It’s been a hectic few months for the FA.
Having watched the England team get dumped out of Euro 2016 in one of their most embarrassing defeats ever, the men in charge at FA HQ quickly set to work to find a replacement for Roy Hodgson, who tendered his resignation following the loss to Iceland.
That man was Sam Allardyce, who got their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a winning start in Slovakia.
Unfortunately, things went rapidly downhill for Big Sam, and the FA were back looking for another manager a few weeks later.
For now, that man is Gareth Southgate who was in charge of the team as they welcomed Scotland to Wembley for the first competitive match between the two sides in 17 years.
In the first half, some of those that managed to take their eyes off the scintillating, free-flowing football were quick to point out the message on one of the Wembley hoardings.
Pitch side it says "European Qualifiers" Yet its a World Cup qualifier? #ENGSCO
— Daniel (@DM_1986_) November 11, 2016
Why does the sign on halfway say European Qualifiers? #outofthat
— Dave Whitworth (@DaveWhitworth1) November 11, 2016
Could it be that the FA had been so preoccupied with other matters lately that they’d stuck out the wrong pitch-side board? Hogi here certainly seemed to think so…
Can somebody please explain why the advertising board on halfway line says EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS. FA fucked up yet again. #numptys
— Hogi (@hogi735) November 11, 2016
And plenty more were perplexed by it, too…
@wembleystadium is it me or do the hoardings say European qualifiers ??? Is it not #Worldcup
— Paul Maloney AKA Deane Mahoney (@Bugzymalone1969) November 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/whatevillurks/status/797175405300092929
It was even visible in the ITV Studio.
Is this me being thick or does that sign say European Qualifiers and FIFA World Cup? Sure I watched the Euros in summer #EnglandvScotland pic.twitter.com/s5K7QOVCfS
— Dan J (@DanJ4127) November 11, 2016
But fear not, everyone. The hoarding was indeed supposed to be there – as was the sign in the ITV studio. For now at least, England and Scotland remain part of Europe and have to qualify for the World Cup from the European qualifying section. It wasn’t ever supposed to say ‘World Cup Qualifiers’.
As you were.
The GAA Hour chats to Ballyea sensation Tony Kelly and features a raging argument over which road you should take from Clare to Wexford. Subscribe here on iTunes.
