Fifa must end crazy rule

Russell Anderson (right) could be the next "victim"

By Chick Young BBC Scotland football correspondent

Dominic Keane, never a man to call a spade a gardening implement, has been in spectacular form in his rant about the new Fifa ruling that allowed Aberdeen to get into bed with Michael Hart while he is still living under the Livingston roof.

Apparently, the Dons are well within their rights to speak to the Livi player and offer him a pre-contract agreement that will kick in the morning after the night before of his final commitment to the West Lothian club.

And, like wee Dom, I find that astonishing.

I don't blame Aberdeen. Rules are there to be used - or, maybe in this case, abused - but they should remember that it may well be only a matter of time before they have the sand kicked in their own faces as a bigger club comes in and nibbles the ear of, say, Russell Anderson.

Michael Hart could be in a difficult position

The rule really is a joke.

So now Hart - a totally innocent victim - has to play out the rest of the term knowing that one of his current club's biggest rivals will be paying his wages next season.

What happens then if, on the last day of the league season, it was Aberdeen v Livingston to avoid relegation?

That is an unfair pressure to put on a player who would be performing - if he gave 100 per cent - to get himself into a lower division the following season.

There is, of course, nothing wrong with Hart or anyone else talking turkey with clubs from other leagues, but to agree a deal with immediate rivals questions the integrity of the game.

Dons defend Hart move

The trouble with the ruling, which was implemented by Fifa last summer, is that, although it allowed clubs to approach players at any time as long as they give notice to their employers, it said nothing about permission being required.

Aberdeen have been nothing worse than naughty and maybe not even that, because in truth there is not a rule nor regulation that Livingston can hurl back in their face.

But the whole affair highlights a shambles that needs to be addressed now and I only hope Michael Hart at no time is put in a compromising situation because of the bungling administrators at Zurich.

Dominic Keane: "a breath of fresh air"

It's not fair to the players - although they do, of course, have the right to refuse an approach from another club - it's not fair to the player's current employers and it is not fair to the fans.

You are paying money to watch a player perform and, all the time, there is just a little nagging doubt that his heart and soul and commitment might just be elsewhere.

It is short-changing the customer.

Keane has been a breath of fresh air in Scottish football over the last few years and I applaud almost everything he has achieved at Livi.

Almost ... but the moan about the low ratio of first-team Scots at the club can wait for another day.

This time he is spot on and I understand totally from where his anger stems. Let's see how Aberdeen react when it happens to them.

Sort it out now Fifa.