Over and out

I suppose that the defeat at Hampden last weekend to Italy which finally ended Scotland's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 ought not to have been a surprise. Following UEFA's (unwritten) rule, BIG TEAMS MUST QUALIFY, it really should have been expected that if Italy couldn't get the better of us on the pitch then the referee could be expected to do his thing. How else can anyone explain the decision to award the foul to Italy that lead to the winning goal. Or for that matter, the fact that 30 seconds earlier the officials missed another blatant foul when Gary Naysmith was body checked as he ran past his Italian marker. Both decisions were outrageous and indefensible. OK, Italy had a goal disallowed, which should have been awarded, but decisions like that are made regularly and as most people know, tend to even themselves out over time. So you take the rough with the smooth. Officials are human, so make mistakes. But what was it that the officials saw on Saturday that made them decide not to award free kicks to Scotland. Decisions that ultimately lost us the match. As far as I'm concerned it the BIG TEAMS MUST QUALIFY rule; or something more sinister. And if you don't believe the BIG TEAMS MUST QUALIFY rule, and want more evidence then I give you England and Russia. England 2-0 down at half time are awarded what can only be described as a "soft" penalty to get back in to the game. Fortunately, they were so incompetent that despite this leg up from the officials they still managed to lose. However, UEFA aren't so daft. Knowing England couldn't guarantee that they would deliver their side of the bargain, it turns out that the referee in Andorra does his best to ensure England's safe passage by sending off one of the Russians. Fortunately, despite UEFA's best efforts, England didn't make it, but as far as I'm concerned this is the exception that proves the rule. It's back to the mundanity of following Stenhousemuir this weekend, although for me I'm off on my travels again. Bristol City v Leicester City. A hastily rearranged match against Forfar, without consulting with me, means that once again I will miss a home match, but as ever my thoughts will be at Ochilview.