Steve Clarke reveals TRUTH behind Austin MacPhee touchline row as Scotland frustrations boil over

Steve Clarke joked Austin MacPhee was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time after the pair were embroiled in a furious touchline bust-up.

The Scotland boss and his set-piece coach were involved in a furious exchange in the technical area after a free-kick routine didn't go to plan in the second half of Friday night's 5-1 thrashing to Germany. STV cameras captured Clarke venting his frustrations at MacPhee and the incident was even highlighted in the commentary booth by Sam Matterface and Ally McCoist.

Clarke gave a reporter the death stare as he bristled at being asked about the confrontation in Friday's post-match press conference. But Clarke appeared to see the funny side today as he spoke to the media ahead of Wednesday night's Euro 2024 clash with Switzerland.

The Scotland boss smiled: "It was really simple. Obviously everybody's frustrated. You get these moments all the time but you don't often see it because we're tucked under a canopies or whatever. Austin just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, as I turned around, after taking a short free-kick when we should've been putting the ball into the box as we did when we scored the goal... it wasn't Austin's fault because the players made that decision on the pitch and we got counter-attacked.

"I'm thinking well, 'We've lost enough goals Austin, we don't need to lose anymore goals.' We just had a little discussion about it, that was all. Listen, he's got long blonde hair but I'm not going to be giving him a cuddle!"