Journalists cry foul as politicians put the boot in

The Corinthian spirit was sorely lacking during a charity football match between Scottish politicians and sports journalists which had to be abandoned after descending into a brawl, it has emerged.

The game, staged on Sunday morning at Lesser Hampden, in Glasgow, was marked from the start by what one politician who took part said were “meaty challenges and generally niggling incidents”.

These culminated in John Park, the Labour MSP and a key player in the party's Glenrothes by-election campaign, being sent off late in the first half for what was described as a “robust” challenge on Chick Young, the well-known BBC football pundit.



Half-time brought no respite in the ill feeling between the two sides and early in the second half the referee brought hostilities to an abrupt end.

His decision, which came after 55 minutes, with the score 6-2 for the politicians, was sparked after a Glasgow Labour councillor reportedly ran the length of the field and brought down a journalist. This triggered a general melee with some reports of punches being thrown by players on both sides.

Afterwards, according to sources, one politician who went into the opposition dressing to try to say “no hard feelings” was shown the door. A post-match lunch for the two sides turned into a rather one-sided affair when only one journalist turned up. A furious Mr Young said that he regarded the politicians as “thugs”. He added: “They were an absolute disgrace. It was really quite scandalous. I am still limping and I have stud marks on my leg. Their tackles were completely out of order.”