Celtic star just as guilty as Gers duo

[ian1964 10,419]

WITCH HUNT SPARKED V-SIGNS FROM SHAMED PLAYERS

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By Jacqueline McGhie, 05/04/2009

CELTIC star Scott Brown was dubbed the luckiest player in Scotland last night - after escaping the Boozegate affair totally UNPUNISHED.

 

It is understood the Hoops star stayed up drinking with shamed aces Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor and retired to bed just TWENTY MINUTES before his Old Firm rivals.

 

But, astonishingly, he avoided being hammered by Scotland gaffer George Burley after being shielded by his contacts at the Daily Record, we can sensationally reveal.

 

And while Brown was included in the starting line-up for the World Cup tie against Iceland, his mates were dropped to the bench because of the marathon drinking session at Cameron House.

 

The move sparked a chain of events that ended in Ferguson and McGregor being banned from playing for Scotland for life and transfer-listed by their club.

 

But a News of the World investigation can reveal today that other senior members of the Scotland squad believe that:

 

BURLEY only disciplined the Gers pair after they were NAMED by the Record

 

THE manager has FAILED to punish any other star who stayed up drinking, and

 

FERGIE and McGregor only stuck their fingers up at Record photographers - NOT the Scotland fans or manager.

 

Last night a source insisted: "Barry and Allan have been hung out to dry."

 

The News of the World can reveal that senior players feel Hoops midfielder Brown dodged blame because of his close links to a Record journalist.

 

And they believe that the newspaper DELIBERATELY stuck the knife into Gers skipper Fergie because he works for their bitter rivals, The Scottish Sun.

 

Last night a source close to the Scotland camp, who has asked not to be named, hit out: "What is the difference between drinking for seven-and-a-half hours and drinking for seven hours and 10 minutes?

 

All the boys are amazed at the way this issue spiralled out of control

 

"Those 20 minutes seemed to make a world of a difference to Burley and the SFA because it resulted in McGregor and Ferguson being dropped from the team to face Iceland - yet Brown was in his usual place and being hailed as a HERO by the Tartan Army.

 

"He clearly is a very lucky boy - or perhaps he is just fortunate to have friends in high places.

 

"No one's condoning what the Rangers pair did at Hampden. They were IDIOTS.

 

"But it certainly appears to have been more convenient for Burley to dump them after the Holland game than it was to drop Brown."

 

We can reveal that the Record contacted the SFA on Monday with details of the drinking binge.

 

But the newspaper only named Ferguson and McGregor - and, despite having ALL the info, failed to mention to officials that Brown had ALSO been up for the marathon booze session.

 

The call went in two days after Record sports editor James Traynor was involved in an angry exchange with Ferguson during the previous week's trip to Holland for another World Cup qualifier. Ferguson confronted the columnist, who had previously vilified him and even urged Walter Smith to axe him if the Ibrox side wanted to win the title.

 

In Friday's Record, Traynor wrote: "Only last week he (Ferguson) had turned to a sympathetic paper to moan that he's some kind of victim and that some of us have the knives out for him.

 

"Then, late on Saturday night as we all prepared to retreat from another defeat in the Amsterdam ArenA, I had a conversation with Ferguson, who wanted to know why he is criticised and why I don't consider him captain material."

 

Other Scotland players now feel the Record failed to mention Brown to the SFA, or in their report on Wednesday about the booze shame, because he is an important contact of the paper's senior football reporter Keith Jackson.

 

One player, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "All the boys are amazed at the way this issue spiralled out of control. There has certainly been a lot of very selective reporting about what went on."

 

Other Scotland stars who stayed up for the early morning drinking session were Steven Whittaker, Gary Teale and Alan Hutton - but they called it quits after a couple of hours.

 

But the News of the World understands that Brown only made it back to his room around NOON on Sunday. Before then, he had collected a pair of hairclippers and SHAVED McGregor's head as the trio shared a laugh.

 

One source said that the keeper was found slumped in a chair with his brown locks lying around him.

 

But a short time after the Celtic ace left the party, Scotland coach Steven Pressley spotted Ferguson and McGregor at around 12.30pm - and ordered them back to their rooms.

 

The pair were described as "drunk as skunks" after downing beer, expensive wine and vodka and Red Bull.

 

It was suggested Ferguson then threw up in the hotel but our source said: "That is not true. They went off to to their beds without any fuss."

 

It was the SFA's idea to lay on food and drink in a private room

 

But, incredibly, it took Scotland boss Burley more than 48 hours to inform his skipper and goalkeeper that they were to be sent home in disgrace.

 

And he only made that announcement after the Record had contacted him and made it clear they were going to go public and reveal details of the pair's boozy antics.

 

The source added: "There has definitely been a witch-hunt for Allan and Barry."

 

We can reveal that ALL the Scotland players were given permission to have a drink after returning to Scotland in the early hours of Sunday.

 

Our man revealed: "It was the SFA's idea to lay on food and drink in a private room for those players who decided to go back to Cameron House. We were actually ENCOURAGED to go and relax there.

 

"Other players went home - and could have stayed up and drank all night for all anyone knows.

 

"But the lads who did that at Cameron House - on their DAY OFF - have been hammered for it.

 

"Allan and Barry could have pointed the finger at certain team-mates and asked why they weren't coming in for the same punishment as them.

 

"But they kept silent and took their punishment on the chin. Their frustration just seems to have boiled over at Hampden during the Iceland match. They were put in a high- pressure situation and handled it badly.

 

"But a lot of the boys are suspicious about how this all started.

 

"The hotel staff were absolutely fine with what was going on and, to my knowledge, there were no complaints from the public - or they would have been plastered all over the papers.

 

"But the way two players have been demonised for having a drink seemed a bit over the top, considering they were far from being the only ones.

 

"Even some of the SFA staff were having a drink in the same place."

 

After originally ordering Ferguson and McGregor home from the Loch Lomond training camp, Burley reinstated them after being approached by senior players, including Manchester United star Darren Fletcher and Celts captain Stephen McManus.

 

The delegation voiced their concerns over the way their team-mates were being "hung out to dry" while others who stayed up for a drink went unpunished.

 

During heated discussions between Burley and his squad, it emerged that four others - Teale, Whittaker, Hutton and Brown - had also stayed up for some time on Sunday morning. Burley was told the players were RAGING that two of their teammates were taking the rap, while others who also failed to go straight to their beds were being let off the hook.

 

Our source revealed: "The players told Burley he couldn't have one rule for some and another rule for others. They made it clear he should either send SIX players home or none at all. There had to be some consistency.

 

"The message which came through loud and clear from Burley and his staff was that if the papers hadn't got hold of the story about the other boys, there wasn't an issue to deal with."

 

It is understood Burley was persuaded to reinstate Ferguson and McGregor to his squad for the Iceland game and leave them on the bench.

 

The pair even met with SFA officials and were encouraged to go through the post-match media zone and speak to newspapers after the game.

 

Officials hoped the duo would reiterate their disappointment over their conduct. But that move backfired spectacularly when the players made obscene gestures from the bench during the game. And those gestures effectively ended their Rangers and Scotland careers.

 

Yet a source close to the players revealed Ferguson and McGregor were NOT aiming their V-signs at the Tartan Army OR SFA chiefs.

 

He said: "To suggest someone like Barry was having a go at the fans or George Burley is nonsense. They were aiming the gesture at the Daily Record photographers taking their picture.

 

"You don't play for Scotland for 10 years and leave your wife and kids for 10 days as Barry did to take on Holland and Iceland unless playing for your country means something to you.

 

"Anyone who says otherwise is trying to stir it. Clearly they've succeeded."

 

 

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_news/251687/Celtic-star-just-as-guilty-as-Rangers-duo-Barry-Ferguson-Allan-McGregor-Scott-Brown.html

[Koeman 0]

This article will hopefully put a cat amongst the pigeons.

 

What Ferguson and McGregor did before the Iceland game was stupid and they will have to live with it for the rest of their carrers but there is no doubt that this whole situation has been blown well out of proportion and given the scum in the press plenty of ammunition to further get one over on Rangers.

 

There is no doubt whatsoever that if this was two players from any other club other than ours then it would have just have been a slapped wrist for the pair of them. You only need to look at the way the press treat the likes of Boruc and Lennon and the disrespect that McGeady showed to Strachan which also gave him a 2 week suspension.

 

What is even more dissapointing though is some attitudes of some Bears. For years a clique/minority on certain forums have been able to stand on their soap box and spout their hatred of Ferguson. I do agree he acted like a spoilt brat on Wednesday and do think that his better days are over but if it was the likes of Davis, Mendes or Novo there wouldn't be as many people looking to stick the boot in and jump on this hate campagin that the press have started. There would be some amount of solidarity. We would stick up for one of our own. These same people probably go on and on about media bias as well but on this occasion they are happy stand by and watch the press drag our name through the mud as it's a negative story involving the Monster Munch Crew and how Monsieur Le Guen was right all along.....

 

I agree with the suspension of McGregor and Ferguson for 2 weeks and 2 weeks only. Smith has probably done the right thing in getting them out the way for a while until this dies down. They were stupid and will have plenty time over the next 2 weeks to realise what they have done but some need to realise that Ferguson will play for us again this season, of that I have no doubt. McGregor will probably need to wait until next season barring an injury to Alexander.

[ian1964 10,419]

This article will hopefully put a cat amongst the pigeons.

 

What Ferguson and McGregor did before the Iceland game was stupid and they will have to live with it for the rest of their carrers but there is no doubt that this whole situation has been blown well out of proportion and given the scum in the press plenty of ammunition to further get one over on Rangers.

 

There is no doubt whatsoever that if this was two players from any other club other than ours then it would have just have been a slapped wrist for the pair of them. You only need to look at the way the press treat the likes of Boruc and Lennon and the disrespect that McGeady showed to Strachan which also gave him a 2 week suspension.

 

What is even more dissapointing though is some attitudes of some Bears. For years a clique/minority on certain forums have been able to stand on their soap box and spout their hatred of Ferguson. I do agree he acted like a spoilt brat on Wednesday and do think that his better days are over but if it was the likes of Davis, Mendes or Novo there wouldn't be as many people looking to stick the boot in and jump on this hate campagin that the press have started. There would be some amount of solidarity. We would stick up for one of our own. These same people probably go on and on about media bias as well but on this occasion they are happy stand by and watch the press drag our name through the mud as it's a negative story involving the Monster Munch Crew and how Monsieur Le Guen was right all along.....

 

I agree with the suspension of McGregor and Ferguson for 2 weeks and 2 weeks only. Smith has probably done the right thing in getting them out the way for a while until this dies down. They were stupid and will have plenty time over the next 2 weeks to realise what they have done but some need to realise that Ferguson will play for us again this season, of that I have no doubt. McGregor will probably need to wait until next season barring an injury to Alexander.

 

 

Agree 100% mate, it's bad enough having the lynch mob from the press attacking Rangers FC, but it really pisses me off when you have Rangers fans attacking Rangers FC, by attacking Rangers players

[johnnyk 158]

Nothing will happen to Brown or change the situation IMO. The SFA won't admit they have made a mistake will they?? Nor will the anti-Rangers tartan army, they got the outcome they wanted.

[biggordy 0]

I would like to think if this is the truth, Ferguson, McGregor, and Rangers Football Club are consulting lawyers with immediate effect.

This is the time to put all the anti Rangers bias in the press to the sword once and for all.

[biggordy 0]

Nothing will happen to Brown or change the situation IMO. The SFA won't admit they have made a mistake will they?? Nor will the anti-Rangers tartan army, they got the outcome they wanted.

 

I'm sure strachan will march brown down to Ibrox and then the daily record to issue an apology to the entire Scottish Nation for being a spineless, sneaky, two-faced, snivelling, poor excuse for a hairdresser first thing Monday morning.

We all know how upstanding they are over there.

[CammyF 6,807]

Even more reason for every Scottish Rangers player to quit international football. They hate us, they don't want us, so lets see if they can live without us.

 

Cammy F - Fcuk The SFA loyal RSC

[gisabeer 409]

I certainly hope scotland get absolutely cuffed every game they play till burleys out the door.

 

I certainly wont be supporting Scotland for a long time to come.