35 years on...Joe Jordan still plays down handball injustice that cost Wales so dearly

Chris Wathan

WALES face Scotland tonight in a game that both sides must win to keep World Cup dreams alive. But the stakes are nothing compared to those in 1977 when the Celtic rivals clashed in a final game make-or-break qualifier in Liverpool. On the 35th anniversary of one of the most heartbreaking and controversial nights in Welsh football, CHRIS WATHAN speaks to Joe Jordan – and finds him still unwilling to put his hands up to foul play

“EVERY time I come over the Severn Bridge it gets mentioned,” says Joe Jordan, a hint of a weary smile coming across his face.

Time, it appears, does not heal all wounds. Not even 35 years.

And not when the incident in question remains one of the greatest grievances in Welsh football history, which in itself is saying something.

Arguably the first of the glorious failures when it comes to qualifying for a major tournament, Jordan is still blamed for the penalty that never was, or at least never should have been.

The sight of the Scotland striker, fist clenched, flicking on Asa Hartford’s long throw 12 minutes from time in a must-win World Cup qualifier still lingers on in the minds of frustrated Welsh fans.

The image of him kissing the same, guilty hand as referee Robert Wurtz awarded the penalty against Norwich’s Dave Jones is still hurtful.

After all, it was that fateful spot-kick that ensured that Scotland went to Argentina and Wales went red with rage.

Not that Jordan sees it that way.
Joe Jordan

“It was a handball and Scotland got the decision – and rightly so,” says Jordan, asked to recall his version of events.

“Don Masson took it, got the goal and then Kenny got the second and that was that.”

Indeed it was for Welsh dreams of making it to the 1978 finals in Argentina, the win they needed which would have left them in want of a point at most in Czechoslovakia the following month escaping them.

An entire nation shared the feeling of injustice.

Replays – even if not of the super-slow-mo of today’s HD generation – had clearly shown the navy-blue sleeve of Leeds striker Jordan reach above his marker Jones.

Not that co-commentator (and Scotland international) Bob Wilson accepted the evidence, nor the post-match interviews.

All of which added to the frustration.

Video: Watch the infamous Jordan handball

There was no debate as far as this country was concerned, although the arguments over where the game was staged became louder.

Wales and their stars of the 1970s were clearly good enough to take the next step.

Filled with talent of the time, including Liverpool’s John Toshack and the midfield tenacity of captain Terry Yorath, they had reached the quarter-finals of the European Championships the previous year and beaten England at Wembley.

A 1-0 defeat to Scotland at Hampden Park in the opener of the three-team group had not dented confidence that Argentina could be reached, not when the reigning European champions Czechoslovakia had been dispatched 3-0 at the Racecourse.

But with Ninian Park unable to be used after crowd trouble in that Euros defeat to Yugoslavia, the Welsh FA made the decision to take the game to Liverpool FC’s Anfield and its greater money-making capacity than the intimidating Wrexham venue where the players felt so at ease.

By the time the teams ran out in front of a 50,800 crowd on Merseyside, the scale of that mistake was audible.

“It became our home game,” recalled Jordan. “The Anfield crowd was dominated by Scots and that was important for us.

“We knew we were playing a very good Welsh team, but seeing the number of fans we had and hearing them gave us the edge.

“We’d already won the home game and to see that it was like another home game gave us the impetus to go on and get the win we needed to get the qualification for the World Cup.

“I don’t know how so many of them got tickets, but we took over Liverpool that night.”

Quite whether Wurtz would have signalled so assuredly for a spot-kick had the Anfield Road End not been more Tartan than Treforest will always remain a wonder.

Yet, despite the home disadvantage, Wales had their chances. Surviving a few early scares as Dalglish impressed on the ground he had only just begun to call his home, it was Wales who had come closest after the break when Toshack forced Alan Rough into a spectacular save.

Not quite at the end of his own time at Anfield, the future manager’s shot was a second-nature hit on the turn as the ball was headed into the box by clubmate Joey Jones, Rough tipping onto the bar.

But then came that tipping point as Hartford’s hopeful throw found fist and favourable whistle, Masson convincingly beating Dai Davies before Dalglish sealed things when he headed home Martin Buchan’s cross with three minutes remaining.

Jordan rarely speaks on the matter and has never admitted doing what the world thought he had done.

Not even to team-mates, nor friends such as Yorath.

Perhaps there is a lingering grievance that for all his achievements in his 100-plus goal career, that ‘The Hand of Jaws’ is still mentioned some 35 years on.

Even when the subject is broached, his first sighed words were: “Now that was a long time ago.”

But he is unrepentant, adamant that penalty or not, Scotland were worthy winners.

“I do remember that great save from Alan Rough from John Toshack, but I think if you analyse the game, overall we were better.

“Even as a diehard Welsh supporter you have to admit Scotland were the better team and deserved it.

“It was a very difficult game and both countries had very good sides. Ourselves, we had such a strong squad and I think that was emphasised by midfield players we had at the time – Asa Hartford, Lou Macari, Don Masson, Graeme Souness, Archie Gemmill.

“We had huge strength there, but it also applied to Wales, with John Mahoney, Terry and you could go on and on.

“We had some great tussles and both countries knew each other very well. But we were a good team, we’d won that game at home already.

“We went through and we deserved to.”

Not that he’ll find many agreeing in Wales, admitting that his old Leeds lodgemate Yorath is unlikely to have got over it.

Ironically, Ally MacLeod’s men flopped in the ‘78 finals, Scotland going home without passing the group stages and with a drugs scandal involving winger Willie Johnston. MacLeod had earlier proclaimed that the Scots were going to South America to win the cup.

And perhaps the fact that there has only been close calls to crow of in Welsh football rather than the final appearances that Scotland once regularly rejoiced in has stopped anyone moving on.

As it stands, it is unlikely that this campaign will bring any sort of end to that run, with Scotland hardly the force they were in the time of ‘Ally’s Army.’

“It’s a big game for both sides,” says Jordan of tonight’s clash, the 52-times capped striker now working in the media after leaving his role as Tottenham’s No.2 when Harry Redknapp left this summer. “The team that loses has a very, very difficult chance of qualifying.

“You have to have a winner because a draw is no good for anyone.

“There’s always a certain degree of pressures on managers, but I would say it’s more about both teams needing to win.

“You get the three points and you can move on and take quite a bit of confidence, but if you lose that game, well . . .

“I thought Scotland performed reasonably well in their first two games but didn’t get the home wins they were looking for.

“And I thought Wales were a bit unfortunate against Serbia, as being without key players has a big bearing on the game.

“If they can have their best players fit and on form that would change the picture, especially going forward.”TERRY YORATH was captain of Wales at Anfield that night. He was stood five yards from the Joe Jordan incident and admits it is still hard to take from a man who is a close friend and even godfather to his daughter Gabby.

“Joe handled the ball, but the strange thing is to this day he has never admitted it to me despite us being very close friends,” he said.

“I know he has told other people he did, but never to me. When I’ve asked him about it he just says, ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Joe is very good at keeping a stony face about matters.

“We were on top in that game before that. I think Tosh had put one just over, but obviously that moment changed things.

“I was stood right there and saw what happened. We were playing in short-sleeve shirts and you saw Joe’s arm go up with the long sleeve and hit the ball. I can remember it vividly to this day.

“I honestly could not believe it when the referee gave the penalty, I just thought it was going to be a free-kick for us.

“To be fair the referee had not had a bad game up until then, but how he did not see what happened I will never know.

“People go on about Kenny Dalglish’s second goal but, for me, that would not have even happened if the penalty had not gone in first. It was a very disappointing night for Wales. I still say the game should never have been played at Anfield anyway. The FAW really did that with one eye on the money, but the ground was just packed out with Scottish fans even though it was supposed to be a home game for us.

“As I say, I’ve never really been sure why Joe does not just come out and say he handled it. It’s been a long time now, maybe that’s the problem now, it’s been too long.

“But it’s never had an effect on our friendship. These things happen all the time in football, referees get things wrong, but life goes on all the same.

“It was a heart-breaking night really for Wales, but there will never be any genuine hard feelings about things.”

Wales 0 Scotland 2

Wednesday, October 12, 1977

WALES: Dai Davies (Wrexham), Rod Thomas (Derby), Joey Jones (Liverpool), John Mahoney (Boro), David Jones (Norwich), Leighton Phillips (Aston Villa), Brian Flynn (Burnley), Peter Sayer (Cardiff), Terry Yorath (Coventry), John Toshack (Liverpool), Mickey Thomas (Wrexham).

SCOTLAND: Alan Rough (Partick); Sandy Jardine (Rangers, Martin Buchan 82), Willie Donachie (Man City), Don Masson (QPR), Gordon McQueen (Leeds), Tam Forsyth (Rangers), Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool), Asa Hartford (Man City), Joe Jordan (Leeds), Lou Macari (Man Utd), Willie Johnston (West Brom).

Referee: Robert Wurtz (France)

Attendance:@ 50,800