Foreign refs and pointless volleys at the BBC

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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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384 Comments

  1. i have zero sympathy for Kilmarnock tonight …. maybe it’s about time other teams in Scotland start looking after themselves … the Huns old and new being favoured … and this mob are trading insolvent it’s there in black and white …. Celtic look after Celtic, and let Killie, maybe Aberdeen in the quarters start realising what they are missing out on…. maybe a Defoe hat trick or a Steven Davis last minute winner at Pittodrie, players that Kilmarnock, Aberdeen or the Sevs cannot afford is just what some other clubs need to open their eyes ….

     

     

    Anyhow … Agatha & Sutton in the Amsterdam arena in the not so distant past, 1-3…. if we get the first goal tomorrow maybe the Valencians will start to wobble …. no wonder they don’t want 10k Tim’s in their stadium

     

     

    We can but dream …

     

     

    Am away to ma kip to start dreaming :-)

  2. Big Georges Fan Club - Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar on

    Ditto – Celtic fans held their hands up indicating their compliance with the Police – they were skelped in any case.

     

     

    HH

     

    BGFC

  3. Operation help the huns stop the treble treble in full view tonight in Govan.

     

     

    Desperation by officialdom .

     

     

    There was an inevitability about it before the game, you just knew they would get dodgy decisions if the opportunity arose. Very likely we’ll see similar when they go to Pittodrie in the next round.

     

     

    Scunnered by their cheating.

     

     

    HH

  4. Overturning 2 goal defeats from the first leg.

     

     

     

    Only two spring to mind. Cologne around 91’- 92’ and Karagandy more recently under Lenny. Both second legs won 3-0 at paradise. Are there any other occasions that we’ve managed to turnaround a two goal defecit?

     

     

     

    Don’t think we’ve ever overcame a two goal defeat from a home leg, what a great opportunity to make history bhoys.

     

     

    Worrying scenes from Valencia being posted of the riot police being aggressive and over zealous in their policing. Hope everyone stays safe.

     

     

     

    HH

  5. GFTB

     

    Don’t have to go that far back mate.

     

     

    We beat Anderlecht 3-0 away two years ago. Sinclair placed the cherry on top with the third goal . A repeat maybe unlikely but it’s not impossible.

     

     

    I think Edouard worries them. Hoping we get him on the ball and running at their back line.

     

     

    As others have posted, hoping for a decent performance to restore some pride that was lost in our meak home defeat .

     

     

    HH

  6. Dbhoy 12.11am

     

     

    No way we will win 3-0 :-)

     

     

    Ajax was in my mind as 1-3 does the job… I would always wear the Hoops but the yellow tops and green shorts should get an airing tonight

     

     

    All kidding aside … if we can get to 1-0 the longer the game goes… who knows ? Stuff all this chucking it patter, why not beat Valencia & Motherwell :-)

  7. Big Georges Fan Club - Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar on

    DBHOY on 20TH FEBRUARY 2019 11:39 PM

     

    Operation help the huns stop the treble treble in full view tonight in Govan.

     

     

    Desperation by officialdom .

     

     

    =======

     

     

    Could we overcome a similar performance by the officials in a Scottish Cup game versus Them??

     

     

    HH

     

    BGFC

  8. Big George 12.26am

     

     

    I think Broony & co will overcome anything the next few times we have to face that mob, league or cup encounters

     

     

    Hope your wee “gig” in Graces went well last Saturday… if there is another keep us updated on here

  9. !!Bada Bing!! on 20th February 2019 11:34 pm

     

    ————————————————————-

     

    Been embarrassed enough by the filth in our own support at home singing “Sad Orange Bassa” to make anything of it unfortunately. More’s the pity.

  10. Jeez, BBC trying hard to get inside with Huns again. Trial by Sportscene indeed. Yes it was a red card, no it wasn’t a penalty, never mentioned the red card Candeias should have got, even glossed over Stevie Clark’s sectarian comments, maybe it’s a minority, says Stevie Thompson, then switches conversation to Celtic fans and Kris Boyd. Pathetic. Stevie Clark made a good comment saying if you called his assistant a black b@@@@@d things would be done, but fenian acceptable. Best wee bigoted country indeed. This league not done and dusted yet, with officials blatantly taking the piss now. Some big games to be played, plenty of opportunities for dishonest mistakes.

  11. Illuminati/freemason symbolism in the stv Scotland Tonight studio.

     

     

    All seeing eye on the floor, with the round table in the middle of the floor, then the Saturn circled globe in the closing edits, one of the guests with one eye covered as her hair hung over it, the other guest, with a dress punctuated by demon skulls, covered with a bright ‘orange’ cardigan, as both guests devoured, without mentioning, the illuminati symboled tribute at the, British awards show, the all seeing eye on the ceiling, black and white masonic coloured costume’s, and Pink, the musician, all in red as the fallen angel, being lowered down to earth, from the all seeing eye.

     

     

    If you can, check out Pink’s mock masonic initiation ceremony in America at the awards on Google. Was it a cry for help?

     

     

    The secret societies are now so blatant with their displays, handshakes, hidden hands, horned hand, and three sixes hand signs, one eye hidden, red and black eastern star, and black and white masonic colour scheme’s, etc.

     

     

    Is the end of this world closer than we think?

     

     

    As Jesus once warned us about the evil, right in front of our eyes, when he said to us, “You have eye’s, but you cannot see.”

  12. Was off oot there…

     

     

    GFTB

     

    I remain hopeful in oz mate :)

     

     

    BGFC

     

    We could but it’s a disgrace we have to factor that in . Dodgy refereeing stopped Lenny in the cups imo.

     

    They haven’t been able to halt the Brendan juggernaut yet, but I get the distinct impression they would relish the chance to do so.

     

    Fargin sneaky bastages! ;))

     

     

    HH

  13. Right lads… wats apppppinnin

     

     

    In Valencia

     

     

    Where’s the party

     

     

    In the Liverpool bar

     

     

    B-)

  14. ‘Keep scoring like that son and one day you might be on the same wages as Defoe’ Slippy Gee.

  15. “They can call me a b*****d or a w****r. No problem, thanks, guys. But to call me a Fenian b*****d, come on. Where are we living in? The Dark Ages?

     

    “They are not allowed to call my assistant (Alex Dyer) as black b but they can call me a Fenian b*****d. What are we doing in Scotland? Stevie Clarke

  16. Good morning CQN from an unusually mild For time of year Garngad

     

     

    Get the first goal tonight and you never know.

     

    Finally, someone with a pair of baws that’s willing to call out the sectarian hordes of the bigot dome. Will this be the talk of the toon over the next few days?????

     

    Nah me neither….probably will not hear any more about it.

     

    Watch out for the ” we don’t really want to talk about that, we will leave it to the authorities squirrel “.

     

    Oh and get the Scottish Refs tae feck. Never going to happen, but I can but dream.

     

     

    COYBIG

     

     

    D. :)

  17. Theresa May calling up 1000 troops for Brexit! Better keep them handy for when we “hump the huns” in the final. Nice wee slogan that “hump the huns’

  18. Good morning, friends and Happy Matchday from a still dark, calm and dry (I think) East Kilbride.

     

    Get to half time tonight still in the game and you never know.

     

    Hope all the bhoys and ghirls in Valencia stay safe.

  19. Look forward to the crayoned statements of both Kilmasonic and Sevco regarding Steve Clarkes presser last night, and the Meeeeeja furor that will ensue. NOT

     

     

    D. :)

  20. morning bhoys from a dreich looking Cheshire,, just watched the sending off again, diabolical does not give it justice,, to all the bhoys and ghirls out there stay safe,HH,

  21. Radio Scotland in full deflection mode this morning, after Steve Clarke’s corruscating criticism of the bigots in Govan. They have had a spokesperson from Nil By Mouth on, who has towed the old “small minority” and “one’s as bad as the other” nonsense. As Michael Stewart said, it is a cancer in Scotland. It is anti-Catholic, anti- Irish bigotry and it is Scotland’s Shame.

  22. CELT70 on 20TH FEBRUARY 2019 11:10 PM

     

    It won’t be long until the reunification of the island of Ireland, the independence of Scotland, thanks to brexit, and the likely arrival of the dangerous Ulster-Scots to Scotland, all in the ten in a row year!

     

     

    No thanks to irish unification brought to you thro English nationalism snd brexit.it would be to rushed imo

     

    Much the same feelin bout Scottish independence,

     

    As for those Irishmen of planter origin

     

    They’d be welcome in drongan,kilwinning and dalry were the chasedoot drug dealers now reside. More o them to walk away I say :-)

     

     

    :-)

     

    HH

  23. We have to be open enough to understand Steve CLarke’s comments last night.

     

     

    Yes, they applied directly to the abuse he, personally, received from the Ibrox crowd and he did not directly reference Celtic.

     

     

    However, the implications are there if you have ears to hear.

     

     

    He is saying that he can put up with being called a b*****d or a w****r but objects to the inappropriate adjective “fenian” being put in front of it. While some of us are proud to self-identify as fenians, Steve Clarke chooses not to and has the right to not identify as such.

     

     

    Which brings us back to our game and our abuse of Kris Boyd (and a fair few others recently) with the chant of Orange B*****d. Kris Boyd was a former Ibrox player who still has allegiances to that club and regularly gives biased interpretations of football events to favour them and do us down. But he has never identified as a bigoted Protestant nor did he go down the Nacho/Goram route. We, as a club, and a support have due cause to resent Orangeism and all its facets, including a large percentage of the support that backs the ibrox team, But we should be very careful abut tarring individuals with that tag.

     

     

    Is Kris Boyd really an “Orange” bassa? Do you know that for a fact? If not, why are we applying it to him? If we want to wind him up- his scoring record against celtic would make for a far more disparaging jibe and would keep it to the football side of things.

     

     

    The same applies to most of the other individuals where we apply the orange term, though Ian Paisley definitely merits it.

     

     

    I am not asking anyone ot go easy on Orangeism; it deserves to be opposed. However, Kris Boyd deserves as much support as Stevie Clarke does. We need to do our best to stup our own “Orange” chanting at individuals.

  24. ParkheadcumSalford 8.11

     

     

    I noticed that also coming in from nights.radio on 5 live every half hour said Steve Clarke,’let rip at the referees,and woke up thanking god that chelsea took him away from the sectarian bile,comprehensive it was.

     

    Then radio Scotland was as u say.

     

    :-)

  25. Team prediction for tonight…

     

     

    Bain

     

    Toljan

     

    Boyata

     

    Jozo

     

    Hayes

     

    Broony

     

    McGregor

     

    Sinclair

     

    Forrest

     

    Burke

     

    Edouard

     

     

    Mon the hoops!

     

     

    HH