A BIT OF A BALLS-UP Michael Grant reports on Uefa's decision to

Sunday Herald, The, Nov 19, 2006 by Michael Grant

THE SFA has been disciplined for Hampden's ballboys being too slow to get the ball back into play in the recent Euro 2008 qualifier against France.

French manager Raymond Domenech criticised Scotland's lack of "fair play" at the time but seemed to be clutching at straws in the immediate aftermath of his side's stunning 1-0 defeat on November 7.

But Uefa upheld Domenech's complaint and took disciplinary action, although the SFA escaped with only a warning when the range of possible punishments included a fine or even an order that the game be replayed.

"We were charged after the game, " said SFA chief executive David Taylor.

"Our ballboys failed to deliver the ball back after the goal. It was in the referee's report and in the match delegate's report. The referee said the ball was not returned to play quickly enough. We contested that because we didn't feel it was proper. The happy ending is that we got off with a warning.

"It was strange to end up with a disciplinary charge against us for it. If anything, we err on the side of being sporting and it surprised us to be charged with such an offence. It's the most bizarre thing I've encountered with Scotland. We brief the ballboys during the game. They are Queen's Park's youth players. We'll need to make sure before the next game, which is against Georgia at home in March, that even if we're 1-0 up with five minutes to go, even if the players are saying 'do you have to give the ball back so quickly?' that they do it." Taylor felt it was significant that match referee Massimo Busaca from Switzerland included the matter in his official report after Domenech had mentioned it in his post- match press conference. "It was an odd thing for the coach to mention after the game, " said Taylor.

"In the Cypriots' game against the Republic of Ireland, where they won 5-2, complaints were made afterwards that the ballboys and ballgirls were only 8 or 9 years of age. They were so wee they had no idea of their duties about recovering the ball. That was even more bizarre, having tiny tots that don't know the job they're supposed to do.

"There have been instances where players have been banned for spitting at ballboys or trying to attack ballboys, trying to get the ball back when the ballboys have deliberately held on to it.

It never ceases to amaze the things that happen in a football game." Meanwhile, Scotland manager Walter Smith is prepared to wait for Wigan central defender Fitz Hall to make up his mind on which international team he wants to play for.

Hall was born in Walthamstow but through his grandparents he is also eligible to represent Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The SFA has made contact with him to express Smith's interest in selecting him.

Hall, 26 and 6ft 4in, was playing for Southampton when he was first identified as eligible for Scotland during former boss Berti Vogts's management. He subsequently joined Crystal Palace before moving to Wigan in the close season, where he is now a defensive team-mate of Andy Webster.

Although Smith has Webster, Aberdeen's Russell Anderson and the Celtic pair Gary Caldwell and Stephen McManus, he is aware of the need for younger cover for Steven Pressley and, particularly, David Weir. "I've looked at Fitz Hall for a little while, " said Smith.

"And he was obviously someone who had been brought to the attention of Berti Vogts.

"When we asked he was still in the throes of deciding which of the countries he wants to play for. I was hoping to get that clarified, but in the summer he moved and was still loathe to make that decision. I haven't made any inquiries in recent weeks.

"He's eligible to play for us because he has a Scottish grandparent but I think he's eligible to play for most of the home nations, certainly Wales and Ireland.

"I don't think it would be a matter of anyone convincing him to play for Scotland. If he wants to venture into international football he knows that Scotland have asked about him, so we just need to wait and see if he wants to venture into it at this stage or not. Once he makes his mind up we can go forward from there. But I've got boys in our national team already who want to turn up and play for us and they are doing well so there's no great need to search around for others but you would never close the door on anyone who wants to come." Smith is also continuing to monitor the form of Newcastle full-back Peter Ramage, who was born in Ashington but is also eligible to play for Scotland.