Scottish players´ chief blasts SFA

Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor only found out their Scotland careers were over by listening to radio reports, according to players’ union chief Fraser Wishart.

Wishart blasted the Scottish Football Association on Saturday for failing to make direct contact with the Rangers pair, who were banned from ever representing their country again on Friday.

Ferguson and McGregor were also suspended by Rangers for two weeks without pay after indulging in an early-hours drinking session last weekend before responding to being dropped by Scotland by flicking V-signs at cameras during Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Iceland.

In addition, midfielder Ferguson was stripped of the captain’s armband at Ibrox.

“Nobody contacted the players and I think they were due that courtesy,” Wishart told BBC Scotland.

“One of the things that really disappointed myself and the players was that they found out via a radio bulletin that they no longer had a Scotland career – on their way to a disciplinary meeting at Rangers.

“So, I think there were one or two things that could’ve been handled better.

“The players have been big enough themselves to hold up their hands immediately to apologise to Scotland manager George Burley.

“We have to draw a line under this somewhere and we’re getting to that stage. How long do we kick people when they’re down?

“We’ve all made mistakes and I’m of the view that you should be given a second chance.

“They’ve not had the opportunity to sit down and discuss what went on in Wednesday night’s game.

“If you look at the quotes in the papers on Friday, (SFA chief executive) Gordon Smith said, ‘We consider this matter closed’ but (SFA president) George Peat then says he wants to know everything and wants to know why the players made the gestures.

“Nobody will ever know, now, what went on in the heads of the players because this action has been taken. As we speak, no-one at the SFA has contacted the players.”