Vogts quits with parting shot at 'abusive' fans and media

Published on Tuesday 2 November 2004 01:03

Key points

• Vogts cites abuse from fans and media victimisation in resignation

• Scotland look certain to miss 2006 World Cup with current qualifying results

• Tartan army spokesman saddened by end to good relationship with Vogts

Key quote

"The major factor in this decision has been the disgraceful abuse that I have suffered, especially of late. It has degenerated into a physical nature, especially on recent occasions where I have been spat upon" - Berti Vogts, former Scotland manager

Story in full BERTI Vogts launched a scathing attack on supporters and the media after resigning as Scotland’s national football coach yesterday.

He cited "disgraceful abuse" from some sections of the Tartan Army and victimisation in the media as the main reasons why he quit.

Vogts is standing down after Scotland took only two points from a possible nine in the first three World Cup qualifying games, making it almost certain that the team will not reach the finals in Germany in 2006. He also failed to take Scotland to the finals of Euro 2004.

As he brought his troubled two and a half year spell in charge of the national team to an end, he said that "abuse ... has degenerated into a physical nature, especially on recent occasions when I have been spat upon".

However, the former German international, who won the World Cup as a player in 1974 and the European Championship as a manager in 1996, said that he had enjoyed his time in charge and the "warmth" of the Scottish people.

The Tartan Army’s leaders welcomed the news that Vogts had quit, but said they were disappointed that a previously good relationship with the fans appeared to have gone sour.

Vogts’ salary at the Scottish Football Association was worth up to 500,000 a year, and a pay-off would have cost approximately a year’s salary because he had been under contract until 2006. The SFA would not reveal details of what financial arrangement they reached with Vogts, saying only that he was leaving by "mutual consent".

In a remarkable "personal statement", released on his behalf by the SFA, Vogts said: "The major factor in this decision has been the disgraceful abuse that I have suffered, especially of late. It has degenerated into a physical nature, especially on recent occasions where I have been spat upon.

"This is not acceptable behaviour in a civilised society, and I know that the vast majority of Scots will join me in my disgust at this act by a very tiny minority. The abuse is something that people in public life must get used to, but now it is having a serious effect upon my home life.

"I cannot sit by, as no-one would, to be involved in the abuse that I have to endure, and it is this that has made this very hard decision inevitable."

Vogts went on to blame the media for provoking some supporters, complaining of the "unacceptable power of the tabloid press to influence its readership".

One of the manager’s most strident critics, Charlie Nicholas, the former international striker who is now best known as a television pundit, called for further resignations at the SFA and also hit out at the Tartan Army, saying that he had also suffered abuse from Scotland fans.

He said: "The SFA hierarchy - David Taylor and John McBeth - live in the past. It is not just about Berti moving on, or bringing in Gordon Strachan or Walter Smith [the leading candidates to replace Vogts].

"The top managers won’t touch it, and that’s pretty much down to the people that run it. It is run predominantly by amateurs and it’s time to put in professionals. Until they do that, the problem won’t go away."

Nicholas, who was the subject of the Tartan Army’s anger during an international against Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year after he attacked Vogts’ management style, said: "The fans deep down have not got great knowledge of it, let’s be honest.

"As soon as they get beaten and the written press change their philosophy, that’s when people start their vendettas and get abusive. That’s been there for a long time - this has happened before. I received abuse from fans because I was critical of them and the team."

Hamish Husband, a spokesman for the Tartan Army supporters’ clubs, said fans had stuck by Vogts despite embarrassing results such as a 2-2 draw with the Faroe Islands, a 4-0 defeat by Wales, a 5-0 loss to France and a 6-0 rout at the hands of the Dutch.

"We got on great with him," Mr Husband said. "He’s a football man and he was very passionate about Scotland. We knew he had an extremely difficult task, coming into Scotland at a time when we didn’t have very good footballers.

"That kept the supporters onside through a serious of dreadful results. He could have come in for a lot more criticism. The fans had been behind Berti despite the results, up until the Norway and Moldova games.

"Berti seems to accept no responsibility himself, but you are judged on results."

Mr Husband was at a loss as to when the alleged spitting incident might have happened. Scottish fans did express their anger at the airport in Moldova after the 1-1 draw, but Mr Husband said he did not believe anyone had actually spat at the Scotland manager.

"I was with about 30 or 40 people in the airport [in Moldova] and nobody saw the alleged incidents. That’s not to say these things haven’t happened elsewhere," he said.

"I’m disappointed it’s ending like this, because the fans were very protective of Berti and it was always felt that Berti had a great relationship with them. I’m sorry it’s been soured."

The SNP’s sports spokesman, Michael Matheson, said no-one should be abused in the way Vogts had described, but he added: "I welcome his decision to resign. He’d clearly lost the respect of the Tartan Army."

• Berti Vogts's statement in full