An astonishing row erupted live on air between BBC colleagues after Scotland’s dismal 3-0 defeat by Brazil at the World Cup, with the country’s hopes of remaining in the tournament hanging by a thread.
After defeating Haiti 1-0 in their opening game, Scotland suffered back-to-back defeats against Morocco and Brazil to leave them on three points and minus three goal difference, hampering their chances of going through as one of the best third-place teams.
With Scotland now staring down the barrel of a likely World Cup exit, emotions were high as BBC colleagues Neil McCann and Tom English clashed during a feisty on-air spat that lasted over four minutes.
Kilmarnock boss McCann furiously branded English, BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer, ‘bang out of order’ as he launched a staunch defence of Steve Clarke’s side, despite their disappointing displays so far.
English had questioned whether Scotland’s high-profile players such as Scott McTominay and Lewis Ferguson were good enough to compete at World Cup level, with this being Scotland’s first appearance at the tournament since 1998.
‘They couldn’t do it because they’re not good enough. They’re not good enough technically, they’re not good creatively, they’re not good in terms of ruthless execution of the chances they make,’ English said on Sportsound.
Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann was involved in a heated on-air spat after Scotland’s defeat
He clashed with BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer Tom English in a lengthy four-minute spat
Scotland were beaten 3-0 by Brazil and now have an anxious wait to see if they advance as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams – having accrued three points against Haiti
‘They’re not good enough at this level. It’s brilliant to be here, phenomenal, and maybe we’ll be here for another week.’
McCann interrupted: ‘Tom, what an assault on a group of individuals that have done something special in getting here. I think you’re bang out of order.
‘You’ve got a guy who’s probably the best midfielder in Italy in Lewis Ferguson, a guy who’s up for Ballon d’Or discussions in Scott McTominay, you’ve got the captain of Aston Villa who’ve just won the Europa League. That’s a joke. Behave yourself.’
Tempers then exploded between the BBC pair as they began talking over one another in a fury and trading barbs in an attempt to stand by their differing viewpoints.
English, accusing McCann of ‘ignoring the evidence with his own eyes’, retorted: ‘What good were those baubles when Morocco played them off the park? You’re too emotionally involved in this. They can’t score a goal.’
McCann refused the suggestion he was too emotionally involved and jabbed back: ‘Stick to egg chasing Tom, that’s a joke.’
English asked: ‘Did they perform against Haiti? Did they perform against Haiti?’
‘No, but they won the game,’ McCann replied.
English then doubled down: ‘Did they perform against Haiti?’
McCann, angry, responded: ‘No, I just said… are you deaf? I said no and they won the game.’
The furious duo continued to argue for several minutes until Willie Miller intervened in an attempt to keep the peace, by saying: ‘Everyone has a point to make’.
Tensions were clearly running high on what was a difficult night for Scotland, with manager Clarke declaring, ‘I think we’re going home’, seconds after the final whistle before storming out of his post-match interview.
Scotland were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Brazil on Wednesday, with Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior setting the five-time World Cup champions on their way to victory with a first-half brace before Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha sealed the three points in the 60th minute.
Clarke struggled to contain his emotions at the final whistle, with the question of how he plans to cope with the upcoming wait appearing to push him over the edge.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke also struggled to contain his emotions at the final whistle, with the question of how he plans to cope with the upcoming wait appearing to push him over the edge
Many Scotland fans reacted angril to Clarke’s storm-out interview after losing to Brazil
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Bosnia-Herzegovina | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 |
| 2. Sweden | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| 3. Croatia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 4. South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 5. Algeria | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| 6. Paraguay | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| 7. Scotland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 3 |
| 8. Cape Verde | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 9. Belgium | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 10. Congo DR | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| 11. Ecuador | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| 12. Senegal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 0 |
Speaking on the pitch after the match, he said: ‘We made it difficult for ourselves. That’s it. We gave them the goals. We gave them the game they wanted. Disappointing.’
When asked for his thoughts on the agonising wait ahead, Clarke abruptly replied: ‘I don’t even think about that,’ before walking away as the cameras were forced to cut back to Kelly Cates in the BBC’s Salford studio.
Clarke’s reaction appears to have grated on Scottish fans, who were quick to suggest that it was the 62-year-old’s shortcomings that led to the side’s capitulation against Brazil.
One fan wrote: ‘Better managers than Steve Clarke have done these interviews with good grace, win or lose.
‘When is the Scottish football media going to call out this guy, with his incomprehensible tactics, lack of preparation (clearly) and deplorable attitude towards his media duties?’
Another wrote: ‘That’s poor from Steve Clarke to dig his players like that in front of the media and strut off (sic).
‘Ultimately if you don’t score in 2 games in a world cup you don’t deserve to go through. Inexplicably they could but would you even back Scotland vs Mexico’.
A third wrote: ‘Steve Clarke fails to grasp that in an interview, he isn’t speaking to the media, he’s speaking to the supporters.
‘You are the manager. People want to hear what you have to say. Throwing a temper tantrum, walking out, offering no reflection, is just a f*** you to supporters.’
