Singer Rod Stewart puts boot into FA over Alyshia's cup final ban

ROD Stewart has blasted the English FA for refusing to change a "ridiculous" rule that prevents a rising football star leading her team in finals south of the Border.

The singer backed calls for a change in the FA regulations which prevent Bathgate Academy pupil Alyshia Walker from taking her team to Under-13 finals because she is female.

The 13-year-old captain's cause has found celebrity backers who have spoken of their disgust at the outdated rules.

Speaking on BBC's The One Show last night, the 66-year-old singer, whose father is from Leith, told chat show hosts Chris Evans and Alex Jones: "Change the bloody rules, that's ridiculous."

Alyshia, Fauldhouse Foxes' top scorer, took her side to the finals of the Tesco Cup in Birmingham by winning the youth Scottish Cup but has been told she cannot play tomorrow as it is governed by English FA rules. Another guest on the show, former Hibs and Scotland keeper Jim Leighton, said the FA should be encouraging both girls and boys to become involved in sport, not making it more difficult. Christine Walker, 44, from Blackburn, said she was overwhelmed that Rod Stewart and Jim Leighton had backed her daughter.

She said: "Alyshia was thrilled to be sitting next to Rod Stewart and Jim Leighton. Rod said the rules were "ridiculous" and Jim said he would have thought that we should be trying to encourage kids to play sport whatever gender.

"It's a completely outdated rule and we're keeping our fingers crossed for an 11th hour change.

"Whatever happens Alyshia will be supporting the team."

Pressure has mounted on the English FA and competition sponsors Tesco to intervene, while Alyshia's cause has won cross-party support after new Lothians MSP Neil Findlay brought a parliamentary motion to change "what is considered to be discrimination".

Iain Shaw, league secretary of the West Lothian Association of Youth Football Clubs, added: "Alyshia has shown a great deal of confidence and the only people who look bad in this are the English FA, who have been shown up for their immaturity.

"Obviously the match is tomorrow and there's only a slim chance anything would change - but in football I would never say never."

[email protected]