Thank Goodness It's Not Friday

Scotland have no plans to adjust their playing plans from Saturday internationals for any EURO2012 qualifiers played at home despite FIFA having ratified plans to play internationals on Tuesday nights instead of Wednesday. Individual associations will retain control over when they play the first part of a double header but many could choose to switch to Friday nights to maintain the four-day gap between games. But Saturday afternoon will remain Scotland's preferred option for home games.

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith said: "I would imagine Saturday internationals will continue for Scotland. In most cases, that would suit us better. The police are not keen on Friday night matches, so we would have to talk to them about the possibility. We have to take the fans into account as well. A lot travel to Glasgow and would probably prefer us not to play on a Friday. It leaves us playing Saturday then Tuesday, while our opponents might have an extra day to recover. Of course, the other side is that if we're playing away from home on a Friday then we will get that extra bit of leeway."

The decision to change playing days to Wednesday was prompted by a desire to compromise with clubs who were unhappy with the condition of players after midweek internationals. Smith went on: "Last year, the vote in favour of keeping it Wednesday - Saturday was something like 88%. I think it's down to pressure from clubs, who are unhappy with players returning late or exhausted from Wednesday games."