Boost for Scotland as FIFA wipe out bookings ahead of play-offs

The Scotland national team has received positive news ahead of the World Cup play-offs as FIFA decided to remove all yellow cards shown to players during qualifying.

Steve Clarke’s side face Ukraine in March in the play-off semi-final and the winners will meet Wales or Austria in the final to decide who will compete at Qatar 2022.

Bookings picked up the qualifying group meant that Scotland had eight players who were one booking away from missing the play-off final, should the team get there.

Andy Robertson, Billy Gilmour, Che Adams, Jack Hendry, John McGinn, Kevin Nisbet, Scott McTominay and Stephen O’Donnell were all walking the bookings tightrope ahead of the games.

FIFA decided on the yellow card amnesty after Scotland had highlighted the imbalance the rule created, with some national teams playing more group games than others.

Scotland are at home to Ukraine on on March 24, with the final being hosted by either Wales or Austria five days later.

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