UEFA reportedly bans Scotland coaches Docherty and Naismith for one match

UEFA has given Scotland Under-21 head coach Tony Docherty and assistant Steven Naismith one-match touchline bans following a scuffle during their away win over Bulgaria. Senior head coach Sebastien Pocognoli received a warning for delaying a kick-off in Slovenia, The Scotsman said on October 28, in an article summarised by BBC Sport on October 29.

Pocognoli’s warning concerns his first match in charge: a 0–0 draw against Slovenia in Ljubljana on September 26. He was held responsible for delaying the start.

Red cards during the Bulgaria qualifier

Scotland Under-21s beat Bulgaria 2–0 in Pazardzhik in their final European Under-21 Championship qualifier. The Scotsman’s October 6 match report said Docherty and Naismith were sent off in the 82nd minute for aggressively entering the pitch during a melee after a Bulgaria defender’s high challenge on a Scotland player. The defender also received a straight red card.

The subsequent one-match bans were for “unsporting conduct”. Scotland finished third in the qualifying group and did not qualify for the 2027 tournament.

Docherty, a former Dundee manager who first took charge of that club in 2023, was appointed Scotland Under-21 head coach on August 24, 2026, with Naismith as his assistant. Naismith is a former Scotland forward who made 51 senior international appearances. Pocognoli is a former left-back who played 13 times for Belgium.

November friendlies are next

Which fixtures the touchline bans cover remains unclear. Scotland Under-21s have no competitive matches scheduled, but are due to play friendlies against Ukraine on November 12 and the US on November 15 at the Pinatar Arena in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain.