Soccer: Hendry sweats over Scotland future

Scotland skipper Colin Hendry will know by the end of the month if he has an international future.

Fifa have set aside April 26 as the day when a ruling is likely to be made on whether the Bolton defender is to be banned.

Hendry hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons last week when he hospitalised a San Marino opponent at the end of a World Cup qualifier.

He had hit his side's first two goals in a 4-0 Hampden Park victory but then was seen to elbow substitute Nicola Albani in the throat as the two jostled in the box.

Fifa confirmed that an inquiry into the incident had been launched and the Scottish Football Association was to be officially notified.

A spokesman said: "We are opening an inquiry. The disciplinary committee is to deal with this and meets on April 26.

"It will be at least discussed on that date. It is most possible video evidence will be involved."

That is because the incident was missed at the time by referee Petterix Kari and match commissioner Heinz-Herbert Kreh.

But Kreh has since told his employers that he saw it afterwards on television.

The spokesman said: "The match commissioner's report reported that there had been an incident but nothing more precise."

The timing of the hearing is a further complication for Scotland coach Craig Brown, who has so far stood by his skipper.

Brown insisted that though the elbow, which was a reaction to persistent shirt-tugging by his opponent, could not be condoned there had been mitigating circumstances.

Brown has ordered a video of their own to be compiled illustrating the rough-house tactics employed by the part-timers, including an arm in Kevin Gallacher's face.

The Scots have a friendly in Poland the night before the hearing, which means Brown must decide whether to include Hendry in the party without knowing what course of action Fifa will take.