Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / SCOTTISH PREMIER
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | World Cup 2010 | Formula 1 | Olympics | Vancouver 2010 | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorbikes | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Football Contents:  World Cup 2010 | My Club | Gossip | Premier League | Championship | League One | League Two | Non League | FA Cup | League Cup | Scottish Premier | Scottish League | Scottish Cups | Welsh | Irish | Europe | African Women | Football Focus | Match of the Day | Final Score | World Football | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Your Game

19:25 GMT, Friday, 12 June 2009 20:25 UK

SFA to explain referee decisions

Hugh Dallas

The Scottish Football Association is to issue statements over controversial refereeing decisions in all domestic matches from the start of next season.

An official will contact Hugh Dallas, the SFA's head of referee development, on the day of the match to explain the decision that followed an incident.

Dallas will, ideally, review available footage before issuing a statement clarifying the referee's decision.

The SFA sees this as a way of dealing with potential controversy quickly.

Its reluctance to comment on controversial decisions has been a source of frustration for club managers.

Gordon Smith, the SFA chief executive, called for more respect to be shown towards referees following an incident where Motherwell players reacted angrily towards referee Craig Thomson during a match against Hearts in February 2008.

Hearts scored after Thomson waved the action on following a knock to the head to Motherwell's David Clarkson.

Then, last May, Dundee United manager Craig Levein called for greater accountability and transparency for referees in Scotland.

Levein was unhappy about several decisions made by referee Mike McCurry in a 3-1 defeat by Rangers.

Last December, the Scottish Premier League's 12 managers agreed to refrain from speaking out about controversial refereeing decisions.

SPL chairman Lex Gold said at the time that the managers believed there was too much focus on refereeing decisions in post-match interviews.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Levein calls for referee overhaul (13 May 08 |  Dundee Utd )
SFA chief defends under-fire refs (25 Feb 08 |  Scottish Premier )
The tough life of a Scottish ref (12 May 08 |  Scotland )
Chick Young's view (14 Aug 07 |  Scotland )
Dallas backs professional referees (14 Jun 01 |  Scotland )
Smith upset by red card decisions (16 May 09 |  Rangers )
SPL bosses agree silence on refs (19 Dec 08 |  Scottish Premier )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Where I Live Scotland
Sport Scotland
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | World Cup 2010 | Formula 1 | Olympics | Vancouver 2010 | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorbikes | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Football Contents:  World Cup 2010 | My Club | Gossip | Premier League | Championship | League One | League Two | Non League | FA Cup | League Cup | Scottish Premier | Scottish League | Scottish Cups | Welsh | Irish | Europe | African Women | Football Focus | Match of the Day | Final Score | World Football | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Your Game

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©