Mick McCarthy yesterday lent his support to the campaign for an amnesty for those players on yellow cards who are likely to be involved in the play-offs for places in the World Cup finals.

Ten Republic of Ireland players are on yellow cards going into the final assignment in Group Eight against Romania at Lansdowne Road on October 11th when a further caution would mean automatic exclusion from one of the games in the two-legged play off tie.

Now there is a move to ensure that any suspensions which may follow will not become operative during the play-offs, which are scheduled for October 29th and November 15th.

"I think it's a proposal which will have the backing of every country likely to be involved in the play-offs," said McCarthy. "These two games are the most important of the year, as far as the countries involved are concerned and every manager will be keen to put out his strongest available team.

"In the sense that the play-offs are added on to the normal qualifying programme, I believe that bans would amount to an unfair penalty on the eight teams taking part. In the past, amnesties have been introduced for the World Cup finals, so the idea is neither new, nor revolutionary."

Bernard O'Byrne, chief executive of the FAI, said that the association would be pressing FIFA for an early announcement on the matter, but he shared McCarthy's view that suspensions for the play-offs should be deleted or, at least, deferred.

The Irish players on yellow cards going into the Romanian game are Shay Given, Gary Kelly, Steve Staunton, Ian Harte, Gary Breen, Terry Phelan, Dennis Irwin, Ken Cunningham, David Connolly and David Kelly. Additionally, Roy Keane and Mark Kennedy are suspended for the game, while Andy Townsend, the captain, and Jeff Kenna are on the way back from bans.

By any standard, that is a disturbing commentary on team discipline and McCarthy is not ducking the issue. Stressing that Keane and Staunton had been hard done by in having their names taken by the Greek referee in Wednesday's game, he repeated that there is no excuse for offences such as dissent, or kicking the ball away after the whistle has gone.

"I've been through this problem with players over and over again - and still they're getting booked. In the heat of the moment, people tend to do silly things, but these kind of infringements are inexcusable."

McCarthy insists that with qualification for the play-offs almost certain, even with the risk of losing key personalties to suspension his side will be fully competitive.

"People who know me, know my attitude to competition," he said. "It isn't in the make-up of Irish people to hold back in games and in any event, I want the squad to have another win to its credit before we go to the play-offs."

Keane, who, like his Manchester United teammate, Denis Irwin, was whisked away from the Zalgiris Stadium in Vilnius within half an hour of the end of the game and flown by private jet back to Manchester, will be missed against the Romanians.

By that stage, however, Townsend should have recovered from a leg injury to assume the responsibility for leadership in midfield. It is fairly widely accepted that Townsend has not been at his best in the current World Cup series, but McCarthy still views him as an important member of his team.

Meanwhile, Scotland will automatically qualify for the World Cup finals if they beat Latvia next month. But a slip-up by the Scots could ensure England gain a summer trip to France, even if Glenn Hoddle's side lose their Rome showdown with Italy.

Craig Brown's side were the real winners on Wednesday night, despite not playing, as a series of surprise results across the continent turned the form book on its head.

They mean the Scots can book their place as Europe's best group runners-up with a victory in their final game at Easter Road. They will also know that fouling up against the Baltic state would give Sweden the chance to steal past them to take second, and also hand the `auld enemy' a place in France. In South America, Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay have all reached next summer's World Cup finals.

Argentina maintained their position as group leaders following a 2-1 win over Chile in Santiago's National Stadium. Now they cannot finish outside the top four in the nine-team regional group and therefore are assured of a finals berth in France. Colombia swiftly followed suit, although they turned in a nervous performance to see off group tailenders Venezuela 1-0 at Barranquilla. That result left the Colombians a point adrift of the leaders, whom they face away in their final match, and having played a game more.

Paraguay ended Bolivia's lingering hopes of a ticket to France with a 2-1 win in Asuncion which cements their third place, and hile's defeat, which sent them down to fifth spot, means they cannot now catch any of the top three and could lose out altogether, probably to Peru.

The Peruvians moved crucially into fourth spot after coming from behind to beat Uruguay 2-1.