Deducting clubs points retrospectively could help in battle against the ‘diving ballerinas’

ALL the protestations from Rangers manager Ally McCoist about the two game ban imposed by the SFA on Sone Aluko are all very well and fine (‘I’m angry, they’ve called my player a cheat and a liar’, Scotsman Sport, 9 December). Rangers emerge, however, with three league points, despite the SFA verdict. Dunfermline remain pointless.

As Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston said: “Whatever the SFA come up with, it’s not going to benefit Dunfermline,” and added: “We have lost the points full stop. We can’t chalk off the penalty and make it 1-1.”

Could it be that this is indeed the solution to a form of cheating in football that is all too leniently looked upon but can have grave financial consequences for the clubs that are league points victims of the offence? Perhaps rewinding the match clock is indeed the best way to put an end to these match malpractices. Having goals retrospectively chalked off will definitely impact on any intentions to thus benefit by cheating.

I watched a re-run the other night of the 0-0 draw between Scotland and Brazil in Frankfurt in the 1974 World Cup and the amount of what today would be termed blatant fouling was incredible. While yellow cards were flying about like confetti, against Brazil players, not one was sent off.

Scotland outplayed their glorified opponents, their manager was one unglorified Willie Ormond, and maybe not only was Scotland’s national team far superior to today’s, but the people’s game in a healthier state of play.

Nor did I see one single penalty kick awarded. Plenty of free kicks and crackers from Peter Lorimer and Roberto Rivelino (when he wasn’t engaged in downing his opponents).

Maybe that’s the trouble, the robustness has been taken from the game, and the diving ballerinas have been given the stage.

IAN JOHNSTON

Forman Drive

PETERHEAD

If Rangers go on to win the SPL, perhaps they should show their gratitude to this country’s referees, who, so far, by the proverbial mile have given them more contentious penalty awards at vital times than any other team.

Again, on Saturday at Easter Road, I watched Lee Wallace and Michael Hart, two big hefty men, tussle and fight for the ball, in a typical meaty clash in the Hibs penalty box.

Wallace, who was giving at least as much as he was taking, went over as if hit by bus. As happened at Ibrox last Saturday, the referee bought it, Rangers scored and the game was instantly changed.

These incidents generally occur in front of stands filled with with Rangers fans.

Perhaps our referees should be given some kind of ear plug that drowns out the noise of fans baying for a penalty and clearly sways them in their decision making.

By the way, Rangers were the better team on Saturday and deserved to win.

ALEXANDER MCKAY

New Cut Rigg

EDINBURGH