking adadministrator.
WWe’ve been friends for years. But the propromises of radical solutions, a modern appapproach and to unsettle the applecart havhave failed to materialise.
It happens. Sometimes the job just becbecomes too comfortable to start puttingting noses out of joint.
HeH doesn’t take well to criticism and strangely,stra he hit the red button last week when I called him. President Rod Petrie is an unpleasant presence hovering above Maxwell and, in truth, pulling far too many strings for someone who’s promotion should have been vetoed and this vanity role expunged from the SFA committee structure.
Keatings should now be cleared to play in a competition that had taken already taken the biscuit.
The Tunnock ’ s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup was a branding sell- out that made our game a laughing stock.
The SFA have surpassed themselves with their incompetence – but now they’ve committed what should be the mortal crime of raising a question mark over their honesty and integrity.
The very foundation of their body needs to be all about trust.
Yet they admit the independent panel failed to implement their duties. Begging a pardon – but what?
The statement continued it’s mealy mouthed ramble.
“Chief Executive and Presidential team, Rod Petrie and Mike Mulraney, are unanimous that the tribunal outcome cannot be considered competent.”
Call a spade a spade please, name names and take responsibility – and save some face too by telling Keatings today that he has a cup final to look forward to.
Conspiracy theorists now have their fuel and Scottish footbal l is being tarnished by these blazers who need to get out their Latin phrase book and ‘ Cadere in gladio’.
Sadly, falling on your sword just isn’t honourable enough for those wearing an SFA tie.
committed the mortal crime of raising a question mark over their honesty and integrity. The foundation of their body needs to be about trust