30 June 2024 , 01:00
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Out here in Germany, they are missing the Tartan Army… but they are not missing Steve Clarke.
When in Cologne for England’s stinker against Slovenia, the locals could not stop talking about how great the Scotland fans had been when they were in town. “No Scotland, no party.”
And, having been in Munich for the opening game of the tournament, it was impossible to disagree. What a shame, then, that their exit last Sunday night was notable for the sourness of their national coach.
Clarke might well have had a point when he insisted Scotland should have had a penalty late in the game against Hungary when defender Willi Orban tangled with Stuart Armstrong. For what it is worth, I thought it was a penalty.
But it was not just the decision of the referee that annoyed the easily annoyed Clarke, it was his nationality. Facundo Tello is not from Europe.
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And when asked if he had spoken to Tello, Clarke responded: “He’s from Argentina. Why would I ask him? He probably doesn’t speak the language. I don’t know. Why is he here? Why is there not a European referee?”
Where do you want to start with that? He probably doesn’t speak the language? What language is that, Steve? English, Spanish or Portuguese? All three of which Tello speaks. If he happened to be conversant in any one of these languages, Clarke could have had discussion with the referee.
Why is he here? Well, as a national coach at Euro 2024, Clarke should know that. As there was for Euro 2020 - when another Argentinian referee, Fernando Capellini oversaw Scotland’s 3-1 defeat to Croatia - there is a reciprocal agreement between UEFA and CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation, that a referee from each association officiates in the other’s competition.
Facundo Tello oversaw Scotland's defeat by Hungary (Getty Images)What is your take on Steve Clarke's comments? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Italian official Maurizio Mariani took charge of the Copa America game between the United States and Bolivia earlier this week. It is a forward-thinking initiative.
Why is there not a European referee? Sure, Tello was born in Bahia Blanca, a port city in the southwest of Argentina’s Bueno Aires province, so is most definitely not European.
But in case Clarke does not know, the official language of Argentina is Spanish which was, last time I checked, most definitely a European language. Sure, Clarke was raw from Scotland’s exit but he should have been raw about Scotland’s painful lack of attacking threat, raw about their dour football, raw about being, arguably, the worst team at the tournament.
He should have been raw about scoring only two goals, one of which was an own goal in that 5-1 thumping by the hosts in Munich, he should have been raw about his team selections, raw about his tactics.
Instead, he was sarcastically dismissive of an accomplished referee on the basis of where he is from. Imagine the furore if Gareth Southgate came out with similar sentiments. But the thing is you actually cannot imagine Gareth Southgate coming out with similar sentiments. He would put the blame on himself. Because that is what really classy managers do.
Jim Ratcliffe courts controversy
It has been another interesting week in Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Manchester United era with news emerging that the women’s squad will have to use portable buildings during a refurbishment of the Carrington training complex
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The men, it seems, will move into the current women’s training facilities, which were built last year. Ratcliffe, of course, decided not to go to Wembley to watch the United women win the FA Cup in May, preferring to be at Old Trafford for the men’s defeat by Arsenal.
United will doubtless say that the temporary rearrangement of training facilities is unavoidable as they build a new complex, which is estimated to be costing £50million. Coincidentally, as United deal with that sort of cost, stories have emerged that the new co-ownership group might consider selling naming rights to Old Trafford.
Of course, that money-raising procedure is commonplace in sport and football - think The Etihad and think The Emirates. And along the road, the cricket ground is Emirates Old Trafford.
But football’s Old Trafford is, despite the leaky roof, special. It is, after all, the self-proclaimed Theatre of Dreams … and dreams should not have a sponsor.
Jim Ratcliffe looks set to sell naming rights to Old Trafford (Getty Images)England deserve better
It was a real shame that Gareth Southgate was the target for a few beer cup-throwers in Cologne on Tuesday night - presumably, the hurlers had enjoyed the contents of too many of their missiles during the course of a long, hot day.
But don’t let the idiots who threw the cups give England fans a bad name. While the Scottish followers have rightly had plaudits, the English supporters have been brilliant, particularly as the logistical operation in Germany has been surprisingly hit-and-miss.
Now, they head back to Gelsenkirchen, where there was travel chaos before and after the game against Serbia. Let’s hope the local organisers have sorted things out by Sunday. So far - touch wood - this group of England fans, unlike some that have gone before them, deserve to be treated well.
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