Ferguson and McGregor banned from Scotland team for life

Published on Friday 3 April 2009 09:45

FOOTBALLERS Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor have been banned from ever representing Scotland again, the Scottish Football Association has confirmed.

The decision is understood to have been taken after a meeting between SFA chief Executive Gordon Smith and team manager George Burley.

A statement put out by the SFA this afternoon said: "Following on from the events of the past week - and specifically the last 48 hours - the Scottish FA has today confirmed that Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor will no longer be considered for International selection by Scotland.

"The decision was taken following further discussions today between the National Team Manager and the Scottish FA Chief Executive.

"This action has been taken in the best interests of the squad, the fans and the country. Everyone is determined to qualify for the World Cup and we must ensure that nothing is allowed to distract us from this goal."

Edinburgh-born McGregor and Ferguson, who both play for Rangers, were demoted to the bench for the crunch game against Iceland at Hampden on Wednesday.

The move was punishment for the pair reportedly drinking until 11am on Sunday in the bar of the plush Cameron House Hotel, where the team is based, after returning from the defeat to Holland in Amsterdam.

And cameras spotted the duo apparently making V-signs to the Tartan Army during the Scotland Iceland match.

This morning it emerged that their club manager at Rangers, Walter Smith, had dropped both players and stripped Ferguson of the club captaincy as a direct result of the gestures made at the Iceland game.

The exasperated Ibrox boss said that the drinking session which involved "lot of other players" was not his concern, but said that the players crossed the line with their public display of petulance.

"The disciplinary aspect of the weekend's stories is something for George to act on," he said. "We're unhappy at that situation – that's left to the international group as much as anything else.

"The most disappointing aspect for me was the subsequent reaction on the bench. From the club's point of view I don't think that was a good image to portray."