Lennon v ref

By FOS Editor
November 25 2010

The Scottish Grade 1 refs have decided their strike action will go ahead this week, but the SFA has managed to find refs from Europe to officiate at the SPL games and the ALBA Challenge Cup Final.

The SFA have protected the “big boys” with eleven of 20 Scottish fixtures going ahead in the SPL, Alba Challenge Cup Final, Scottish Cup and one in the SFL (drawn by lots allowing Morton v Falkirk to go ahead), thanks to support from officials across Europe

The Referees refused to back down despite they and the Scottish Football Association describing talks held this week as "positive and constructive". The SFA says it had promised a clampdown on players and club officials who abuse referees and assistants.

But it has recruited foreign referees for all games apart from nine in Divisions One, Two and Three.

Dutch referees had followed those in Iceland and Norway in rejecting the SFA's approach to take charge of weekend matches, with Irish, Welsh, Estonian and Swedish officials having indicated that they too would be unwilling to provide cover.

However it would appear the SFA has managed to recruit three sets of officials from Poland, while the Israeli FA has confirmed that they are sending officials.

SFA Chief Executive Stewart Regan said today, "The referees who have offered their services will either be Fifa-approved or will have achieved Category One status in their respective countries. I repeat it is deeply sad that we have arrived at this situation but as I have stated previously, it is incumbent on the Scottish FA to honour our obligations to our league partners.”

Despite all these efforts the Arctic blast coming south across Scotland could see some of the games called off, particularly in the Scottish Cup.

I do feel sorry for the SFL Clubs who have gone quietly about their business this season and now see their card wiped out because of the actions of a small number of the larger clubs in the country.

But this only goes to show the TV and Radio money is what is important rather than the fans of the clubs across the complete spectrum.