OFF THE POST: Scot sees red -- three times

• by Soccer America , Dec 20, 2006

Andy McLaren of Scottish Second Division (third level) club Dundee received an eight-game ban after he was handed three red cards on Saturday in his team's 2-1 loss at Clyde.

The veteran forward was handed a yellow card for scuffling with Clyde's David Hutton after teammate Gavin Swankie scored from the penalty spot with three minutes left in the game. McLaren then was shown a second yellow and ejected moments later for clashing with Eddie Malone. Away from referee Dougie McDonald's view, McLaren then struck Clyde's Michael McGowan in the face as he left the field. After the game, McDonald called McLaren to his room and handed him a second red card. McLaren then kicked the door of the room, leaving a small hole, and earned a third red card.

McLaren, a former Scotland U-21, once tested positive for marijuana and cocaine while playing in England for Reading and also battled alcoholism. He was reported to under tremendous stress after his teenage son was attacked and seriously injured in Glasgow.