Calls for foreign referees are not new in the Scottish game, but refs have successfully resisted the idea. It is in their economic interests to have only Scottish referees take charge of Scottish games, and, most of all, they want control of the country’s biggest games. The argument has been that if a referee works his way through the system for years, he should not be denied the opportunity to take control of the biggest games in the land.
The SFA have been sympathetic to this argument for decades but are now confronted by the country’s major clubs telling them standards are not good enough to support the game at the level it is being played at in Scotland. A window of unanimity opened when the rent-a-statements across the city were twice hit by extended bans in a week, making it difficult for them to avoid the follow on question, “If things are not good enough, why not ask for change?”
Behind this issue lies a longstanding desire for Scottish Premiership clubs to see the SFA focus more on administering youth and amateur football, and the international team, leaving the professional game to the SPFL, where appropriate performance standards across a range of issues can be set.
Those who want a fair and open game have nothing to fear from foreign referees. Arguments against this proposal amount to little more than an expression of self-interest. I suggest we move quickly before some realise that decades old affinities are at risk.
I see Newco are reinforcing their 8 point deficit bunker with volleys at the BBC. It is comforting to preach to the choir but it is also pointless. The BBC is a broadcasting mammoth. It employs over 20,000 staff and churns out an enormous volume of material. Its power bases are geographically, culturally, politically and ethnically diverse. Try conspiring in an organisation with 20 people and you’ll see why.
It will get things wrong. It will employ people whose views you do not like and its protocols will infuriate you – after all, they must search for hours trying to find some loon to ‘balance’ all the sense coming from a prevailing opinion (a personal gripe). But in the history of broadcasting and media, no organisation has been subject to as vigorous and accessible oversight. It is not intellectually honest to suggest otherwise.
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Which ever way the cookie crumbles re refereeing in Scotland, I think the subject should be kept on a high profile.
I don’t believe that the marked improvement in refereeing performances since Celtic called out the Morelos is coincidental.
It further demolishes the viewpoint that the refs aren’t biased, merely incompetent.
They can do it when they like.
I would go further and remove the Collina/Dallas /Fleming philosophy of Game Management and control matches view the Laws of the Game and not by arbitrarily deciding on what would make ” a game of it”.
Fanatic
You sure you’re not from New Jersey?
johnGottiCSC
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*view =via
F.u.b.a.r bhoy. 12.30
I played against Stevie Clark , he was captain of St Andrews ( I think) in Saltcoats/ Ardrossan .
Played against him in at district level and in boys club, where he played for St Mirren bc.
His families football alliegence are split between Killie & Celtic. His brother played for and supports Killie.
He stated , when asked about Rangers interest, last season, that he would put his family first before making any decision to join either of the “ old firm “ .
His recent comments about the SFA , Huney G & his place of education, might now put Sevco off any future offer . HH
Got to laugh at this:
Woman, 21, shares protective grandad’s very specific list of ‘boyfriend rules’
A woman has shared her protective grandad’s list of ‘boyfriend rules’ which he says any future partner must adhere to.
Amie McHugh said she was “howling” when she received the WhatsApp message from her grandpa William.
Written entirely in capital letters, the message demands his grandaughter’s man always offers to pay the bill in his presence, supports Celtic and is “financially well off”.
William also says he “must have a car” and “be very kind”, but first and foremost, he must be Roman Catholic.
Amie, from Airdrie, Lanarkshire, in Scotland, posted a screenshot of the demands to social media with the caption: “Howlin at ma grandas rules for ma boyfriend.”
The message read:
“Rule 1 he must be RC [Roman Catholic].
“Rule 2 he must be Celtic supporter.
“Rule 3 he must be working.
“Rule 4 I must like him.
“Rule 5 he must like me.
“Rule 6 he must be financially well off.
“Rule 7 he must never look at another girl while in this relationship.
“Rule 8 he must be very kind.
“Rule 9 he must have a car.
“Rule 10 whenever in my company he must offer to pay bill.”
Grandad William stopped himself at ten rules in total but warned there may be more – signing off the message “ok that’s it so far”.
The message has become a viral hit, racking up more than 6,000 likes since it was posted on Saturday.
Daniella Bonner said: “I am crying I think I’m in love with him.”
Another Twitter user added: “The first four rules would defo be ma granda for anybody.”
CB and AG, thanks for the comments.
Lets face it, whether they acknowledge the fact or not, tonight is Orangers last chance saloon. Tonight is their last chance of any hope of possible silverware. Lose tonight and their season is effectively over. They have no chance of overtaking us so they will have to go for 2nd at best. Great init! ?
Paul67
Rainjurz Banning the BBC is like banning the news.
The BBC gave the world the news in 2012,it also investigated the EBT fraud and listed 51 players who benefitted in the biggest HMRC tax evasion case.
They don’t like reminded of the truth.
Sannabhoy
Valencia ticket office closed at 2pm local time and reopens 5-8pm.
There’s a helluva lot more Celtic fans travelling into Valencia first thing tomorrow morning from Benidorm and Alicante hoping for/ expecting to get tickets.
It would be nuts if something wasn’t sorted out like in Leipzig to accommodate all these fans.
The hotel we’re staying at has twigged to the prospect of tons of Celtic fans not being able to get tickets and has posters all over the place in English advising they’ll be showing the game in their bar. I hope it doesn’t come to that!
MIKE IN TORONTO
Surprised at you as lawyers always choose their words carefully .
You may need to dig out your recently put away scuba gear.
Hope you had a great holiday in Antigua.
Hail Hail
What the actual????
The BBC??? The BBC is the most long-standing and successful instrument of state messaging in the history of broadcasting. The fact that uk citizens are forced to fund the it adds an irony that can only be described as succulent.
I’m the context of Scotland, it has near universally reflected ‘traditional Scottish values’of shortbread and sashes.
That King has managed to fall out with them highlights how far off the spectrum he is, given so many bbc sports ‘commentators’ played for or support his team.
The bbc in Scotland is as unbiased as a Lanarkshire ref.
HH jg
Watched the Lyon-Barcelona game last night.
Moussa worked hard and had a couple of chances but didn’t get much service and was well policed by Pique.
But the standout player for me was Jason Denayer . Saw him against PSG a few weeks back and was equally good. Clean sheet both games.
His decision making is spot on – when to press and when to drop off. Always looking over his shoulder to see what is around him. Great positional sense. Anticipation really good. So often gets in ahead of the striker and nicks the ball away or cuts out a cross.
Can see him developing into one of the very top defenders in Europe.
Also impressed with the Lyon right back, Dubois. Really good at coming inside and covering the central defence areas. Something a lot of full-backs can’t seem to do.
Standards have not improved since the Moreloss/Beaton game.
Since then Sevco were awarded 4 penalties in one match by the son of Hugh Dallas!!
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL
Also impressed with the Lyon right back, Dubois. Really good at coming inside and covering the central defence areas. Something a lot of full-backs can’t seem to do.
The modern full back seems to struggle with the concept of defending.
Also I’m often surprised at how many defenders ballwatch.
Is coaching now to nuanced to the system which is often flawed and suppresses individual’s strengths?
BBC, pundits sevconian sallows struggle to explain the rangers, then Sevco story from 2012 onwards.
One rule – liquidation must never be mentioned.
On foreign referees, I look forward to the welcome the first Irish referee gets officiating a Sevco match!
Eurochamps67
Dallas/Sevco 4 penalties following on from Beaton/Morelos no action, was I believe, a massive own goal for the sevs.
Fan-a-tic
Ball-watching is one of my real bugbears!
The two goals Chelsea conceded to Man Utd were shockers – midfielders running 40 yards completely unsighted!
Can’t believe how often you see it even at the top level.
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 20TH FEBRUARY 2019 1:51 PM
Standards have not improved since the Moreloss/Beaton game.
Since then Sevco were awarded 4 penalties in one match by the son of Hugh Dallas!!
######
Then complained it should have been 5 .
H.H
Perhaps I am just cynical (… no perhaps about it) … but, when one considers all the facts, to me, this seems less about improving the standards of refereeing, and more of a turf war between the SPFL and the SFA
Look at the amount of huns and tax cheats get a gig on Shortbread, at our expense? Darren O’Dea was on a few times, till he said he wanted titles stripped, never been back on since…
Aye beeb
Can we ask and discuss the two’ rangers’ and their part in the five way fraud in 2012
HH
Parts :-)
Dallas may have happened post Celtic calling out Beaton, but I reckon the aftermath of those refereeing performances was a result of the spotlight being on them and other clubs feeling the effects of those crooked episodes.
No doubt the SFA and the referees fear a change in the allocation of referees in Scotland. Professional referees and VAR are the way to go to stop the obvious bias and inadequacy of the current mob.
It will be resisted till the bitter end.
No conspiracy at BBC because it is big and diverse.
Oh really?
In any institution, there are those who set the tone and policy and then there are those who pay mortgages and feed the family by knowing what is expected of them.
Yesterday,William Hill had Sevco at 1/8 to qualify tonight; they are now 2/9. Has something happened ? Well, apart from punters backing Killie.
JJ
So it’s on to the Mestalla on Thursday night – Mestalla the name conjurs up for me visions of an Apache reservation in a John Wayne classic western and with thousands of Celtic supporters bringing business to the city of Valencia who are in the bizarre situation of being unable to get tickets for a game that is not a sellout. Just what are the Spanish on about.
Watched the great and the good of the so-called elite of European football last night flicking between Lyon and Liverpool games who could not fashio a score between the four of them. Interesting to note the Mousa Dembele and Jason Deneyer togged out for the French and Mr. Van Dyke would have played except for suspension. Good to see three quite recent former Celtic were mixing with the royalty.
Hope we get a performance from the Hoops tomorrow night and all that incredible Celtic following get their hands on tickets.
65 th – season’s best
JAMESGANG on 20TH FEBRUARY 2019 1:42 PM
“The bbc in Scotland is as unbiased as a Lanarkshire ref.”
Magic! :)) The best comment of 2019 so far por cierto.
Robinbhoy- the ‘foreign refs’,is another talking shop,will never happen….
F.U.B.A.R.BHOY,
I don’t know what FUBAR stands for, but if you’re interested there is a horse called FUBAR in the 5.00 pm Doncaster!
HH
What’s the psychology of the huns tonight – get roasted by stevie gobshite publicly so come out of the traps flying. Psychology of killie : keep doing what we’re doing, it’s working. Stay tight as hell so after their adrenaline rush they’ll run out of ideas. Interesting contest!
HANKRAY
My son has just been turned away at the Mestalla. You can get a ticket if you have an Irish passport but not a UK one.
I’ve just told him to go back and remind the feckers that they’re currently £200m in debt and nearly went out of business not so long ago.
What a way to run a business!
Who was it that once said “football without fans is nothing”?
I’m not a believer as such in organised religion, but sometimes even your archetypal agnostic (never an atheist} has to at least consider the possibility of a previously discarded tenet.
This has happened to me on a few occasions, and always involve the acquisition of a ticket for an away European game, and so I made a “pilgrimage” to the Jesuit College in Valencia today.
My entreaties sadly went unfullfilled but I think, if their parking bollard design is anything to go by, I’m pretty sure who “God’s Soldiers” are rooting for tomorrow evening. ? ?
http://alturl.com/v69m3
Hail Hail
Matt
blueberries
seemingly
Europa League game on just now, why do we not push for this and keep league games on a Saturday?
I see that the rangers bar in Benidorm was partially burnt down last night, what a shame ?
The record blaming Celtic fans of course, I bet it was an insurance job and Celtic fans will a convenient excuse.
https://scontent-mad1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/52258745_2109842942397057_3974582346539073536_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-mad1-1.xx&oh=a8814dbb62fb999415bd7e12e7e1c55f&oe=5CECCC65
THE EXILED TIM on 20TH FEBRUARY 2019 5:14 PM
Burnt down years ago seemingly.
Bada
I think they should have the CL and europa game in different weeks instead of all in the same week, that way all games could be played on a tues and wed, far too sensible tho.