he Prospect Scottish Football Referees’ branch has hit out at reports that the Scottish FA are set to look at introducing foreign whistlers from next season.
According to the Daily Record, the Scottish FA have agreed to look at calls led by Celtic to bring in foreign refs.
But the refs union are furious at the reports and released a statment of their own – calling the idea “appalling.”
As quoted by Sky Sports, the referees have acknowledged the criticism of their performances and called for an urgent meeting with the SFA over it.
Celtic, Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Rangers have all publicly criticised officials in recent weeks after a string of poor decisions.
If clubs want to do something to improve that then they need to look at ways of working with the existing referees rather than parachuting in others from abroad.
Some of the criticism has verged on ridiculous though and the officials union are right to raise that.
Certain clubs have claimed a perceived agenda against them – despite stats showing otherwise – and seem eager to push this through.
It would seem this whole row isn’t going to disappear any time soon and there’s a fear we’re heading for a repeat of the referee strike of 2010.
Hopefully, everyone can find a solution that works for all parties sooner rather than later.