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Borders football club row

A small village in the Scottish Borders is in the middle of a row with FIFA, over the future of one of their oldest football teams- Hearts of Liddesdale.

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Local MSP backs bid to save Borders football club

Local MSP John Lamont has calle don the help of Holyrood and Westminster, to see if they can help save Hearts of Liddesdale football club from having to disband.

“I was deeply concerned when I heard about the situation that Hearts of Liddesdale FC have found themselves in.

"The shortage of first team players means they are no longer able to field a full strength team and as such will have to cease competing in the Border Amateur Football League unless the situation can be resolved quickly.

“It is clear that a solution to this problem has to be found, and that is why I have written to the Scottish and English Footballing Associations as well as the sports ministers in both Holyrood and Westminster to see what they can do.

“Hearts of Liddesdale are a vital part of the history of our region, having been in place since 1880, and we cannot afford to see them stop playing over this technicality.

“I know that the team are very well supported throughout the Borders, and that a lot of local residents will be concerned about their future.

"I want to see the club repeat their success of recent years for many years to come, and I am hopeful that a solution can be found to resolve this issue.”

– John Lamont MSP, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire

Borders football club row

You would not imagine that FIFA regulations would have much impact on park level football.

However, rules set down by the sport's governing body are threatening the future of a village team from the Scottish Borders.

Hearts of Liddesdale fear they may have to fold because nearly half their squad are ineligible - because they play for an English pub team on a Sunday as well.

Ryan Dollard reports:

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