Had to post this as a follow on from Simon's blog yesterday...

As the Tartan Army prepare to present Maradona tonight with that belated Player of the Year 1986 award it seems only fair to put to rest the 'Hand of God' controversy once and for all.

When faced with evidence like this photograph all fair minded sports fans north of the border can reach only one collective conclusion... it was clearly a header. Obviously, those of you south of the border (plus our Assistant Manager Terry Butcher - very nice man, did an excellent job of hosting my weddng reception but that's another story) will shout "hand ball" but just imagine if you will that at the time the photograph was taken Maradona had already headed the ball towards goal past Shilton and the arm in the air is just the natural body movement of someone jumping up. The 'Hand of God' was simply an optical illusion propigated by the tabloid press south of the border to explain away the quarter-final defeat all those years ago. Honest it was!