If I remember correctly McStay refused to give evidene before the authorities. I believe Raith Rovers were kicked out the league albeit for one day, until McStay appeared.
They may have been kicked out for another reason, but I think they got the boot, for not co-operating.
Anyone remeber ?
Mr John McStay, 29, who at the time was playing for Raith Rovers, was
warned from the bench and by the prosecutor on the dangers of
prevarication and perjury and reminded he had taken an oath.
Mr Ferguson, who now plays for Everton, denies assaulting Mr McStay
during a match at Ibrox in Glasgow on April 16 last year.
Mr McStay told how he and Mr Ferguson had tussled and pulled at each
other as they both went for the same ball about 35 minutes into the
game. The referee's whistle had blown for a foul and, as Mr McStay
turned around, his head clashed with the Ranger's player's, cutting his
upper lip.
When asked by depute fiscal Mr Alasdair Youngson whether he thought
the clash of heads was an accident at the time, Mr McStay replied:
''No.'' he then added: ''We were going to square up to each other and we
just clashed.''
It was at this point that Mr McStay received the first of a number of
warnings. Sheriff Alexander Eccles reminded him that he had taken an
oath. The Sheriff added: ''Do you know what prevarication is? Avoiding
an answer in court. It is a contempt of court and is a serious offence.
Bear that in mind.''
Mr McStay was again warned by Sheriff Eccles, this time on the
consequences of perjury, just before the fiscal Mr Youngson read out a
statement Mr McStay was said to have made to a senior police officer in
May last year.
The statement said: ''The game was fairly uneventful until midway
through the first half. At this time I got involved in a tussle for the
ball with Duncan Ferguson of Rangers. There was a pull on me by Duncan
Ferguson and then a bit of arm wrestling and tussling.
''I heard the referee blow the whistle and realised he had decided to
stop the game. A small gap emerged between Duncan Ferguson and me. I
knew the referee had given a free kick to Raith Rovers.
''Before I could do anything further Duncan Ferguson, who by this time
was in front of me, suddenly lunged at me and head-butted me on the
mouth.
''He never said anything as he butted me. I fell to the ground
clutching my head. The blow was a fair old blow and I felt severe pain
in my lip.
''As I lay on the ground I felt my mouth and saw it was bleeding. I
was completely shocked by what Duncan Ferguson did.''
McStay agreed with Mr Youngson that the statement was true. Mr
Youngson then asked him: ''Were you describing to that police officer an
accident or a deliberate action? How would you define it?'' Said Mr
McStay: ''I have already said, a clash.''
McStay was asked why, if it was accidental, he had said to the police
he was completely shocked by what Ferguson did. He replied: ''Because of
what happened.'' Mr Youngson then asked: ''What is your evidence
today?'' To which Mr Mr McStay replied: ''We clashed on the field.''
Mr McStay was then shown TV video film of the incident and asked to
describe it. He said: ''A game of football, a tussle for the ball and a
clash of heads.''
Mr Youngson asked him if he now thought it was accidental and was
told: 'I don't know if it was accidental. It's hard to say. Contact was
made.''
Cross-examined by Mr Ferguson's defence counsel, Mr John Baird, Mr
McStay agreed that a newspaper photograph looked as if the Ibrox striker
was actually pushing him away. He also agreed that sometimes players
deliberately took a dive or feigned an incident to get another player
into trouble.
Referring to an earlier statement Mr McStay had made to the Sheriff,
Mr Baird said: ''The suggestion is that some people might be going
around saying that there was no contact and you throw yourself onto the
ground.''All you were saying is that you will not have anyone going around
saying there wasn't contact between you. If you went down to the ground
it was as a result of contact that was made.''
Mr Baird then asked: ''In the whole circumstances of the constantly
changing movement between the two players, the actual incident of
contact between your head and Ferguson's head might have been
accidental?'' Mr McStay replied: ''Possible.''