The Scottish Football Association will consider changes to refereeing and
disciplinary procedures, including proposals to introduce officials from overseas.
It follows a heated meeting between the SFA, the compliance officer and the 12 Scottish
Professional Football League premiership clubs on Monday.
BBC Scotland understands an agreement was reached for an SPFL working party to
look at fundamental change and report back with proposals.
These could be introduced as early as next season.
A number of clubs expressed concern about the standards of refereeing and are in
favour of increasing the pool of grade one referees by calling on officials from England,
Wales or even further afield.
There was also much debate around the issue of compliance, with most clubs in
agreement that the current system needs to change.
Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson said on Tuesday that Scottish football is
“re-refereeing” games under the present disciplinary system.
“That is placing intolerable pressure on the referees, which places pressure on the
compliance system and disciplinary system,” he added.
Clare Whyte took over as compliance officer from Tony McGlennan in August to
become the third person to hold the post.
The duty of the role is to oversee the judicial and disciplinary process at the Scottish FA.
Clubs questioning the standard of refereeing in Scottish football is nothing new – it
happens to varying levels most years but this year it feels different. Not since 2010 has
there been such focus on the failings of officials.
Back then referees felt undermined to such a level that they withdrew their services.
Foreign officials stepped in until the dispute was resolved. Could the talk of foreign
officials force similar action almost a decade later? It could if the SPFL and the referees
can’t find common ground.
There’s little doubt the men in the middle feel under threat. Some clubs will now try to
convince them that foreign help could actually be a benefit.
It will be a hard sell in a pretty tense and often toxic landscape.
