SPORTING integrity. It has become something of a buzz phrase in Scottish football since the SPL clubs voted to refuse Rangers entry into the top flight and their SFL counterparts blocked them from joining the First Division back in 2012. As the Ibrox club prepares to compete in the Ladbrokes Premiership, those decisions and the reason why they were taken are sure to be brought up once again by their still smarting supporters.
But how can the SPFL, the organisation formed when the SPL and SFL amalgamated in 2013, now argue that they protect the sanctity of the leagues here in the wake of the Premiership fixture list they released on Friday? Motherwell and Partick Thistle have, quite rightly, been left incensed after it emerged that they and Hamilton Accies will have just one home game against both Celtic and Rangers in the 2015/16 campaign while Dundee, Heart of Midlothian and Inverness Caledonian Thistle will each have two.
That has put them at a significant financial and sporting disadvantage to opponents who they would hope to be vying with for a top-six place and possibly even a European spot.
Motherwell have estimated that a game against one of the Old Firm sides at Fir Park banks them in the region of £150,000. If their calculations are correct, they, along with Hamilton and Partick, will be around £300,000 worse off than Dundee, Hearts and Inverness. That not inconsiderable sum would cover the annual salaries of six players or more than half a team.
To boost the bank balances of certain clubs so significantly while depriving others of much-needed income when they are struggling to attract crowds, bring in sponsors and break even during an economic downturn is patently unfair.
The fact they weren't informed of this possibility by the governing body while they were budgeting for the coming season and giving players contracts has angered the boards at Firhill and Fir Park. The possibility of seeking compensation from the SPFL has been discussed.
But handing certain clubs two home games against Celtic and Rangers, while forcing others to play twice at Parkhead or Ibrox, also substantially increases their chances of picking up points against the Scottish champions and their city rivals.
Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, Ross County and St. Johnstone, too, will all have one more game at home against either Celtic or Rangers, traditionally the two strongest clubs in the country, in the coming months.
Given that which clubs finish in the top six and which clubs secure spots in the Europa League – which Motherwell have been involved in five times in the last seven years – are often decided by just a point or two, the repercussions of this injustice could be considerable.
The top-six split has thrown up such anomalies in the past. It is a highly unfortunate by-product of an innovation that has been very much to the benefit of the elite division in this country since it was introduced. The split dramatically reduces the number of meaningless games and ensures increased crowds at games which would otherwise be non-events. It should be retained.
But the SPFL should revise the fixture list so that a quarter of the Premiership clubs aren’t handicapped so badly. As it stands, it makes a mockery of the competition.
AND ANOTHER THING
Italy’s performances in the Euro 2016 finals have hardly painted the 1-0 defeat Scotland suffered at their hands in a friendly international in Malta at the end of last month in a better light.
Gordon Strachan’s side only managed a single shot at goal in the Ta’ Qali Stadium – a late Matt Ritchie effort which struck the side netting.
Regardless of the first-choice players who were missing – and Scott Brown, Alan Hutton, Shaun Maloney, James Morrison and Robert Snodgrass were all, for differing reasons, absent – it was an alarming performance with the start of their Russia 2018 qualifying campaign looming.
Still, the Azzurri, who had been dismissed by many as a spent force in international football, showed just what a formidable team they remain in their impressive victories over Belgium and Sweden in France last week.
Antonio Conte’s system, which alternates between a 3-5-2 and 4-4-2 formation, revolves around their three outstanding Juventus centre-backs, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, and makes them difficult to beat. Gianluigi Buffon has so far kept two clean sheets in the competition.
They certainly lack the calibre of striker they have previously had at their disposal. But Eder’s stunning late winner against Sweden showed they are still potent up front. Graziano Pelle, who scored against Scotland, is also a ruthless finisher.
Can Italy repeat their solitary 1968 triumph in the competition in the coming weeks? It remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure. They won't be overcome easily by any side at the finals.
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