There's a real Davy Fitz-esque aura to these quotes from head of the Scottish FA Stewart Regan.
Asked for his reaction to FIFA's €5 million payment to the FAI, Regan stated that he would be keeping quiet on the matter.
The SFA boss told the Press Association:
I've always worked on the assumption that if you haven't got anything positive to say, you keep your mouth shut.
It mirrored the start to the Clare boss' interview with RTÉ's Clare McNamara following the Banner's loss to Limerick in the Munster Hurling Championship last month. Fitzgerald told the RTÉ reporter that he would not be drawn into making any comments about the match officials. In a thinly veiled manner he did so anyway.
Similarly, despite Regan saying that he would be keeping his mouth shut, he remarked on the matter in a roundabout way.
The issue is one for the FAI. It's not one I want to comment on. We're managing our qualification process, we've got a big game against Ireland on Saturday night and I think they will be reflecting long and hard on the events of the last week.
As far as the Scottish FA is concerned we respect the laws of the game, we respect the rules that govern UEFA and FIFA and if we qualify we'll be overjoyed and look forward to trying to do that in France in 2016.
If every team who had a concern over a decision tried to make a claim on the back of it, there would be a queue down the steps from Hampden to Aitkenhead Road.
Feeling that maybe his point had not hit home, Regan thought it required reiterating.
As far as we are concerned we are going to abide by the rules, the laws of the game and the statutes of FIFA and UEFA and if we qualify we'll do it because we've won a match and qualified from our group.
Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
