Scottish Fitba Is Corrupt To The Core

CELTIC GIVE UP A LEAD then have a player red-carded, dropping behind Rangers in the title race and failing to cut into Hearts' lead at the top of the SPL table – cue outrage, a media storm and yet another example of that old chestnut: “Celtic: Never defeated – always cheated”.

The Cellik Man in the next bed to me in the hospital ward had a relapse watching the game, before unleashing a tirade of abuse at VAR Official John Beaton. In this instance, with justification – Auston Trusty was never the last man, it was never a red card. You could chalk it up as yet another in the lengthy litany of “honest mistakes” made by Scottish officials. However, John Beaton has what in legal terms is known as “previous” when it comes to decisions which have cost Celtic.

The High Heid Yins of the game have made a total bollocks of VAR. Rugby Union hasn't got it right, but, their use of Television Match Officials – not least the protacol whereby the exchange between the team on the park and the man in the TV truck is broadcast live to the crowd in big games means, everyone knows the thinking and the process – there are no secrets.

Mind you, even if Football went down the Rugby Union route for clarity, where the Bigot Brothers are concerned, there would still be controversy and claims of nefarious practices.

Scottish Fitba – the basket case that keeps on giving. That said, on Sunday, following events at Tynecastle and Ibrox via the BBC Shortbread website, with Rangers toiling to break down a stubborn Dee defence, I was wondering when the home team would get their penalty.

This duly arrived late in the second half, James Tavernier slotting home his 100^th League goal, before a further two strikes enabled the blue half of Glasgow to overhaul the green half into second place in the table.

THE CURRENT manification of: “I may have mentioned the War, but, I think I got away with it” is probably the Scottish mainstream media's attitude to the suggestion – apparently being driven by Falkirk - that we revert to a 16-club top league.

As I see it, going back to a 16-club top flight, while it has its merits, would be nothing other than shuffling the deck-chairs on the Titanic. I am a fan of the moves which have seen a Scottish Football Pyramid formed, but for all its merits, I feel we should go down the North American road of having one Major and a few Minor Leagues.

We all know, the biggest problem in Scottish Football is – we have two teams who are individually, far less together, bigger than the other 40 “Senior” clubs combined – as long as they have a determination to act together, given the rules governing the game here, they will influence matters unduly. The sooner they can be hived off into an NFL-style European League, or integrated into the English Premiership, the better.

Without the Bigot Brothers, there would be some half a dozen clubs each season fancing their chances of winning the league – and, IF the revamped Scottish League was properly set-up and managed, with a CBA – that's a Combined Business Agreement, an essential part of how the NFL is managed, was in place, so much the better.

Even with the Bigot Brothers involved, a revamp might work, but I would suggest we would need to have certain changes in-place: stadium infrastructure, pitch protection, stadium capacity and seating. If 16 clubs could meet the agreed criteria, great, but we ought perhaps to be looking at a maximum of 20 clubs to begin with.

Ideally, we could go further down the North American organisation road, by having two conferences: for me the DALGLISH and LAW Conferences have a nice ring.

And finally – any changes to the roganisation of the Scottish Leagues MUST include introduction of Charles Young Esq's suggestion: “The Eight Diddies Rule” whereby, each team must have eight Scotland-Qualified players on the field at all times. We have to pro-actively advance the cause of home-grown players.

FINALLY – I am indifferent to Celtic FC, I don't care who beats them domestically. I am pissed off by their victim attitude and their “Never defeated – always cheated” whining.

That said, the decision not to rescind Auston Trusty's red card is nothing short of disgraceful and demonstrates that the High Heid Yins of our game couldnae run a menauge.