Spin It All You Like, But, We're Still Shite

RIGHT, that's it, we who care about Scottish Football MUST immediately become SNP supporters; because, I reckon, after Celtic's curt dismissal by Juventus, the only way we can make any impact on the continent is by joining the EU in our own right, post-independence.

Of course the MSM (mainstream media), with its legion of Celtic spin doctors and cheer leaders will try to put a positive spin on the Hoops' dismissal; the cyberwarriors will do their: "Na,na, na-na, we're in Europe, you're gaun tae Berwick, ha, ha, ha" points-scoring, but, the fact was - Celtic, by a lang Scots mile the best side in Scotland, got their arses kicked, you can take no other interpretation from a five-goal hammering.

Reality says, Juve are better-funded, have better players and play in a better league. No arguments here, but, if funding and talent counted, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods would be contesting sudden death play-offs in every golf tournament and it would always come down to the big four in the semi-finals of every tennis tournament.

But, in real life, it doesn't happen. Had Celtic gone down by the odd-goal in five or something, then it was a good European campaign, but, a five-goal thumping.

How much worse does it have to get before we sort ourselves out?

THE big talking point about the European games was, of course, Nani's red-carding at Old Trafford on Tuesday night. Now, I must admit, my first reaction was that the Turkish referee had over-reacted. Sure, Nani's boot was up, there was contact, so, initially I thought a yellow card might suffice.

In fact, having seen it from the umpteen different angles which ITV provided, I still think it was no worse than a yellow. HOWEVER, one of the said camera angles offered pretty much the same view as the referee had, and, from that single angle - it looked a clear red card.

This brings us back to the point at which 21st century TV coverage does football, and in particular referees, no favours. Thanks to the multi-angled view TV coverage offers us, we get a fuller and more-rounded picture of events than the referee gets. He had one sighting, from one angle, in real time, from which to make his decision.

And, from that one snap view, from that single angle - he decided it was a red card. I just wish managers and pundits would remember that before rushing to condemn the official.

At least the man in the middle at Old Trafford made a decision. What about the team, referee, touchline assistants and additional behind the goal statues who did absolutely nothing about Juve's blatant offending at corners and free kicks at Celtic Park.

A couple of red cards there, which were blatantly-obvious, and Celtic might still be in Europe.

AND speaking of men doing nothing, I see that annual farce, the IFAB (International Football Associations Board) meeting came and went from Edinburgh at the weekend.

A nice chance for the odious Sepp Blatter and the ridiculous Stewart Regan to try to clean-up their tarnished images with a couple of photo-opportunities.

Sure, FIFA and the SFA spent some cash on five star-accommodation, great food and wine, a wee bit of football was talked, but, precious little was done.

International football, getting more like international politics every day - what a waste of time and money.