Post by rhythmlynx on Nov 24, 2010 7:10:09 GMT 10
Iceland referees reject SFA plea
Iceland's referees have told the Scottish Football Association they will not officiate at weekend games in place of striking Scots whistlers.
The SFA is meeting the Scottish Senior Football Referees' Association on Tuesday in an attempt to avert the planned strike on Saturday and Sunday.
Referee associations in other countries have been contacted for help meantime.
But Icelandic referee Kristinn Jakobsson told BBC Scotland: "We will support our colleagues in Scotland."
And he believes the same stance will be taken by officials from Ireland, Wales and Scandinavia.
"The referees all around the world is one team, so I think we are going on the same line," said Jakobsson, who was the first Icelandic referee to officiate a Champions League match.
Sigurdur Thorleifsson, head of the referees' union in Iceland, had initially given his approval to the idea following an SFA request, but the referees themselves unanimously voted against.
While the Football Association of Ireland says no contact has yet been made by the SFA, the Football Association of Wales told the BBC that, while its priority was to ensure that all Welsh matches are fulfilled, it "would be able to assist with three or four officials should they be requested".
SFA chief executive Stewart Regan had told BBC Radio 5 live: "The primary focus is to make sure the fixtures are officiated.
"We are looking around Europe, talking to a number of associations and trying to put a contingency plan in place."
Matches in the Scottish Premier League, Scottish Football League, plus Scottish Cup replays and the Challenge Cup final, are threatened by the Scottish officials' decision to strike on Saturday and Sunday - and Regan hopes that Tuesday's talks could halt the walkout.
On Tuesday morning, Regan told the BBC: "There was a meeting last night. We've got a further meeting this evening.
"We are trying to put a plan in place to support referees.
"We recognise that they are going through a very difficult time. We are hopeful that talks will be fruitful this week and that we will come to a satisfactory conclusion and that they can officiate this weekend.
"It seems it is more about making a public statement and withdrawing their labour this weekend.
"But we hope that, if we can give them some assurances about support going forward, we can get them to rescind that decision."
Referees claim their personal safety is under threat, both on the pitch and from fans, following criticism from clubs over decisions made during recent matches.
Referee Dougie McDonald sparked controversy when he admitted to lying to Celtic manager Neil Lennon about how he and his assistant referee Steven Craven came to overturn a penalty decision for Celtic at Tannadice against Dundee United on 17 October.
The SFA subsequently censured McDonald for his handling of the post-match administrative process, although McDonald has resisted calls, notably from Celtic, for him to resign.
Last week,
called for all referees in Scotland to be forced to reveal their allegiance to a particular team, a suggestion backed by Celtic chairman John Reid.
As a result, some referees feel their integrity is being questioned excessively.
A statement from Scottish Premier League chairman Ralph Topping said "the prospect of games being threatened is hugely regrettable" and asked for "patience and restraint" while Regan conducts his review of the governing body in Scotland.
SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster told the BBC that fans would be the people hardest hit but it was vital that the weekend's matches went ahead.
"It's for the SFA to deal with the referees and try to resolve the issue," said Doncaster.
"If the situation cannot be resolved and the strike goes ahead, we will back the contingency plans."
However, BBC Scotland has learned that Scotland's 14 category two referees have agreed not to step in to replace their colleagues by officiating SPL or Scottish Football League matches.
SFA president George Peat called the strike decision a "sad day for Scottish football".
"We will do everything we possibly can to broker a deal before the weekend because it's obviously important that officials are on duty," he said.
"We do not condone the strike, but we must sympathise with the grievances of the referees."
Celtic are known to welcome the strike, hoping it may lead to an investigation by Uefa into refereeing standards.
However, Uefa described the fall-out as "a purely domestic matter" and has said it would not become involved.
Peat appeared to make a veiled criticism of Celtic, saying: "The behaviour of some people in recent weeks has tarnished the image of Scottish football. It has demeaned the game.
"The climate of inference, innuendo and conspiracy theories must stop."
Former referee Kenny Clark told BBC Scotland on Monday morning that he believed
- where he described McDonald's position as "completely untenable" - were the final straw.
"I suspect that is what put the tin lid on things, but it is a crisis that has been building up in recent years," he said.
"There is a decreasing level of respect being shown to match officials right across society and that is fanned by the remarks emanating from some of the clubs.
"Essentially [the referees] want to ask that other clubs recognise that some pressure has to be brought to bear, particularly upon Celtic currently, to act in a more responsible manner, to stop fanning the flames of the fans' fury.
"The concern of the officials is that it is only a matter of time before a match official or a member of a match official's family is the subject of an attack."
Story from BBC SPORT:
Iceland's referees have told the Scottish Football Association they will not officiate at weekend games in place of striking Scots whistlers.
The SFA is meeting the Scottish Senior Football Referees' Association on Tuesday in an attempt to avert the planned strike on Saturday and Sunday.
Referee associations in other countries have been contacted for help meantime.
But Icelandic referee Kristinn Jakobsson told BBC Scotland: "We will support our colleagues in Scotland."
And he believes the same stance will be taken by officials from Ireland, Wales and Scandinavia.
"The referees all around the world is one team, so I think we are going on the same line," said Jakobsson, who was the first Icelandic referee to officiate a Champions League match.
Sigurdur Thorleifsson, head of the referees' union in Iceland, had initially given his approval to the idea following an SFA request, but the referees themselves unanimously voted against.
While the Football Association of Ireland says no contact has yet been made by the SFA, the Football Association of Wales told the BBC that, while its priority was to ensure that all Welsh matches are fulfilled, it "would be able to assist with three or four officials should they be requested".
SFA chief executive Stewart Regan had told BBC Radio 5 live: "The primary focus is to make sure the fixtures are officiated.
"We are looking around Europe, talking to a number of associations and trying to put a contingency plan in place."
Matches in the Scottish Premier League, Scottish Football League, plus Scottish Cup replays and the Challenge Cup final, are threatened by the Scottish officials' decision to strike on Saturday and Sunday - and Regan hopes that Tuesday's talks could halt the walkout.
On Tuesday morning, Regan told the BBC: "There was a meeting last night. We've got a further meeting this evening.
"We are trying to put a plan in place to support referees.
"We recognise that they are going through a very difficult time. We are hopeful that talks will be fruitful this week and that we will come to a satisfactory conclusion and that they can officiate this weekend.
"It seems it is more about making a public statement and withdrawing their labour this weekend.
"But we hope that, if we can give them some assurances about support going forward, we can get them to rescind that decision."
Referees claim their personal safety is under threat, both on the pitch and from fans, following criticism from clubs over decisions made during recent matches.
Referee Dougie McDonald sparked controversy when he admitted to lying to Celtic manager Neil Lennon about how he and his assistant referee Steven Craven came to overturn a penalty decision for Celtic at Tannadice against Dundee United on 17 October.
The SFA subsequently censured McDonald for his handling of the post-match administrative process, although McDonald has resisted calls, notably from Celtic, for him to resign.
Last week,
called for all referees in Scotland to be forced to reveal their allegiance to a particular team, a suggestion backed by Celtic chairman John Reid.
As a result, some referees feel their integrity is being questioned excessively.
A statement from Scottish Premier League chairman Ralph Topping said "the prospect of games being threatened is hugely regrettable" and asked for "patience and restraint" while Regan conducts his review of the governing body in Scotland.
SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster told the BBC that fans would be the people hardest hit but it was vital that the weekend's matches went ahead.
"It's for the SFA to deal with the referees and try to resolve the issue," said Doncaster.
"If the situation cannot be resolved and the strike goes ahead, we will back the contingency plans."
However, BBC Scotland has learned that Scotland's 14 category two referees have agreed not to step in to replace their colleagues by officiating SPL or Scottish Football League matches.
SFA president George Peat called the strike decision a "sad day for Scottish football".
"We will do everything we possibly can to broker a deal before the weekend because it's obviously important that officials are on duty," he said.
"We do not condone the strike, but we must sympathise with the grievances of the referees."
Celtic are known to welcome the strike, hoping it may lead to an investigation by Uefa into refereeing standards.
However, Uefa described the fall-out as "a purely domestic matter" and has said it would not become involved.
Peat appeared to make a veiled criticism of Celtic, saying: "The behaviour of some people in recent weeks has tarnished the image of Scottish football. It has demeaned the game.
"The climate of inference, innuendo and conspiracy theories must stop."
Former referee Kenny Clark told BBC Scotland on Monday morning that he believed
- where he described McDonald's position as "completely untenable" - were the final straw.
"I suspect that is what put the tin lid on things, but it is a crisis that has been building up in recent years," he said.
"There is a decreasing level of respect being shown to match officials right across society and that is fanned by the remarks emanating from some of the clubs.
"Essentially [the referees] want to ask that other clubs recognise that some pressure has to be brought to bear, particularly upon Celtic currently, to act in a more responsible manner, to stop fanning the flames of the fans' fury.
"The concern of the officials is that it is only a matter of time before a match official or a member of a match official's family is the subject of an attack."
Story from BBC SPORT: