Dallas backs professional referees

Paul Durkin may be considered for the top pay

Top Scottish referee Hugh Dallas has backed the Football Association's decision to allow referees to turn professional in England next season.

But it may be some time before such a scheme is introduced north of the Border because the Scottish Football Assocation admit that they could not afford it.

A select number of officials in England will be paid an annual retainer of £33,000 plus match fees of £900, meaning that top referees could earn as much as £60,000 a year.

Dallas believes that the move can only benefit the men in the middle and has called for similar changes to be made in Scotland.

"I think it's a very positive move and I applaud the Football Association for making that decision as it underlines their commitment to refereeing," he said.

Great opportunity

"It's something that I think would work well in Scotland too.

"It would benefit the younger referees in particular and would be a great opportunity for them."

There are no plans to introduce this in Scotland at this time, but the concept is certainly of interest to us

  SFA referee chief Don McVicar

Dallas runs his own double glazing company but would have considered becoming a full-time official had the SFA allowed referees to turn professional in the past.

"It's unfair to ask whether this is something that I would be interested in as I'm probably one of the older referees in Scotland," he said.

"If it had been introduced a few years ago, I would have looked at it, but you never say never and it's really a decision that's down to the individual."

Dallas believes that the sums of money top referees in England will be able to make will be criticised.

Game becoming faster

But he has defended their right to pick up large pay cheques and insists that their salaries reflect the importance of the role they play on the game.

"People criticise referees for what they could earn in a year, yet what players earn in a week is acceptable," said Dallas.

Hugh Dallas is one of Europe's top refs

"Referees play a large part of the game.

"The game is getting faster and referees have to be younger and fitter and I think referees would benefit from being able to turn professional."

SFA head of referee development Don McVicar insists that the Scottish authorities will be paying close attention to how professionalism develops in England.

McVicar insists that there are no plans to bring make refs professional in Scotland with a question mark over funding in Scotland.

"There are no plans to introduce this in Scotland at this time, but the concept is certainly of interest to us," he said.

Must be beneficial

"The major discussion point though would be who would fund the venture?

"But anything which allows our referees to prepare better for games must be beneficial.

"I think we will certainly be looking at it, but it definitely won't be a case of 'never say never'.

"In the past, we have discussed this with referees and the thinking is that, while it is good to spend the day training and with clubs, would there always be the satisfaction in doing that continually?

"That has been brought up by referees in the past, but that is not to say something won't come of the idea."