Andy’s Sting in the Tale (22/05/26) "Hiding in Plain Sight"
- Andy Smith
- May 22
- 7 min read
I’m at a stage when I realise that I’m not clever enough or knowledgeable to know who to vote for in elections and increasingly think the playground stuff that politicians put on to feed our media is embarrassing.
I also find it easier to take people of different hues as I find them as people irrespective of political rosettery.
Over the last two or three years I have gained a genuine respect for the football-related work that our junior Health Minister, Maree Todd, has done in the short time she has been able to give us in her busy, multi-faceted schedule.
And how pleasantly she carries out her job even when disagreeing, politely, with people around her.
I also have long thought that there should be a proper, and properly funded, Sports and Recreation Minister in Scotland with an integrated brief to maximise the good things that sport and activities can and do offer our nation.
But in government at all levels I know there are constant stark choices aplenty and I guess we are where we are.
But here are two points that have bubbled up and got me thinking.
What £60M Could Do For Scottish Sport, John and Maree?
Maree’s boss, John Swinney, who I know to be a decent man, recently announced a World Cup ‘Monday Holiday’. Not a real holiday, more like a day off for some lucky governmental employees.
An unfunded ‘award’ where even uptake in our councils is patchy, confused, and confusing.
I just read that it will cost the Scottish economy £60 Million but don’t know what the direct employment bill to Holyrood will be for things like NHS and education.
It will be substantial.
As a long time ago economist I know for certain it is not a good plan for such a substantial sum spent flippantly in the run down to impending severe fiscal pressure as our £4.5 Billion budget shortfall starts to loom and then bite.
And bite us all it will.
There will be no ‘multiplier effect’.
Every budget at Holyrood is under scrutiny like never before and it will also hurt.
But.
Just think what £60 Million, pissed-away on the Monday after the Haiti match, could have done for kids sport in Scotland.
It’s a no brainer and would have ‘multiplier effects.
Who Pays?
Last week the SPFL decider was decided and the champions first had a wee pitch invasion and then a something-fuelled party in the Merchant City.
The revellers predictably caused disturbance, misbehaved, disrupted and broke many laws like pyros.
It all caused an unnecessary bill for the tax payers of Glasgow.
Just like the unbudgeted costs because of our First Minister’s ‘wee day off’.
Councils are hard pressed enough without having to pay unnecessary football-related bills.
Scottish football should take responsibility, collectively grow a pair and create and adopt our own particular version of Strict Liability.
In the meantime I note today that the SPFL is now looking into fan issues at the recent games at ICT v Hamilton, Motherwell v Celtic, Hamilton v Clyde, Celtic v Hearts and Stenny v Alloa under rules 36 and 37.
Not good enough in my book guys.
Football which you run needs to take ownership of fans behaviour rather than hiding behind its own self-marked rules designed to find no real fault at clubs and then pass the blame on to society.
Again, and again.
The simple change that is needed is that the responsible club(s) should simply have to pick up the bill for the Polis, the damage, the clean-up and all other costs that should not be dumped on local taxpayers.
That would see change in fan behaviours overnight.
‘Move Along Time’ – The Constant Enemy of Real Change
It’s all about the focus of the media and the insatiable public always looking for new news.
The Hearts VAR debacles last week were big news until they weren’t news any more.
Likewise last week’s pitch invasion, or the recent one at Ibrox in March.
And the Merchant City Party is already in the distant past because all our focus is on The World Cup.
The world moves on and old news is just that, old news.
Until it happens again and there will be more tutting until we collectively move on again.
So bloody depressing because if It’s easier to do nothing that’s what will happen.
This Week’s Sting
1. SWPL Showdown Time
2. Morris Minor Sends Coach Away With a Flea in his Ear
3. Best Paid Fifa Job in Latin America?
4. PPV Finals Boosts Amazon Shares
5. Will Iran Be There?
6. Sting Reader Wins Top Literary Prize
7. Bayern Rivals Sabotage the Celebration
8. A Wee Guy With a Camera
1. A Wonderful End to the Season
I have no idea how Spartans Women caught up with and then edged ahead of Kilmarnock Women over the month of May.
7 points more over 3 games in May was a huge turnaround.
Killie now have some testing play offs and Spartans will find the Premier League to be an even tougher place after their year out.
But all eyes now on Hibs v Hearts, and Glasgow v Rangers on Sunday.
Like last week Hearts have to win or draw.
Either way there will be no song book nonsense, no pitch invasions and the Merchant City can breathe a sigh of relief
2. Jameson Morris, a Hero
I have been embarrassed when watching kids football when adult coaches or spectators berate the younger ref or players.
Last week young Jameson had a wee final word with a bullysome coach trying to use age to intimidate.
“Coach you’re either going back to your dugout or you can forfeit. It’s your choice”.
3. A Wee Complaint About Alejandro Dominguez
Not a household name but he was Fifa’s (Conmebol), South American President.
In an organisation where Jahnnie says every penny is accounted for, a whistle blower has said Alejandro had trousered over $5M of Fifa monies.
This is the man whose election pitch was “My biggest promise is to restore credibility to Conmebol. We want to emphasise transparency. We want to return to the essence of football, the values and the fair play”.
So now you know.
4. All 3 Uefa Finals are Now Pay Per View
This Wednesday the Europa Leage is on TNT as will be the final on Saturday 30 May.
Unlike the Europa Final I don’t think there will be a free option.
Unless you have an alternative like an Amazon Fire Stick.
I know lots who do and will watch both.
5. They Are Making a Point
I originally thought they’d give it a swerve but this nation is making a point against two aggressors and the west.
Iran will be there.
It’s a disgrace that a nation that recently slaughtered 30 or 40,000 of its aspirational and challenging young adults is allowed anywhere near an international tournament.
But that’s the world of Jahnnie and his cabal.
6. Ali is Officially a Winner
One of the pleasures I get when writing Sting is conversations with a wide range of correspondents.
One of our Scottish Football Union founder members, and friend of the blog is the Scottish writer and well known Clachnacuddin fan, Ali Smith.
In the past she has written about the stuff we talk about and sent wee replies like, “Proud to be mentioned in the same Sting as Angus Og”, and also, “Yes I agree the world gets uglier and uglier, but your Sting gets better and better”.
This week Ali picked up the ‘Dublin Literary Award 2026’, (like the Booker but broader and more relevant to real people) She got it for her recent novel, Gliff.
Here’s a summary from the award bumf.
“At a moment when democracy across the world can too often feel fragile, this novel is a powerful reminder that freedom, dignity and democratic values should never be taken for granted
7. Bayern Embarrassed on YOU Tube
It a street procession set to celebrate winning the German title.
But rivals 1860 Munich played a wee trick.
The celebratory flag clearly visible didn’t say well done Bayern.
It read, ‘FC Farmers Sons of Whores”.
German humour and all that but a very funny prank that hurt nobody.
8. OTT in Englandshire
We all saw the youngster holding a smartphone at Middlesborough.
Bad boy and bad whoever sent him.
Deserving of a fine and a slap.
But spying and removal from the most lucrative sequence of games in football.
No.
When I see such imbalanced judgements as this it makes me ask more questions.
Doesn’t smell right at all.
Nothing in the world is secret.
Knowing set-play plans ahead of the game is not a big issue and not a game cheater.
The reality is our game applauds and rewards cheating especially in the box.
Glad I’m not a Saints fan.
Andy’s Sting Blog
Opinions are mine and mine alone.
Input welcome, you don’t have to be an award winning writer.
If you are not a member of the SFU then why not, your voice deserves to be heard.
Andy’s Album of the Week
Chieftains and Various Trans-Atlantic Artistes: Further Down The Old Plank Road
I used to travel in and out of Dublin airport on an almost weekly basis when I had a big Irish client, Goodfella’s.
There was a wee music shop airside that mostly sold tourist nonsense but also the burgeoning Irish and Celtic Diaspora that the Chieftains tapped into.
This album was a lucky find that I heard being played in the store while killing half an hour, and it was on my Walkman on the journey home on one of Aer Lingus’s ‘little Fokkers.’
In the run up to USA 2026 I have been down a few musical rabbit holes looking for old a new world connections and partnerships.
And digging into the Carolinas where Scotland will be based supplied a few musical smiles and ‘laugh out louds’.
The funniest was discovering stuff like the family band The Shaggs, actually from Massachusetts, (now cult, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4WN_bSX6zo)
Or even funnier learning that people of all ages in North and South Carolina go shagging together on boardwalks on the coast on weekends in the summer.
One big hit still firing up this movement is by ‘Alabama’ and called, ‘Dancin’, Shaggin’ On the Boulevard’.
And why not?
Have a look and a listen.
Thanks to quite amazing and sadly now lost bands like the Chieftains and programmes like Transatlantic Sessions I know that Scot’s/Irish music traditions and the Bluegrass and Country evolutions found all over the Carolinas and further inland and south are first cousins and good listening on a sunny Friday when done well.
This album is wonderful and made with 57 guests including Emmylou, Roseann Cash, Ricky Skaggs and a mix of bluegrass legends.
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