Scots fans lash out

Press, 10 June 1978, Page 56

Scots fans lash out

NZPA Buenos Aires With the World Cup only five days and two rounds of matches old, ' tempers have spilled into the streets and plazas of Argentina and the battles off the field are as furious as those in the stadiums. Two coaches — Mr Claudio Coutinho (Brazil) and Mr Ally MacLeod (Scotland) — were in danger of losing their jobs yesterday.

Scots fans wrecked a restaurant in Cordoba. And the surprisingly successful Austrian team asked for more money and demanded that their wives be flown to join them. The tournament — the most popular singular event in international sport — is poised at a crucial moment. The euphoria and high hopes of the opening matches have evaporated and after slogg* ing through 32 games, at least nine of the 16 finalists still do not know if their first-round fate will be elimination or qualification for the quarter-finals. The unhappiest camps are

j those which expected to do well and have fared badly. Pre-eminent among these are Brazil, three times world champion and the pre-tour-nament favourite, and Scotland, which the president of the International soccer organisation, Mr Joao Havelange, tipped to reach the final.

In fact, both have played feebly — Brazil earning two ties and Scotland losing once and drawing once, and that draw was thanks to an Iranian defender kicking the ball in his own net.

Although MacLeod prom’ ised yesterday to continue — “I go on, I have a job to do” — Scottish soccer officials may well have a different point of view if Scotland makes an inglorious exit from the competition on Monday, as seems likely.

Reports from the Scottish base town of Cordoba said that kilted Scots fans spat on the team bus then got into a battle in a restaurant, overturning tables and writing abuse against the team on walls. Fifteen Scots were taken

to the Central Federal police station and lectured by Cordoba’s Chief of Police, Col. Senen Rosas, then allowed to go. He warned them they would be arrested if there was further trouble.

Scotland was delivered yet another blow yesterday — the Chrysler car firm dropped it from its advertising campaign. Chrysler’s public relations officer, Mr Norman Hunter, a Scotsman himself, who confessed to crying at the team’s performance, said: “It was a time to call a halt.” The decision came after Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Iran, but it was too late to stop expensive full-page advertisements in some nat« ional papers showing the team posing with a Chrysler Avenger. The caption reads: “They both run rings round the competition.” Sources close to the Austrian team said negotiations on payments for the players after their surprise showing were continuing and officials agreed to a team request their wives should join them.