The Scotland team that flopped at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina was also given a kicking by a top British diplomat in Buenos Aires, secret files released yesterday showed.
Hugh Carless, Britain’s charge d’affaires in the Argentine capital, branded the Scots a complacent and thoroughly unprofessional bunch of “provincials” who were out of their depth on the world stage.
Papers released after 30 years locked in the National Archives at Kew in southwest London showed it was not just fans and pundits putting the boot in to the self-aggrandizing Scots following their humiliating exit from the 1978 World Cup.
Scotland, the only British team to qualify for the tournament, headed off to Argentina boasting that manager Ally MacLeod’s “Tartan Army” would win the trophy.
But they lost their opening match 3-1 to unfancied Peru and were then held to a 1-1 draw by hopeless outsiders Iran.
A 3-2 win over eventual beaten finalists the Netherlands in their last Group Four game, including a stunning goal by midfielder Archie Gemmill, was not enough to see them reach the second round.
Scotland were blasted by fans and pundits alike following their humiliating exit — and 30 years on, it emerged that diplomats had some cutting comments too.
“The Scottish team, which had an emotional send-off in Glasgow from thousands of cheering supporters, was greeted in silence on their return,” Carless cabled the Foreign Office in London. “In retrospect it would seem that the poor Scottish performance was due to complacency and lack of professionalism on the part of all concerned with Scottish football. They seemed provincials out of their depth in international waters.”
Scotland winger Willie Johnston tested positive for drugs after the Peru defeat — though he insisted he only took a hay fever pill — and was sent home in disgrace.
Carless warned that at least one Argentinean lawyer wanted to start extradition proceedings so that Johnston could be brought back to stand trial on criminal charges bearing a possible three-year prison sentence.
“Both FIFA and the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs [MFA] agree that this further publicity is undesirable but the MFA claim that they have no grounds for interfering with the due processes of law,” Carless wrote.
Fortunately for Johnston, the attempts came to nothing.
The files also reveal that 12 Scotland fans were arrested for displaying a banner with “obscenities” about the Scottish Football Association governing body.
TAIWANESE EXITS: Fellow Australian Christopher O’Connell joined Tristan Schoolkate as a winner following his 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Tseng Hsin-chun Australian qualifier Tristan Schoolkate on Monday dispatched rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 at the ATP Toronto Masters, ensuring a breakthrough into the world top 100. The 24-year-old from Perth moved to 98th in the ongoing live rankings as he claimed his biggest career victory by knocking out the ATP NextGen champion from November last year. Schoolkate, son of a tennis coach, won his first match over a top-50 opponent on his sixth attempt as he ousted the world No. 49 teenager from Brazil. The qualifier played a quarter-final this month in Los Cabos and won through qualifying for his
Top seeds Alexander Zverev of Germany and American Coco Gauff on Tuesday advanced to the third round of the Canadian Open after both players were pushed hard by their opponents. World No. 3 Zverev, playing in his first match since his first-round loss at Wimbledon, was far from his best, but emerged with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win over Adam Walton under the lights in Toronto. Momentum shifted firmly in Zverev’s favor when he won a 52-shot rally in the first set tiebreak and he sealed the win on a double fault by the Australian in the second set. “It was a very
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
RSS