Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has suggested in a stunning new interview that UEFA corruption may have cheated his side out of a place at Euro 2008.
In a BBC documentary to be aired tonight, McLeish says he took a phone call prior to the nation’s final qualifying match against Italy telling him that a Scots victory would not be favoured by UEFA.
Italy would go on to win the tie after a questionable stoppage-time free-kick was awarded by Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez – despite it being Scots full back Alan Hutton who had been fouled.
Now, McLeish says he has suspicions about a succession of controversial decisions made during the game.
He said: “In the midweek before the game, I got a call from an Italian journalist. She said, ‘Do you really think that UEFA will allow France and Italy not to qualify?’.
“I said, ‘Wait a minute. This is a bit controversial. We don’t say things like that in Scotland’.
“She said, ‘Listen Mr McLeish, the whole of Italy is talking about this. If there is a 50-50, the referee will favour the Italians and the French’.”
He added: “It was terrible because I was so convinced about it.
“That’s why the disappointment was absolutely devastating.”
Speaking after the game, former Scotland captain James McFadden was in agreement with McLeish’s assessment that the Scots had been robbed.
“I am gutted, absolutely gutted, and it’s the same for all the players. I know you are not supposed to say these things but we were robbed by the referee,” he said.
“It is hard to take. I would not say cheated, but I wouldn’t say the referee helped us. I think he was more for Italy than he was for us.
“There have been some dodgy decisions given against us or not gone our way. It goes to prove that we were not wanted at the big championships.
“People didn’t want us to qualify and they got what they wanted.”
A UEFA spokesman denied any allegations of biased refereeing: “Mistakes may have been made during the game but decisions did go against each team.
“Mr Mejuto Gonzalez is a highly ranked referee and one of the best in the world.”
Scotland’s Game’ will be shown tonight on BBC One Scotland at 9pm.
