Dallas accepts Scottish refs need to improve

(GSM)- Scottish Football Association head of referee development Hugh Dallas has conceded that there are problems with refereeing in Scotland.

Dallas has become involved in a war of words with Motherwell manager Jim Gannon, who has criticized several decisions made by officials this season.

Dallas says he was “insulted” by Gannon’s comments but he adopted a more conciliatory tone, telling BBC Scotland, “I’m the first to admit that refereeing is going through a period at the moment,
which we wish it wasn’t. But, trust me, we are working hard behind the scenes to try and improve things.”

He added, “I appreciate that the managers are frustrated and get upset.

“I don’t know what kind of pressure they’re under because I’ve never been a manager, but we try to handle things internally.

“We analyse games on a Monday and a Tuesday with the referees, we take in the referee observer’s comments and we have a seminar this weekend because, apart from improving the standards of referees, we also have to improve the standard and the coaching of our observers who are passing on the advice.

“So, we’re working away quietly in the background.”