CalumHH
Well-known member
A LEADING referee accused senior footie figures of pushing them to the verge of revolt, insisting: “A strike won’t be far away.”
The Grade One whistler says they have reached breaking point after a number of high-profile incidents of “abuse”.
A leading referee accused senior footie figures of pushing them to the verge of revolt
We can reveal informal talks have taken place about a walkout threatening the Premiership restart after the winter break on January 23.
It comes after Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Hibs moaned about officials, while two refs were assaulted and John Beaton received vile phone threats.
The source said: “The big question now is how do we resolve this.
“The feeling among many of us is that a strike won’t be far away and most of us if asked to vote on it will vote for it.
“In recent weeks we’ve had clubs such as Rangers and Celtic coming out with comment after games because they didn’t get the result they wanted. Craig Levein at Hearts has also been very critical of us. All this is fine but the SFA should be stepping in and dealing with these clubs and individuals.”
He added: “We are made out to be the bad ones and I’ve had abuse from fans when out doing my shopping with my family.
“Yes in every game the ref will make mistakes — we’re only human.
“If you tallied up mistakes made by the referee and an individual player over 90 minutes they will make far more mistakes than us but fans don’t go after them.
“But these clubs and managers do it and everyone jumps on the bandwagon — it’s ridiculous.”
A walkout would be a repeat of 2010 when all of Scotland’s 31 top officials — employed by the SFA — voted for a one-day strike.
It came after they claimed the governing body wasn’t doing enough to protect them — with colleagues from Israel, Luxembourg and Malta drafted in for games. The insider added:“The current situation is worse than the one in 2010.”
In October, linesman Calum Spence’s head was “burst open” after Gers fan thug Stuart McGaughay, 30, hit him with a coin at Livingston.
And we told how Mr Beaton called in cops last week after getting threats when his mobile number was leaked online following the controversial Old Firm match at Ibrox.
And a week earlier Calum Scott, 29, was assaulted during a Juniors clash between Glenafton Athletic and Cambuslang Rangers.
Our source said: “How does anyone think it’s acceptable to launch a coin at someone purely because they are an official?
“This in itself shows how toxic the current situation is. If the SFA started issuing larger fines or docking points maybe then fans will realise they can’t beh-ave the way
they are.”
Prospect Union, who represent many refs, said at the weekend the situation was at “crisis point”. They said: “All professional football organisations have a responsibility to lead by example and do everything to deter behaviours that affect officials’ health and safety.
“One member described the current situation as the worst atmosphere and environment he has seen for over a decade.”
Labour MP Iain Murray - the former Foundation of Hearts Chairman - urged the SFA to “do everything” to prevent a walkout.
He added: “If they strike it would have a difficult impact on the playing of games and resources available to clubs in terms of playing those games and whether or not we’d be able to finish league and cup competitions this season.”
The SFA said: “We won’t be commenting.”
The Grade One whistler says they have reached breaking point after a number of high-profile incidents of “abuse”.
A leading referee accused senior footie figures of pushing them to the verge of revolt
We can reveal informal talks have taken place about a walkout threatening the Premiership restart after the winter break on January 23.
It comes after Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Hibs moaned about officials, while two refs were assaulted and John Beaton received vile phone threats.
The source said: “The big question now is how do we resolve this.
“The feeling among many of us is that a strike won’t be far away and most of us if asked to vote on it will vote for it.
“In recent weeks we’ve had clubs such as Rangers and Celtic coming out with comment after games because they didn’t get the result they wanted. Craig Levein at Hearts has also been very critical of us. All this is fine but the SFA should be stepping in and dealing with these clubs and individuals.”
He added: “We are made out to be the bad ones and I’ve had abuse from fans when out doing my shopping with my family.
“Yes in every game the ref will make mistakes — we’re only human.
“If you tallied up mistakes made by the referee and an individual player over 90 minutes they will make far more mistakes than us but fans don’t go after them.
“But these clubs and managers do it and everyone jumps on the bandwagon — it’s ridiculous.”
A walkout would be a repeat of 2010 when all of Scotland’s 31 top officials — employed by the SFA — voted for a one-day strike.
It came after they claimed the governing body wasn’t doing enough to protect them — with colleagues from Israel, Luxembourg and Malta drafted in for games. The insider added:“The current situation is worse than the one in 2010.”
In October, linesman Calum Spence’s head was “burst open” after Gers fan thug Stuart McGaughay, 30, hit him with a coin at Livingston.
And we told how Mr Beaton called in cops last week after getting threats when his mobile number was leaked online following the controversial Old Firm match at Ibrox.
And a week earlier Calum Scott, 29, was assaulted during a Juniors clash between Glenafton Athletic and Cambuslang Rangers.
Our source said: “How does anyone think it’s acceptable to launch a coin at someone purely because they are an official?
“This in itself shows how toxic the current situation is. If the SFA started issuing larger fines or docking points maybe then fans will realise they can’t beh-ave the way
they are.”
Prospect Union, who represent many refs, said at the weekend the situation was at “crisis point”. They said: “All professional football organisations have a responsibility to lead by example and do everything to deter behaviours that affect officials’ health and safety.
“One member described the current situation as the worst atmosphere and environment he has seen for over a decade.”
Labour MP Iain Murray - the former Foundation of Hearts Chairman - urged the SFA to “do everything” to prevent a walkout.
He added: “If they strike it would have a difficult impact on the playing of games and resources available to clubs in terms of playing those games and whether or not we’d be able to finish league and cup competitions this season.”
The SFA said: “We won’t be commenting.”
