SFA stand firm in fixture row

13 April 2012

The Scottish Football Association have hit back at the Scottish Premier League after they expressed concern that Scottish Cup replays and international matches will cause fixture congestion next season.

The SPL have been forced to start next season on July 28 and are also being forced to suspend the winter break because of next year's World Cup.

And they have pointed the finger at Scottish football's governing body in particular, claiming they are adding to the punishing schedules that the game's top players will have to face.

But SFA chief executive David Taylor said: "I think that this is nothing new and we've known this for some time.

"Cup replays are brought up at the Annual General Meeting where this issue comes up regularly and is regularly voted down, but this isn't exactly news.

"I'm also speaking personally when I say that one of the things about Scottish Cup replays is there is a lot of tradition and history attached to them which is important.

"The FA Cup still has replays and is seen as the premier competition and if they can do it, we can do it.

"This is part of what makes the Scottish Cup different, but this is for the clubs to decide and they decide in a vote."

If Scotland qualify for next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea there promises to be more strain on the SPL programme with warm-up matches and friendlies needed.

The World Cup starts on May 31 with players being released 14 days beforehand - but the SFA insist they will co-operate with the SPL to help ease problems next season.

Taylor added: "We like to see good relationships in terms of fixtures for next season and there's got to be some co-operation with the two bodies.

"I just think that we need communication in this area and a little bit of give and take on both sides.

"Fifa's rules at the minute entitle that dates are set aside for friendlies in the international calendar and we'll use some of them to have games, but not all.