When Scotland qualified for the World Cup... but didn't go

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. When Scotland qualified for the World Cup... but didn't go3 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleIan Hamilton , ScotlandandDaniel Bennett , ScotlandPA MediaThe April 1950 British Home Championship saw Scotland finish second to England, and qualify for the World CupIt's the dream scenario - lining up in front of more than 133,000 of your own fans. Qualifying for the World Cup, ready to face some of the greatest teams on the planet.

That was what happened in April 1950, as Scotland finished second in the British Home Championship. That would have been enough to secure their place in the 1950 World Cup, held in Brazil. But things didn't go to quite to plan for the squad.

The Details

Bosses in charge of the Scottish FA at the time did what would be unthinkable to the modern football fan - They gave up their place at the first World Cup after World War Two. The 1950 World Cup was the first after WW2The 1950 tournament was set to be the fourth iteration of the competition – and a return to South America since the first tournament in 1930. The UK nations had never previously sent teams to the World Cup, for a variety of complex reasons.

There was a perceived superiority of the British Home Championship, fallouts over player payments, and a reluctance to play other European teams following the First World War. But there was supposed to be "a lot of reconciliation" in this tournament, "albeit Germany weren't invited," says Andy Kerr, visitor attraction manager at the Scottish Football Museum. That sense of peace and harmony didn't extend to the internal politicking at the Scottish FA.

The overriding feeling among bosses was that the Home Championship would be pivotal for Scotland competing at the World Cup. More than 133,000 fans watched Scotland finish second in the British Home Championship in 1950FIFA offered the UK nations two places, for the top two teams, which ended up being England and then Scotland. But there was reluctance to send Scotland to the tournament after finishing behind England in qualifying – a decision resulting from England's 1-0 win at Hampden in the Championship.

What Experts Say

It was a feeling that seemed to confuse and outrage Scotland's players. "The reasons are still slightly ambiguous to this day," says Andy. "I believe the official reasoning was that we only wanted to send our best and we didn't believe that a second-best team in a tournament was worthy of sending to a World Cup," he says.

Although the practicalities and cost of sending a team to South America in 1950 was daunting. "They might not have really viewed the cost as a benefit. "Andy Kerr, visitor attraction manager at the Scottish Football Museum.

It's believed Scotland's players tried to petition their bosses to let them go to Brazil. George Young, the Rangers right-back and Scotland captain at the time, is believed to have personally approached George Graham, chief executive of the SFA.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.