UEFA Nations League

KYLE LAFFERTY has been WITHDRAWN from Northern Ireland’s squad after allegations the striker used sectarian language.His club side Kilmarnock have opened an investigation after a video surfaced online appearing to show Lafferty using the sectarian slur ‘fenian b******’ after being tricked into posing with a member of the public who says ‘Up the Celtic.’
Lafferty has been axed from the Northern Ireland squadCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The video appeared online
The Rugby Park side launched a probe after the clip circulated widely on social media.
And now, the Irish FA have taken their own action by removing Lafferty from the squad.
The 35-year old was called up to Ian Baraclough’s squad for the Nations League double header with Kosovo and Greece, the first of those games taking place on Saturday.
But now Lafferty, capped 89 times by his country, will play no part.
An Irish FA statement read: “Northern Ireland senior men’s team player Kyle Lafferty has been withdrawn from the squad ahead of the upcoming UEFA Nations League games against Kosovo and Greece.
“The Irish Football Association is aware of a social media video which has been circulated widely. The association also notes an investigation has been launched into the video by the striker’s club, Kilmarnock FC.
“A minor back problem has prevented Lafferty from participating in training since Tuesday.”
As mentioned, it comes after Kilmarnock released their own investigation into the situation.
Kyle Lafferty is an experienced member of the squadCredit: Pacemaker
They said: “Kilmarnock Football Club are aware of a video circulating online which appears to show a member of our playing staff using language of a sectarian nature.
“The club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable. The matter will be investigated by the club.”
“The matter will be investigated by the club.”
David Scott, of anti-sectarianism group Nil By Mouth, said it was correct that the matter should be looked into.
He said: “Regardless of whether you’re a high profile footballer or simply a fan watching a game in a pub, adults shouldn’t need to be told that this sort of language isn’t acceptable and can cause a lot offence to others.
“It reflects really bad on us in terms of our reputation, of how you’re seen, but also more importantly, it can impact dramatically on your employment prospects.

“It’s absolutely correct that the club and hopefully the national association investigate this incident in full and get to the bottom of what’s happened.
“It’s also a reminder of the power of social media to amplify behaviour and impact on people’s reputations.”
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FANS and pundits were furious Ukraine defender Valeriy Bondar escaped red for “violently assaulting” goal-bound Scotland striker Che Adams.John McGinn’s 70th-minute opener and a double from sub Lyndon Dykes put the Scots top of their Nations League group with a dazzling 3-0 win at Hampden Park.
“He absolutely wipes Che Adams out there!” 🗣️Great strength and skill from Che Adams to get away before he’s taken down by Bondar. Should it have been more than a yellow? 💥#SCOUKR pic.twitter.com/Cl0dDWQRKj— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) September 21, 2022

Ukraine defender Valeriy Bondar brutally floored Che Adams as the Scotland striker ran through but was only bookedCredit: Reuters
Adams was sent flying backwards to the ground after Bondar’s body-charge
But social media blitzed into Bondar in the same way the Scots turned up the pressure late on.
The Shakhtar Donetsk star was only booked for “rugby tackling” Adams.
The Southampton frontman had snaked past the Ukraine midfield and was speeding towards the area when Bondar stood his ground and shoulder-charged Adams’ shoulder.
Adams was flattened and on his side as Premier Sports pundit Michael Stewart called for Bondar to be dismissed for “wiping out” the Leicester-born ace.
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Stewart told viewers: “That tackle I think perhaps justifies a red card.
‘Of course he’ll be thinking there’s defenders there who are helping out to produce just a yellow card.
“But you watch Bondar here. He absolutely wipes him out.”
Fans on social media agreed, one saying: “Violent assault – not a ‘tackle’. Definite red.”
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And other suggested Adams was fortunate not to have been seriously injured.
This tweet summed up that opinion: “It’s a terrible cynical challenge to make. They are ones that can really really hurt the opponent.”
Another argued: “What’s the point in VAR if we don’t use it that is a red card all day long.”
And many comments hit harder than Bondar did, with claims like: ”This isn’t red because he’s the last man. It’s red because it’s assault!”
Valeriy Bondar was caught on Premier Sports’ coverage moving towards Che Adams and flattening him as the Scot sped towards goal in the Nations League More

THIS was one of those ‘if only’ nights for Scotland.Just not the one we all feared with 71 minutes on the clock.
McGinn fired in the opener at HampdenCredit: Reuters
Dykes headed in a double after coming off the benchCredit: PA
No, this late and dramatic victory for Steve Clarke’s side at Hampden had the Tartan Army wishing ‘if only… they were all like this.’
Nil-nil wouldn’t have been the worst result in this must-not-lose Nations League clash with Ukraine.
But three sensational goals inside 16 pulsating minutes got three crucial points.
Super John McGinn broke the deadlock in 71 minutes before substitute Lyndon Dykes grabbed a late, late double to seal a stunning and fully deserved victory.

There was so much to enjoy about this Scotland performance on a night when the manager went with a fairly unexpected line-up and formation.
You just know his critics would have been shaking their heads disapprovingly when they saw Clarke had ditched his usual defensive back-three for a new-look back-four.
Naysayers asking why he’d turned his back on his go-to system after all these years. Especially in a game of such huge importance.
Yet the main reason Clarke has favoured that formation is to accommodate two of his squad’s big hitters, Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson.
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And with his skipper ruled out through injury there was no real need to stick with it.
Scotland also finished the last gut-wrenching World Cup play-off game with Ukraine with a back-four – after being overrun in midfield initially – so it made perfect sense for Clarke to revert back to it.
Six of the team that played that fateful night didn’t make this starting line-up for one reason or another.
But then Ukraine looked different too with Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko absence a major plus for Scotland given how much he dominated that last clash back in June.
The Tartan Army just wanted an overall better performance this time and not to go home wondering what might have been.
Of course, getting one wasn’t necessarily going to mean we wouldn’t get the other.
Before kick-off there were the expected boos and jeers from the stands during the minute’s applause for the Queen from those who find it impossible to sit or stand quietly for 60 seconds.
But the way Clarke’s team started the game had the masses on their feet and making the right sort of noise.
Scotland were terrific from the off.
There was a real purpose to the way they pressed Ukraine with stand-in captain McGinn leading off the front.
But it was one half-chance after another. Near misses rather than blatant ones.
Ryan Christie was superb all night and kept getting himself into little pockets of space.
Nathan Patterson was initially a major threat down the right flank too and looking in the mood to continue his outstanding club form for Everton.
The former Rangers kid almost had a chance to score after 15 minutes before being crowded out inside the box. Seconds later he delivered a cross which was glanced just wide by McGinn.
It was all looking so promising for him and Scotland. Yet with 23 minutes on the clock disaster struck.
Stuart Armstrong smashed a shot the Ukraine keeper saved and when Christie failed to score with the rebound Ukraine moved to break forward.
Patterson showed his diligent side by chasing back Ruslan Malinovskyi, only to fall awkwardly when he made his challenge.
Right away he knew he’d tweaked something, raising his arm in the air to signal immediately to the bench.
And that was his night over.
There was classy embrace form Ukraine boss Oleksandr Petrakov as Patterson went up the tunnel. 
Clarke applauds his team after third goalCredit: Willie Vass
But Clarke must have wondered there and then if he was going to get any luck whatsoever against Ukraine.
The incident deflated the entire home support with a hush around Hampden for a good ten minutes after Patterson went off.
There was no blame attacked to the Ukraine midfielder for the incident. But just seconds before the break there was a flashpoint which had the Scotland supporters furious.
Striker Che Adams tried to burst through the middle but was completely taken out by defender Valeriy Bondar with a raised arm challenge and deliberate collision to prevent him from running through.
Italian referee Maurizio Mariani reached for his yellow card, but there was definitely an argument that it could have been worthy of another look on VAR. But that didn’t happen.
Every time Bondar touched the ball in the second half he got booed by the home fans. 
Ukraine’s physicality was actually one of the notable aspects of the first-half. 
No6 Taras Stepanenko went into the ref’s book for a late tackle on McGinn and was fortunate to escape another caution for a similar foul before the break. 
His manager clearly realised how luck he’d been because he subbed the Shakhtar Donetsk star at the break.
But Scotland didn’t let up.
Even after good opportunities came and went they didn’t let their heads drop.
Adams had a double chance to score in 63 minutes but hit the crossbar with his first header before the Ukraine keeper used to his legs to stop his second.
Seconds later Armstrong had his manager holding his head in his hands.
But it was coming. The goal was on its way. And in 71 minutes it arrived.
McGinn received a ball on the edge of the Ukraine box and held off that man Bondar.
With brilliant accuracy the Aston Villa star then hit the net with a sensational shot across the keeper.
The fear was that Ukraine still had time to nick an equaliser. 
But Clarke’s men had other ideas.
A corner from sub Ryan Fraser picked out Dykes and his header found the same corner McGinn did moments earlier to make it 2-0 with 79 minutes on the clock.
Eight minutes later another delivery from the Newcastle man saw Dykes out jump his marker to grab his second.
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