THE Scottish Football Association yesterday apologised for the multiple replays of Chris Iwelumo's open-goal gaffe which were shown on the big screens erected at both ends of Hampden Park during Saturday's World Cup qualifying clash with Norway.
The 0-0 draw hinders Scotland's chances of qualifying for the finals in South Africa and the subsequent inquest has identified the unusual decision to show replays of Iwelumo's miss while play raged on as something which didn't help the home team's
cause.
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon was among those who questioned the wisdom of broadcasting replays immediately after the incident, while Iwelumo himself expressed surprise that he was able to watch it again just seconds after he had contrived to miss the gaping goal after Gary Naysmith's low cross from the left.
The deflating consequences were obvious as fans and players alike were invited to mull over the spurned chance as play continued.
"The norm is that replays are not shown during matches – that is an agreement we have with Uefa, Fifa and the police," said an SFA spokesman yesterday. "During the course of Saturday's match replays were shown. It was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened. The fourth official came to me and said it shouldn't be happening. I radioed up and told them to stop. But it shouldn't have happened. We hold our hands up."
The flat screens, which started showing games during the last European Championship qualifying campaign, continued showing the match without replaying major incidents. But the damage had been done as the atmosphere failed to match its earlier intensity.
Gordon was one of those whose eyes were drawn to the giant screens and he later made withering reference to the fact that those inside the ground could not escape the miss. Although more than a quarter of the match still remained the incident was allowed to prey on minds.
"Whoever is in charge of the big screen showed Chris's chance about five times, which was nice of them," he said. "It totally did (effect the atmosphere], yes. They (the fans] didn't need to see that again and I'm sure we didn't. Everybody looked up at the big screen and saw it on a number of occasions."
Iwelumo also commented on the dispiriting effect of the replays. "I saw the chance about 10 seconds after it happened (on the big screen]," he said. "I am disappointed, there is always going to be a talking point when you make your debut and unfortunately it was that rather than me scoring the only goal of the day."
The full article contains 440 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
