Selection of Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor would suggest behaviour is acceptable to Levein

SCOTLAND international footballers Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor indulged in an early morning drinking session just three days before a crucial qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup. This demonstrated contempt for the national team manager, for their profession, and for the national jersey.

Subsequently, these players were televised making obscene gestures, seen throughout Scotland and beyond, not least by tens of thousands of Scotland's young people.

With the appointment of Craig Levein, it now seems that all this will be put in the past. According to the new manager, he will select available players, but it will be for any player to decide whether to accept selection. This is an abrogation of Levein's responsibilities, which demonstrates that the behaviour of the two players is acceptable to him. This will be a sad disappointment to all those who have admired Craig Levein over the years.

Football in Scotland is an unhealthy obsession. We have been conspicuously unsuccessful at international level for a long time, despite millions of pounds of Scottish Government and Lottery money being handed to the sport over the years.

When the Scottish Government is seeking role models with whom our young people can identify, are Ferguson and McGregor the kind of people they have in mind? If not, the government should let the Scottish Football Association know that if either player is selected again for Scotland, government funding (either direct or through public agencies) will be withdrawn.

If the government is unwilling to do this, ministers should not complain about the behaviour of youngsters or their lack of respect for authority.

ALAN R IRONS

Woodrow Road

Glasgow

THE Scottish Football Association is right to punish Dunfermline Athletic for playing the ineligible Calum Woods in the Scottish Cup against Stenhousemuir, not only for breaking the rules but for culpable ineptitude.

Woods had been listed by the SFA as suspended for this cup tie since the start of the season. Some Dunfermline fans were even pointing out the potential howler by the club before the game started when they heard the team sheets.

The club has said that because Woods only came on as a second-half substitute when the score was already 4-0 they were not trying to influence the game.

More to the point is how on earth they could have been so stupid as to bring him on as a substitute in a game already won when there must have been some doubt in their minds over his eligibility?

ALISTAIR DEY

West Savile Gardens

Edinburgh