Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

Endinburgh Council
 
 
Monday, 2nd November 2009 Change Date Latest Issue

Ferguson and McGregor banned from Scotland team for life

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 03 April 2009
FOOTBALLERS Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor have been banned from ever representing Scotland again, the Scottish Football Association has confirmed.
The decision is understood to have been taken after a meeting between SFA chief Executive Gordon Smith and team manager George Burley.

A statement put out by the SFA this afternoon said: "Following on from the events of the past week - and specifically the last 48 hours - the Scottish FA has today confirmed that Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor will no longer be considered for International selection by Scotland.

"The decision was taken following further discussions today between the National Team Manager and the Scottish FA Chief Executive.

"This action has been taken in the best interests of the squad, the fans and the country. Everyone is determined to qualify for the World Cup and we must ensure that nothing is allowed to distract us from this goal."

Edinburgh-born McGregor and Ferguson, who both play for Rangers, were demoted to the bench for the crunch game against Iceland at Hampden on Wednesday.

The move was punishment for the pair reportedly drinking until 11am on Sunday in the bar of the plush Cameron House Hotel, where the team is based, after returning from the defeat to Holland in Amsterdam.

And cameras spotted the duo apparently making V-signs to the Tartan Army during the Scotland Iceland match.

This morning it emerged that their club manager at Rangers, Walter Smith, had dropped both players and stripped Ferguson of the club captaincy as a direct result of the gestures made at the Iceland game.

The exasperated Ibrox boss said that the drinking session which involved "lot of other players" was not his concern, but said that the players crossed the line with their public display of petulance.

"The disciplinary aspect of the weekend's stories is something for George to act on," he said. "We're unhappy at that situation – that's left to the international group as much as anything else.

"The most disappointing aspect for me was the subsequent reaction on the bench. From the club's point of view I don't think that was a good image to portray."

Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 03 April 2009 5:32 PM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Scotland's football team
 
1

Phil MaGlass,

Holland 03/04/2009 18:07:21
Well done, atlast, a set of the proverbials have been grown and action taken,now its time to turn our attention to the problem of the drinking culture within our game and especially the younger players coming through,it seems Scotland and England are the worst in Europe when it comes to young players and alcohol,as the rest of Europes players wish to better themselves.
2

Dood,

03/04/2009 18:07:31
Good decision, their arrogance clearly knows no bounds.

Hardly a huge loss either. Both are overpaid neds with no class and are not fit to wear our national colours. Footballing wise, Ferguson is finished, has been for years. McGregor will never have been any more than a bench warmer as Craig Gordon is world class. And a gentleman on top. Even if he is a Jambo.

Shame it took this long to make the decision.
3

T7 PGY,

Edinburgh 03/04/2009 18:08:01
Well done to the SFA and Rangers for the action taken against the 2 "BIG TIME CHARLIES". Because they play for Rangers and Scotland they think that merits them to get away with just about anything, well I think NOT!!! What they have done is made a mockery of both their team and country!!! We showed the other night we don't need them!! Ferguson needed to be brought down a peg or two but I am surprised by McGregors behaviour especially when his career is going so well. To put two fingers up to the most loyal and well respected fans in the wolrld is just an insult!!! The supporters pay a hell of a lot of money to see their teamsand to show them such disrespect is not on!!
Once again well done to the SFA & Rangers for taking such swift and apropriaction against them!!
4

Ichabod,

03/04/2009 18:30:52
Well done to the SFA standing up two stupid wee laddies.
McGregor had a future, but has lost it because of Baz. I hope Fergie is satisfied.
A sad situation caused by someone being to self important. However both the SFA (at least Peat!) and Walter Smith for taking action.
Other clubs can learn from this!
5

CLERRY G,

03/04/2009 19:02:51
disgrace of the nation!!!!
6

UmeåJambo,

Sweden 03/04/2009 19:04:01
Really glad something has been done about this, Scotland won't really miss either player because they are overated, by the weegie press. Can't understand how Ferguson has got away with it for years.

Some players will do anything not to play for Burley.

You can take the boy out of Glasgow but you can't take Glasgow out the boy.
7

Douglas,

Bathgate 03/04/2009 19:05:23
To ban someone for doing their remedial arithmetic homework seems harsh.
8

ClaretnAmber,

Mryland, USA 03/04/2009 19:55:23
What took the SFA so long?
9

Sumpplareasswholes,

Edinburgh 03/04/2009 19:56:37
Well done Gordon & Walter.
It takes balls to do it but it needed done!
10

hibbywul,

03/04/2009 19:59:51
Finally a decision most of us can agree with. Now let's forget about the two children and concentrate on getting to South Africa.

Well done SFA.
11

alfonsa pedrosa,

embra 03/04/2009 20:14:52
Hopefully a lesson well taught.
12

ARD,

Haddington 03/04/2009 21:26:50
Why wait almost 1 week from the initial incident to kick these idiots out????? Total disrespect for the nation and fans who pay to watch our national team
13

Spanish jambo,

03/04/2009 22:41:07
Almost feel an Ally MacLeod coming on here - they may never be forgiven by the national team's fans nor the domestic ones (except the blue bigots of Govan of course).
These two dummy-spitters have done the unthinkable on their own doorstep. A swift move down south or better still abroad, just to put the final nail in their coffins!
Nice one SFA.
14

Aslan,

Edinburgh 04/04/2009 01:17:30
Yeah, they have been a couple of silly neds, but, unless I missed something, they didn't murder anyone in Amsterdam.

The national team might get by without Bazza, but, when Gordon gets crocked/dropped, they need Shagger.

And can we now get the other 'drinking' players hung out to dry, please? Even if they don't play for the universally disliked (and uniquely successful) Queen's XI.

Gather there might be another Ger in there, but was his windowlicking mate Broon not one of the dawn patrol fraternity by the banks of Loch Lomond, too?

Name and shame, chaps!
15

,

04/04/2009 01:27:08
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
16

Julian.,

edinburgh 04/04/2009 01:47:42
#15,

And your shame is that you feel it necessary to throw abuse at people commenting on this article and other ones...which is also against the rules of this website.
17

,

04/04/2009 01:57:17
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
18

mark23,

04/04/2009 02:01:23
I'm a Hibs fan
I think the punishment is too severe, in my opinion ban them both for 4 international games and that gives them a chance to prove they want to play for Scotland.
Fair enough they made a big mistake but nobody is beyond redemption and this may actually help put them on the right track.
I agree their actions were a disgrace.
I also think Mark McGhee hit the nail on the head with his comments on drinking culture in the uk, when i hear those things i'm disappointed he's not in charge at ER.
19

Julian.,

edinburgh 04/04/2009 03:12:06
#17

Congratulations on a rare show of humility hardly ever seen on this website.

I agree with you on the murder rate and xenophobia to the English...definitely shameful.

Nothing shameful about the Scottish Parliament though. In my opinion it's a major achievement to get something like that while the English get no equivalent.

As for football comments being too sober and serious, I agree with you when it comes down to the Glasgow/sectarian remarks.
20

Chip 1875,

Edinburgh 04/04/2009 09:04:01
Did MacGregor and Ferguson think that they could carry on like that and get away with it on Wednesday? So they must have known there would be repercussions and if they didn't, that would indicate that they are maybe lacking a wee bit of intelligence. I'd like to know who the v signs were intended for? Or was it just a case of F*** you all.
21

Black Five,

edinburgh 04/04/2009 10:27:04
Rangers have got to unload this pair of degenerates too.McGregor is what we used to call a corner boy and Ferguson is a little naff.How Murray must rue the day he sacked P L G and gave way to this idiot.
22

Black Five,

edinburgh 04/04/2009 10:31:39
Comment 18 how can you say the punishment is too severe ? First they break the rules and go drinking for god knows how long and whatever state they were in one can only imagine.Next they sit on the bench like two stupid schoolboys giving v signs and worse and actually think they can get away with doing it.It truly beggars belief.Ban them ,too soft for me I`d ban them sin die from Scottish Football .
23

Tidybooks,

East Kilbride 04/04/2009 11:51:24
I feel that if the manager, George Burley was not so weak and had taken correct discipline on the Monday, both of these players plus the other 5, probably would not have been there on the Wednesday evening to show their childishness. I hope Burley is booted soon, also.

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
  

 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.