Four Four Two - UK (2021-12)

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TALLINN REVISITED

It’s 25 years since a kick-off change led to

the weirdest moment in Scottish football history – so

UEFA recreated the controversy for a new audience.

Estonia famously didn’t turn up for a match against

Scotland in 1996, narked about losing TV cash after

floodlight worries prompted FIFA to move the game

to 3pm on a Wednesday. This time, Celtic had to host

Ferencvaros on a Tuesday afternoon – the Bhoys and

rivals Rangers were forced to play their Europa League

home ties in the same midweek to avoid a clash with

the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.

The Hoops switched their game to the Tuesday but

couldn’t commence at 8pm or 5.45pm because of

Champions League games, so UEFA picked 3.30pm.

It didn’t go down well with fuming Celtic fans, who

unleashed a banner depicting a rat and a skeleton

having a go at the Countdown conundrum. The letters

were ‘FCUKUFEA’ and the clock was fixed at 3.30pm.

What could it possibly mean?

Thankfully, at least both teams turned up this time,

and Celtic triumphed 2-0. We await the next Scottish

kick-off controversy, currently scheduled for 2046.

MEAnWHILE In...

...Glasgow, a kick-off switch left furious Celtic fans in a conundrum – cue a sweary new version of Countdown

WEIRD

WORLD OF

FOOTBALL

18 December 2021 FourFourTwo