Different Games - Different Attitudes

IT IS one of the oldest cliches in sport: “Rugby is a game for hooligans, played by gentlemen; football is a game for gentlemen, played by hooligans.” Of course, it is pure pish – there are some genuine hooligans in the rugby community, and some absolute gentlemen in the football world, just a there are – to use the 'Chewin' the Fat' description, “Good guys” and “wanks” in all walks of life.

At the weekend, on Saturday, we had Munster's Tadhg Beirne being condemned – everywhere but in Ireland – for a massive piece of “gamesmanship”, during his side's Heineken Champions Cup clash with Edinburgh.

Tadhg Beirne - a real hard man, criticised for milking a foul.

Poor wee Tadhg, all six foot six inches and 17 and a half stones of him, had brushed against Edinburgh prop Pierre Schoemann, who is a mere six foot and half an inch tall, by 18 stones 8 lbs in weight. Neither was moving at maximum velocity, and it was hardly a catch weight contest, but, Beirne collapsed as if taken-out by a sniper, and, after having a look at the TV footage, with the TMO (Television Match Official) Eric Gauzins, referee Pascal Gauzere reversed his earlier decision, to award Edinburgh a penalty. Instead he yellow-carded Schoemann, reversed the penalty he had already awarded Edinburgh. to now favour Munster, who in short order thereafter clinched the game.

Edinburgh made no public comment about Schoemann, but, the word on the streets is, Coach Richard Cockerill did not miss the big South African and hit the wall when he reviewed the match afterwards. Sure, Schoemann suffered a “brain fart” when he stepped into Beirne's path, but, the big Irishman made a ten-course banquet of the contact and got a result.

Scott Brown - a faux hard man, lauded for milking a foul

Then on Sunday, Celtic's Scott Brown stepped across behind Rangers' Alfredo Morelos and had a wee flick at the Colombian's left heel. Morelos stumbled slightly, then lashed out with his left arm, catching Brown across the upper chest/throat area – to see the Celtic captain collapse, holding his face. Red card for Morelos. Job done for Brown.

Brown was later involved in a clash with Rangers' Ryan Kent, and, after the final whistle with another Rangers' player, Andy Halliday – who received a post-game second yellow card, which upgrades to red. Brown, why he was declared a hero by everyone in the Celtic family from the tea wummin right up to Peter Lawwell.

Throw-in an unseemly pitch invasion following Celtic's opening goal, then that melee involving the players post-match and I cannot help but feel, since that well-known member of the Celtic Family, James Kelly MSP managed to persuade the forces of Unionism and Green issues to unite to revoke OBFA (the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act), it would be Kismet, if Police Scotland was to use that once-popular catch-all of “Conduct liable to cause a breach of the peace” to nail Broonie, and one or two others who appear to have got away with - if not murder – certainly Offensive Behaviour at Football..

Scott Brown is Celtic captain; he is a former Scotland captain; he is already on the SFA's Roll of Honour of players with 50 or more caps. As such, he ought to be a role model for youngsters; he should be setting an example when it comes to behaviour and professionalism – I think, on Sunday, he fell a long way short of what might be expected of a man in his position.

To finish my comparison between the behaviour of Tadhg Beirne - who is a genuine hard man, and Scott Brown, who is labouring under the illusion that he is one too. The genuine hard man was roundly condemnded for his actions, the pretendy one was lauded. I know which brand of football has the higher standards. 

Still, the SFA Compliance Officer might yet decide, Broonie was far from innocent in the whole unseemly kerfuffle, but, I am not holding my breath on that one, or on both clubs – particularly Rangers – being called-in, heavily fined and told to get their employees sorted-out. Pronto.

This latest demonstration of unseemly behaviour from the fans and players of our two biggest clubs comes hard on the heels of the latest occurrence of public hand-washing from the guys who run our football – the announcement that only three of the 42 senior clubs were ready to accept “Strict Liability” for the bad behaviour of their fans.

That is a shocking dereliction of duty. If a public house was the regular site of unacceptable behaviour by its patrons, the Licencing Court would not be long in removing its licence and shutting it down – why should football clubs be immune from such sanctions?

At least, all the nonsense which has followed Sunday's game has fairly taken the heat off the SFA and Alex McLeish, which is a blessing.

MEANWHILE, elsewhere, real fitba carries on. Perhaps the result of the weekend, although it was perhaps only unexpected in the final result, but, Auchinleck Talbot already have one foot in the Macron Scottish Junior Cup Final.

In Saturday's first legs of the semi-finals, the Mighty 'Bot travelled up to face Lochee United, in Dundee, in what was a reprise of last season's semi. The result – a 4-1 win for Talbot and, effectively, game over.

Tabot's Tucker Sloan - his team are already half-way to this year's final

Aye Lochee might do a Kilmarnock and overturn a four-goal deficit. But, at Beechwood – if that happens, I will start supporting Cumnock. Talbot don't often lose at home, far less lose by the four clear goals Lochee will need.

So I suppose, Liddell's Coaches of Auchinleck can start to firm-up all those preliminary orders for coaches to the final, and the black and gold flags and bunting will once again be looked-out all round the village. Mind you, one or two flags never seem to come down, as I noticed when passing through Auchinleck on Sunday.

The 2019 final looks like being a repeat of last year's. Hurlford United, caught by the ultimate extra time sucker punch last year, will entertain Largs Thistle in the second leg of that semi on Saturday.

And, by taking a 2-2 draw back home to Blair Park, you have to fancy 'Ford to see-out the tie and give themselves a chance of revenge.

Mind you, in saying that, I might be prematurely writing-off Largs. This is, after all the 25^th anniversary of their only previous Scottish Cup win, when they beat Glenafton on a split decision after what is now known as: “The Battle of Ibrox”, or, “The Shame Game.” What better way to mark the anniversary, than by being in this season's big show-down.