Blushing Scott Brown has admitted he’d vote against himself after being short-listed for a prestigious honour for his iconic show of support to Rangers rival Glen Kamara.
The Nine in a Row Celtic skipper was named on Tuesday as one of three nominees for FIFA’s Fair Play Award 2021 in recognition of the backing he showed to Kamara just days after the Finn had been racially abused during a Europa League clash against Slavia Prague.
Brown broke with normal protocol on Old Firm derby day to embrace Kamara as both sides went through their warm ups ahead of a Parkhead showdown in March.
But the 36-year-old says that gesture was nothing more than an act of ‘human decency’ - and insists the award should be handed over to the heroic Denmark players who formed a circle around stricken team mate Christian Eriksen as he fought for his life after collapsing during a Euro 2020 match with Kamara’s Finland.
Speaking exclusively to Record Sport the Aberdeen captain said: “I’m obviously very humbled to be nominated for such an award but, if truth be told, I’m also a little bit embarrassed to be mentioned in the same breath as the guys from Denmark.
“Let’s get it right, all I did was show my respect and support to an opponent who had been disgracefully abused just a few days earlier. I was sickened by the incident so shaking his hand was the least I could do.
“It was nothing more than a bit of human decency for someone who deserved to know we were all on his side.
“But the Danish lads were staring catastrophe in the face on that day in Copenhagen. What they did went way above an act of decency, it was truly heroic. Let’s just say, if I had a vote, I’d be giving it to all of them.
“And, as for Glen, I just hope he is never subjected to anything like that ever again.”
Kamara was subsequently booed by a crowd of 10,000 Czech school children during a Europa League group clash against Slavia’s city rivals Sparta Prague.
And he’ll go up against them again on Thursday night when both sides battle it out for a place in the knockout rounds.
While world football’s governing body has acknowledged Brown’s touching gesture, they have also nominated the Danish medical team and players for helping save Eriksen’s life and comforting his traumatised partner as CPR was being administered,
Recently appointed Watford boss Claudio Ranieri also makes the shortlist for ordering Sampdoria’s players to form a guard of honour after AC Milan had secured last season’s Serie A title.
The winner of the FIFA Fair Play Award 2021 will be selected by a panel of experts representing both FIFA and external football stakeholders.
