Latest news with #ScottishFootballAssociation
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
The new law change that will make football ‘much quicker'
A new football law change will make the game a lot quicker, a referee chief has said. A significant new rule was seen during the Euro 2025 final between England and Spain during the penalty shootout. Beth Mead slipped when she took her penalty, causing her to touch the ball twice before the ball hit the back of the net. This is not allowed. Previously, the goal would have been chalked off. But thanks to the new law, it meant she was allowed to retake her penalty kick. If a double-touch happens during a game and a player misses or has the penalty saved, a free-kick will be awarded to the defending team. But it is another law that is being hailed as a positive for the game. Referees can now give corners to the opposition if goalkeepers take more than eight seconds to release the ball from their hands. A previous six-second rule was hardly ever enforced, with refs seemingly reluctant to order indirect free-kicks for the infringement. But a leading referee chief expects this summer's major law change to speed up games without referees having to intervene much, if at all. On the worldwide rule change, Scottish Football Association head of referees Willie Collum said: 'We think it will make the game much quicker because the goalkeepers now are under pressure to release a ball. 'We'll have prepared our referees tactically for that as well, forgetting just about the decision-making, the eight seconds and punishing it. We also know there will be a lot of shorter balls at times in and around the penalty area. We need our referees to be well prepared for that. 'But, it's like any rule change, the clubs are aware of it. We've spoken to a lot of goalkeeper coaches who are saying they've already been coaching it, working at it. So, we don't think we'll see a great amount of issues with that.' Referees will start the count when the goalkeeper is in full control of the ball and is unobstructed by opponents, and will visibly count the last five seconds. If any opposition player pressures or obstructs the goalkeeper, an indirect free-kick will be awarded. Collum added: 'We know that in the League Cup so far, we've not encountered any issues with it at all. It's not been punished once. So we'd hope that would continue throughout the season. We'll be proactive as well in working with the goalkeepers with that.' Another law to come in this summer involves referees: if touch the ball, they will hand a drop ball to the team who would have received it, rather than only resuming the game with possession to the last team that played the ball.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Willie Collum on how major rule change will impact on games
A previous six-second rule was hardly ever enforced, with refs seemingly reluctant to order indirect free-kicks for the infringement. On the worldwide rule change, Scottish Football Association head of referees Collum said: 'We think it will make the game much quicker because the goalkeepers now are under pressure to release a ball. 'We'll have prepared our referees tactically for that as well, forgetting just about the decision-making, the eight seconds and punishing it. We also know there will be a lot of shorter balls at times in and around the penalty area. We need our referees to be well prepared for that. 'But, it's like any rule change, the clubs are aware of it. We've spoken to a lot of goalkeeper coaches who are saying they've already been coaching it, working at it. So, we don't think we'll see a great amount of issues with that.' Read more: Stephen McGowan: Europe nice but only one thing will keep Russell Martin at Rangers Leanne Crichton in line to replace Jo Potter at Rangers Referees will start the count when the goalkeeper is in full control of the ball and is unobstructed by opponents, and will visibly count the last five seconds. If any opposition player pressures or obstructs the goalkeeper, an indirect free-kick will be awarded. Collum added: 'We know that in the League Cup so far, we've not encountered any issues with it at all. It's not been punished once. So we'd hope that would continue throughout the season. We'll be proactive as well in working with the goalkeepers with that.' Other changes will see an accidental double-touch penalty being retaken if the player scores. A free-kick will only be awarded to the defending team if the penalty is missed or saved. And, if referees touch the ball, they will hand a drop ball to the team who would have received it, rather than only resuming the game with possession to the last team that played the ball.
The Herald Scotland
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Steven Naismith makes investment in sports science
Naismith has invested a six-figure sum in ScribePro, a medical app currently used by 11 national associations across football, rugby, and cricket, including the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Rugby Union. It was founded by Jonny Gordon, a consultant in emergency medicine and Scotland Men's A team doctor, and David Lowe, an academic consultant in emergency medicine and co-director of EmQuire Research. Read More: The duo teamed up with healthcare specialists to establish the company after identifying the need to modernise the paper-based systems used for team-managed sports. Naismith will also be an ambassador for the platform, introducing it to clubs and national associations as well as consulting on its future development. Naismith said: 'I've had a good relationship with Jonny for a long time, working with him right through youth and senior levels with the Scotland team and then into management and coaching. The demand on players has never been greater and the margins of winning are finer than they have ever been, which only makes products like ScribePro more important. 'Technology like this can make things better for everyone involved in sport. From my experience as a player – when I had some injury problems myself – I know the process of sharing or even accessing fitness and injury data could be clunky, to say the least. And I'm looking forward to helping develop the platform further, supporting the decisions managers make with players and working with clinicians on recovery programmes and availability. 'More players are beginning to understand they have a short career and, while they might make good money, they retire and still have half their lives ahead of them. In the age of social media there are so many opportunities for players to get involved with, but it's important they get involved with something they believe in.
Scottish Sun
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Scots football starlets ‘held hostage by youth clubs and even face FINES' if poached
And it's claimed that they can face 'interrogation' by Scottish Football Association officials 'CARTEL' FOOTBALL Scots football starlets 'held hostage by youth clubs and even face FINES' if poached Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KID footballers are 'hostages' to clubs and risk ruin if they try to move on, it is claimed. MSPs have been warned that some youngsters face being fined and may see efforts to derail their sporting careers if they're poached by rivals. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Campaigners warn some child footballers are being held "hostage" by youth clubs Credit: Alamy 2 Lawyer Alexander Waksman told MSPs that some club act like "a tight cartel" And it's claimed that they can face 'interrogation' by Scottish Football Association officials, who are accused of conspiring with clubs to hamper the free movement of players. The allegations - raised by campaign group Realgrassroots and Scotland's Children's Commissioner - emerged after a meeting of Holyrood's health and sport committee, which heard worrying claims about the SFA's Club Academy Scotland Programme. The scheme governs the development of players aged 11 to 18 at pro clubs, and is meant to protect the welfare of young talent. The Commissioner's head of legal Nick Hobbs said they received an assurance from the SFA that they could not envisage any circumstances where a child would be prevented from moving. But Alexander Waksman, a partner at law firm Gunnercooke, which works with Realgrassroots, told MSPs the scheme operates like 'a tight cartel' which can 'terminate children's prospects at will'. And kids are still compelled to endure a lengthy bureaucratic process that takes them out of training for months, including witness statements and an interview with SFA officials, according to Gunnercooke solicitor Mahesh Madlani. Some clubs also set 'implausibly high' transfer fees and impose 'no poach' rules to turn rivals away, the Children's Commissioner said in a complaint to the Competitions and Markets Authority. Mr Waksman told the committee: 'If this was any other industry we would immediately identify it as a cartel but for some reason the SFA and SPFL do not seem to believe that the same rules apply in youth football.' Realgrassroots has been campaigning for at least 15 years to ensure children can move freely but they are still 'held hostage' by clubs, according to the Commissioner's complaint. And a briefing to MSPs from parliament officials last week stated: 'The Realgrassroot complaint also asserts that Scottish football clubs have harmed young football players and committed alleged acts of retribution against them for attempting to move between clubs.' Teen Scot becomes youngest Brit woman to tackle the world's biggest waves One 13-year-old is said to have told his coaches he wanted to move to a club closer to his home, but was immediately told his game time would be cut and he would face a 'four-figure fine' if he spoke to other clubs. MSPs heard the boy's father is afraid to speak out publicly amid fears it will ruin his son's career but he has been working with the Children's Commissioner and law firm GunnerCooke to change the rules. Speaking about an interview with SFA officials, GunnerCooke lawyer Mahesh Madlani told the committee: 'It is quite frankly parent's description of it was akin to an interrogation. 'This system needs to be thrown in the bin and replaced with an entirely new system akin to the English system that resolves disputes in four weeks, with independent parties paid for by the Premier League.' The SFA says its panel is designed to protect the wellbeing of children. But Mr Hobbs told MSPs it is actually a bureaucratic roadblock that enables clubs to hold children against their will. He said: 'We asked the SFA under what circumstances they envisage a panel would ever refuse permission for a child to move and they were unable to tell us. 'That strongly suggests to me the welfare panel exists not as a mechanism to facilitate that movement but as a procedural obstacle.' It is understood that the SFA disputes the campaigners' claims but a spokesman declined to comment. The SPFL were contacted for comment.
Scotsman
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scotland chief braced for life after Steve Clarke as he makes admission on potential successors
Maxwell admits it his job to scour market for potential next managers Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Ian Maxwell believes it would be negligence to fail to plan for life after Steve Clarke with the Scotland manager preparing for what he has already admitted is likely to be his last qualifying campaign in charge. The Scottish Football Association chief executive admits he has "half an eye on" who is out there ahead of an intense burst of six World Cup qualifying games this Autumn. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Clarke has already put the chances of him leaving his post after the next World Cup at '75 per cent" after being asked about his future earlier this year. Of course, if Scotland do not qualify for USA, Canada and Mexico then there's every change the Scotland post will be vacant by the end of this year. Steve Clarke is entering the final year of his contract as Scotland head coach. | SNS Group The Scots are in a four-team group and their World Cup hopes hinge on ties against Denmark, Greece and Belarus. They could of course seal a play-off place, which would extent Clarke's commitments until March next year at least. Maxwell, who was speaking after the SFA held their agm at Hampden, insists he is being practical by keeping tabs on other candidates who might be suitable to succeed Clarke, who has just marked his sixth anniversary at the helm. Clarke has previously stressed that it would be the pinnacle of his career to secure Scotland's place at a World Cup for the first time since 1998. 'There has been no conversation,' said Maxwell, when the subject of the manager's future was put to him. 'He wants to get us to the World Cup, and we're all just focusing on that. It's my job to have an eye on who's out there at all times, because managers leave for a variety of different reasons at a variety of different times, sometimes when you least expect it. So if I'm doing my job properly, there's always half an eye on who's available.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Maxwell non-committal on long-term future On whether the SFA might try to persuade Clarke to stay longer, whatever the outcome of the qualifying campaign, he was non-committal. 'We'll have that conversation with Steve as and when the time comes,' he said. 'But the focus has to be we want to get to the World Cup, so what do we need to do to make sure that we give everybody the best chance of doing that? 'We've got the players - you look at some of the guys in the squad, they'll be thinking this is their last chance at getting to a World Cup finals. Guys who have been to a couple of Euros and enjoyed that, and benefited from that, and have seen the impact that that has on them, the impact that it has on the country. Why would they not want to sign off on their international career by getting to a World Cup?' Clarke's future, he stressed, was not an issue. 'That just doesn't come into the equation until after the qualifying group. We just see where we go. We'll have that conversation when the time is right, and who knows when that time will be right. But the focus has to be on getting to the USA, Mexico and Canada.' More pressing is the need to appoint an assistant for Clarke, who confirmed after Monday's 4-0 win over Liechtenstein that John Carver was leaving to take over as permanent manager of Polish side Lechia Gdansk.
