Craig Levein hits Scotland players with booze ban

Craig Levein has banned alcohol when players are on duty with Scotland. After decades littered with amusing tales of drink-fuelled misbehaviour, the manager and the Scottish Football Association could reasonably be accused of closing the stable door after the horse had bolted. Last season witnessed the scandal when Allan McGregor and Barry Ferguson indulged in an all-night drinking session following a defeat by Holland under Levein's predecessor, George Burley. But instances of Scotland internationals overindulging in alcohol, often triggering farcical situations, were commonplace long before that. Levein has informed the players of his abstinence plan ahead of Wednesday's friendly at home to the Czech Republic, his first match in charge. The Burnley striker Steven Fletcher, meanwhile, will play no part in the match after breaking a bone in a hand during training. "Craig has rules whether he is a club manager or the Scotland manager; he told the players that, when we are in hotels, we do not drink," said Levein's assistant, Peter Houston. "If there is a 10-day spell, two games in a row, there will still be no drinking. Craig is a great believer in us being here to work. If we do well, we can have a drink after that." James McFadden, who missed his scheduled flight home from Japan following his Scotland debut in 2002 after a night out lasted a little too long, was questioned about Levein's stance. "I don't think anyone has any major problems not being able to have a drink," said the Birmingham City forward. Eight years ago McFadden merely joined a lengthy list of Scottish players who have enjoyed high jinks. In 1974 Jimmy Johnstone interrupted his 4am return from a night out during a Scotland training camp in Largs – the team were due to play England four days later – to "borrow" a rowing boat. The boat had no oars, meaning Johnstone had to be rescued by coastguards while drifting slowly towards America. "What shall we do with a drunken sailor?" chanted Johnstone's unforgiving team-mates. A year later the "Copenhagen Five" were christened. Joe Harper, Billy Bremner, Pat McCluskey, Willie Young and Arthur Graham earned international life bans from the SFA – later revoked – after riot police arrived to break up a nightclub disturbance in the Danish capital. Reports claimed an SFA official's room was trashed by players on their return to the team hotel. Alex Ferguson's decision not to select Mo Johnston for the 1986 World Cup squad is said to have been prompted by some late-night nonsense by the striker during preparations for a play-off game in Australia. Houston said Levein's ban had been introduced without fuss. "There wasn't a big deal made of it, Craig just mentioned it, as he would have done whether previous activities had happened or not," he said. Things, it seems, will never be the same again.