Seeing red is Brown worry. Manager will spell out consequences to players as FIFA's disciplinary rules are introduced

Brown is concerned at the new rules which will be in place in the build-up to the games in France. These include red cards for a tackle from behind and for talking back to referees.

As the World Cup squad flew out to the US, Brown observed: ''The disciplinary code is going to make things more difficult for our lads. We shall have to work on this while we are in America, in training and in the team talks, and as far as the players are concerned, the World Cup starts in the States.

''It was not possible to do anything about this before now because we couldn't ask players to play differently in the friendly games when, in fact, they had club games still to take place where these rules were not going to apply.

''We had hoped that Scotland's refereeing representative at the finals, Hugh Dallas, would have seen the players yesterday but he is on holiday and his visit, when he will outline some of the new rules, will take place just before we leave for France.

''While we are in the States, I feel sure that the referees will follow the guidelines which have emerged from FIFA.

''On Saturday, against Colombia in New York, we will have to be careful. In many ways getting this part of our approach right becomes almost as important as the team structure. If you get the team right and then you have a player sent off in 10 minutes, it doesn't do you much good.''

As he began to outline the problems facing the players, Brown added: ''If a player is sent off for kicking the ball away, or for dissent, that would be unforgivable. If anyone is sent off for a tackle, that is slightly different - it can happen in the heat of the game.

''Some of the players will have to be more careful than others. For instance, Billy McKinlay collected quite a number of yellow cards in the Premiership. I have to try to get Billy to tone down his tackles, but I have to do that in such a way that I don't curb his natural enthusiasm. When you are talking of dissent now, you are meaning that players simply cannot talk to referees at all. If they do then they risk being red-carded.''

The situation regarding the new rules has been further complicated by the fact that, with just three weeks to the big kick-off, FIFA still does not have a long-promised video ready for referees and teams to show what kind of offences will get an automatic red card.

Despite the urgency - most teams are deeply into their preparations for the finals - the video has not made it beyond FIFA's referee committee. It is expected that it will be another week before approval will be given.

Scotland's David Will, head of the FIFA referee committee, had an explanation for the delay. ''It's not easy,'' he said. ''The video is expected to have around 18 tackles to be divided into three categories, showing tackles that should only be fouls, others that deserve a yellow card, and a final batch that should be red carded. ''In the end it will come down to the referee,'' said Will.

Normally, Brown does not concern himself over the disciplinary record of the Scotland squad - with just John Spencer having been sent off in a friendly during Brown's managership - but, now, the manager recognises the fresh problems which will have to be addressed.

As well as that, he must put the finishing touches to the team he wants to put out onto the field against Brazil in the tournament's opening game next month. He says: ''We could have gone and looked for easy fixtures. We could have gone to somewhere such as Italy and had the heat training we wanted and played against Cyprus and Malta and given ourselves a much easier build-up.

''However, this is what we wanted. It will not affect us psychologically if we lose the matches before facing Brazil as long as the performances are good.

''As far as I'm concerned, Colombia are the second-best team in South America, just behind Brazil. And the United States are no longer novices at the game.''