The Bulgarian Football Association has demanded to know how the SFA came to their decision in  banning Aleksandr Tonev for seven days for probably using racist language.

The SFAs attempt to add a fourth terminology, joining guilty, not guilty and not proven in legalspeak, appears to have run into an obstacle as “more than likely guilty ” doesn’t translate very well. In a statement, the BFA said;

 “We join Celtic and express our willingness to assist in revealing the truth.

“In this case it is undeniable – a young and talented Bulgarian footballer is charged and punished for an offence he allegedly did not commit and no evidence of guilt.

“We demand to see evidence. Otherwise we will consider the penalty is biased and exaggerated.” 

( Left themselves open to a countercharge of inaccuracy  there, calling Tonev young and talented. )

 The whole issue now seems to be about geting to the truth, which is what the initial enquiry should have established beyond doubt with a clear , concise explanation.

 But this is the SFA, who don’t do clear or concise.

 In fact, its hard to see what they actually do. Thats because Campbell Ogilvie is in charge, and he doesn’t like anyone seeing what is going on.

 Mind you, he’s been known to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to certain aspects of  a certain clubs, er, policies and traditions.

 Its surprising to see Ogilvie s organisation condemn anyone for racist behaviour on the flimsiest of evidence whem he served eleven years at a club who exhibited racist and sectarian policies in recruitment and song writing, as well as a number of other distasteful practices.

 Maybe he’s turned over a new leaf….

 Wonder how they’ll get out of this one ? If I was Tonev I’d be checking my kit bag for little white bags of powder, and I certainly wouldn’t leave it unattended at the airport this week.

 And I’d be taking self defence lessons ahead of Sundays visit to Pittodrie.

But before the Pittodrie game there is the small matter of a visit to Romania, and a tie against Astra Guirgiu.

 This will be Celtics 300th European game, stretching back over fifty years to the first one, a defeat to Valencia, in the Fairs Cup.

 Only one of which was in Romania, against Politiechnica Timisoara in the seventies.

I remember listening to that game on the radio, and the referee, who was Greek, may well have been influenced by the hosts, who according to Frank McGarvey, had two stunning girlfriends and wasn’t a looker.

 McGarvey told the Record;

 “I’ve only been cheated twice in my career – that night in Romania and against Rapid Vienna.

“I called the ref a cheat back at the hotel and he pushed me. Billy McNeill stepped in and then two bodyguards came and grabbed him.

“Honestly, I was an inch from nailing the ref but if I had then I’d have been done. That’s why Billy stepped in.

“It’s funny but I remember when we went back to the hotel the referee’s two stunning girlfriends were waiting.

“He had two beautiful girls with him all night yet he was no looker so where he got them from is a mystery.

“Roddie MacDonald was sent off for nothing and I was red carded too.

“I was sent off because I was through on goal late on and I slipped the ball past a defender and someone just came and took me right out and put me up in the air.

“I was just about to score so I thought it was a certain penalty but the ref didn’t give anything. It was probably about the worst tackle ever on me. I called the ref a cheat and he sent me off for that.

“It was a farce. It wouldn’t happen now.

“If you could see the tackle on me now then you’d understand why I say that nowadays UEFA would never let him referee ever again.

“Other things happened in the game like Danny McGrain winning the toss and 

choosing to shoot with the wind behind us. But the referee refused to let that happen.

“John Clark had great discipline and, as a player, was a model professional but even he lost it that night. That’s the only time I’ve seen him crack.

“It was behind the Iron Curtain and strange things happened to football clubs behind the Iron Curtain at that time. It’s all more or less on TV now and not a lot can go wrong. these days.” 

 For such a non entity of a team, Politechnica are up there with Rapid Vienna and Atletico Madrid for me, and anyone who doesn’t remember the game, look at John Clark, who throughout his fifty or so years with Celtic wouldn’t get angry if someone burnt his house down while he was on holiday, and that night he was so angry he got off his seat and pointed at someone after the game, the equivalent in world politics of a tactical nuclear strike.

Of course, Astra are not Politechnica, but it would make for cracking tv if they were.

 Tomorrows game is live on BT Sport, with a 6pm kick off.

Craig Gordon has travelled with the squad, but James Forrest hasn’t, and neither has Kris Commons.

 Thats them above, in case you’d forgotten what they looked like.

Someone else who has been shunning the limelight is assistant manager John Collins, who emerged today to comment on the Astra game;

I expect another difficult game,” he said. “Given time on the ball they’ll pass it and move it and create chances. 

 Well, that was worth waiting for.

 Hang on , he’s not finished….

“We look forward to the game and we’re in good form and scoring goals without conceding but in Europe it’s another level up.

“We learned that they have some good football players, move the ball well and like to keep it on the grass, a similar style of football to us and if we’re not on our toes they will create chances.” 

I think as each week has gone by we are getting a little bit better but the most important thing is the next game and we continue to do what we have been doing which is passing the ball well and creating chances,” he said.

“We have been scoring so it’s always good to try and get that goal away from home. 

“The aim is to go as far as possible, like any team that goes into any tournament. You’d love to win it, we’re not saying we will, but we want to go as far as possible. Ask any of the players or fans, the European trips are great.

“Time will tell how far we can go. We’re not getting carried away.  

 Thanks for that John, you’ve made a dull diary even duller.

Time for some nonsense;

Mike Ashley can ensure Rangers return to the top of Scottish football

How does this affect Rangers? For Ashley to be successful, Rangers have to be successful. Ashley’s main interest may well lie in Rangers’ profitability. For example, his owning the naming rights to Ibrox. But if success on the pitch comes as a side-effect of his involvement, then so be it.

THE CLASH OF THE TITANS

Come the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup, the neutral spectator may find themselves tuning into Scottish football once more. Celtic and Rangers will meet again. There is no doubt that football as a whole has suffered as a result of the loss of this fixture.

Regardless of their divisional status, it will always be the biggest game in Scotland. For Celtic, it is the chance to show that they remain the heavyweights in Glasgow. For Rangers, it is the perfect chance to show their rivals that they are revived and ready to rock once more.

Scottish football has no doubt suffered from Rangers’ plight, yet these events may well spark both their’s and Scottish football’s rejuvenation.

That was taken from a website called GiveMeSport, which really needs to be renamed GiveMeStrength.

 Still , the more that lot build themselves up, or allow themselves to be built up, then the further it will seem they fall.

 Radio Clydes phone in, where the howls and screams of the mentally anguished can be heard on a nightly basis, for those who like that kind of thing, had panellist Gordon Dalziel claiming that the latest product of the famed Murray Park conveyer belt Lewis McLoed was worth millions, and would be a success at the highest level, like the others who rolled off that belt, such as Jamie Ness, Rhys McCabe and John Fleck.

 How can poor McLoed cope with the pressure of living up to those high standards ?  Sure , he’s in the Scotland squad already, and he deserves congratulations for that, but you kind of feel sorry for him with idiots like Dalziel claiming him to be the new Ronaldo/Messi/ Barry Ferguson.

 Will celtic make a double swoop for Lee Wallace and Lewis McLoed ? Oh, wait, thats the title again.

 History question now, Politechnica beat Celtic in the second round back in 1980, but who did Celtic beat to get there ?

And you have to spell it correctly.