Andy’s Sting in the Tale (11/06/26) "The New World, World Cup"

Thank Goodness

Football is about to break out.

That is a relief for us all.

Maybe the actual balls actually being kicked will start the process of the beautiful game becoming the talking point rather than the excesses.

What’s for sure is the vast range and depths of sheer and often nasty ugliness baked-in by Infantino’s version of Fifa into the future, fully supported and exacerbated by his Faustian pact with the alleged leader of the free world.

I love the USA, always have, but it is a country in a very strange fast-changing place.

I’m writing this 2 days early and apologise for the certainty of already being wrong in several areas below because something I won’t have foreseen has suddenly become important.

Stephen Reside

The reason for the early Sting this week is because partly I want it out before the Kick-Off in Mexico City but really because my incredible, long-time, ‘picture-contributor,’ Murray is heading Stateside on Friday and fulfilling his special promise to his late dad a well-known Tartan Army regular.

As of now our plan is that the next two Stings will be Murray’s visual captures of the World Cup from a Scottish fan’s eye, but fair warning, something might encourage a change in that plan.

I hope he joins up too with Stephen Reside of the SFU who has custody of the World `Famous Andy Goram’s Kilt.

It’s finally going to a Scottish World Cup before it raises money for our cerebral palsy team.

( A lovely wee story on the SFU web site. https://www.thesfu.co.uk/post/andy-goram-s-kilt-is-finally-going-to-a-world-cup)

Even the ‘Good Guys’ are being screwed.

Today on the radio I heard a Tartan Army stalwart with a northern accent, I’d have guessed somewhere between Beauly and Forres if pushed.

He was obviously directly affected by an existing ‘approved’ ESTA that suddenly was ‘no longer approved’.

He could have been and indeed should have been spitting venom because his flight over the pond was today, Wednesday.

He had actually been in USA a year ago, on the ESTA, for a holiday in Boston and then later the Ryder Cup.

His name was Ivan Ralph and struck a chord with me,.

I’d heard it before.

On the show he was logical, had looked at his options, and had then actually done something about it as he also has tickets for his kids and himself for all Scottish matches.

He was now heading on Friday to Belfast and the USA embassy or consulate. Armed with paperwork to address any potential reasons for his visa refusal.

Good luck Ivan.

I don’t know you but remember well that you were the very man who donated a Nairn County top to every primary 3 schoolkid in your county last October, and incredible move that I highlighted in Sting.

Some 300 tops.

You were not the first or last to be affected by a country with understaffed government employees, under constant attack by policies and changes beyond their control.

Everyone running scared.

I understand that defence gestures are a n innate form of employee self-protection and hope this is not the forever America.

And why pick on you, Ivan?

Maybe King Donald is one of the revered, Forres Casuals and hates all things Nairn?

Maybe not.

This Week’s Sting

1. A Hilarious Banner

2. Top of the Group

3. To Play or not and then Where?

4. There is Always Hope

5. Letting down the Brotherhood

6. Will Iran Play the Game?

7. A Perspective on Jollies and Holidays

1. Infantino is a What?

I burst out laughing at a wee banner on show on the telly during our friendly with Bolivia.

It’s even funnier because this particular ‘F’ word has a different meaning in the good ol USA , i.e. a Fanny Pack there is what we’d call a ‘bum pack’.

It’s non-offensive and not even remotely colloquially funny or an insult.

But the man is ‘worser’ than just a ‘bum’, and we all know that.

The fans called it right.

2. Scotland’s Women Showing the Way

We started off as second favourites with two no-hopers in an unbalanced group.

We drew twice with Belgium and squeaked top spot on goal difference against the rabbits.

Qualifying for Brazil is still stacked against all teams outside the elite, a level above us, but we couldn’t have done any more or better so far.

Great to watch too.

We didn’t make a fuss about playing Israel behind closed doors and maybe that was the best way.

3. Trouble Brewing

Ireland Have an Immediate Conundrum.

If they agree to play Israel men the first match at the end of September will be a ‘neutral’ venue.

For the return, a week later on October 4th if they play as per normal at Landsdowne Road there will be stronger protests than the recent white tennis-ball hailstorm against Qatar.

There is strong support for a total boycott.

But, that won’t happen.

4. The Frenchman Starts the Fight Back

Michel Platini has Infantino in his cross-hairs.

Back in the age of innocence I remember that Michel Platini was due to secede Sepp Blatter and for a while Infantino was reputed to be ‘temporary’.

As they say in Aberdeen, ‘That Wis a Ballack’s, Min’, and Infantino always knew better.

Clever Swiss/Italian Machiavelli that he is.

Basically this Uriah Heep of a man had it all planned but now the French footballing hero has gone legal with a complaint before the Dean of Investigating Judges in Paris.

Words like ‘Malicious Denunciation’, ‘Influence Peddling’, ‘Complicity’ are live and will drag Fifa into governance and ethics rabbit holes that Jahnnie doesn’t want.

5. Why Did the Refs Not Stand Together On This One?

When the Somali ref, Omar Artan, in possession of a ‘diplomats passport’ was held and questioned for 12 hours at Miami Airport then sent home Fifa and all refs should have stood up for him.

He was on the Fifa list.

But got sent homewards.

Fifa have said ‘immigration is not for them to act in any way’.

End of story.

I read somewhere that refs are reputed to be trousering $100,000 each for the effort of being there.

The World Cup wouldn’t and couldn’t happen without them.

Just another USA World Cup disgrace.

6. Iran and Other Question Marks

What if something happens between the host nation and the Fifa member who Donald doesn’t want to be there?

The middle-east country is not known for rolling over and having its tummy tickled and the World Cup is a timely spotlight for anyone wanting to create or cause distress onto the home nation.

Will all go well ahead of and during the ceremony and the opening game in Mexico City?

The Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum has cocked a snook and won’t be there.

A wave of protests around the Azteca are said to be planned.

Meantime Fifa are panicking and ‘allegedly’ selling vast blocks of seats below the stated price levels.

The hotel pricing structure has woken up to the realities too.

One of my boys cancelled his 2 night hotel booking and then immediately booked the same hotel for $800 less.

7. Ammunition for Those Who Like to Be Offended

I don’t have any problem with John Swinney and the Sports Minister Maree Todd being in USA because that’s part of their jobs.

They both, I hope have a wonderful time but will also be great ambassadors for our country.

I also don’t mind some MSPs heading there as part of pre-planned holidays.

And I think the more bank holidays the better and really enjoyed King Charlie’s Coronation, (I was fishing).

Days off are great and 5 of our 32 councils are joining in.

The cost of the First Minister’s wee unfunded and semi-adopted present is estimated at £60millions.

Murrell and his kleptomania illness, or whatever, cost the SNP somewhere between £500K and let’s say, £1Million.

And will cost us all more with all the police time and everything else it has sucked up.

But whatever the total it will be nowhere near the cost of Swinney’s holiday that isn’t really.

Think of all the fuss and concentration on the Murrell case for sure but I can think of a hell of a lot of good things to do with £60 million in Scotland.

(Free football for all kids, for ever)

A holiday after the Haiti opening game wouldn’t even be on my short leet.

Sting is

A personal take on some of the stories that the mainstream misses or glosses over.

Good luck to all my pals heading over the pond, May your Estas remain authorized.

Andy’s Albums of the Week

A Hat-Trick of American Insights

I believe the country will be all the stronger after the ordeal.

These three classic, and special albums are the Numero 1. 2. and 3. of the ongoing Rollin Stone ‘Best Albums Ever ‘project.

Judged by real people, not the kind of public manipulation we see on Eurovision.

All surprisingly were extra-inspired by problems in the USA, both personal and institutional.

We sometimes forget or get carried away, the reality is football isn’t a matter of life and death to any of us

Just a metaphor for life.

1. Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On

2. Beach Boys: Pet Sounds

3. Joni Mitchell: Blue

You shouldn’t need me to tell you anything about them, just listen.