Overseas option for ref-less SFA

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) are looking to Ireland and Scandinavia in a bid to find officials for this weekend’s matches.

The body needs to find officials for around 20 games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday to avoid postponements, after the country’s top-flight referees decided to strike following several high-profile criticisms of their performances.

Referee Dougie McDonald incensed Celtic when he admitted he was dishonest with manager Neil Lennon about the reason he overturned a decision to award the Glasgow club a penalty in their October 17 win over Dundee United.

That was followed by referee Willie Collum receiving death threats after officiating in Rangers 3-1 win over Celtic at Parkhead on October 24.

SFA Chief Executive Stewart Regan said they would look overseas to try and find officials capable of handling the games.

“It could be the Republic of Ireland, it could be the Scandinavian countries. There are a number of options open to us and we will be exhausting all of those,” Regan said on Tuesday.

“We’ve got to make sure we bring in referees from those countries who are available.”

“There will be a cost, it will be expensive bringing people in, not just match fees but the expense of getting them here as well.”

“It affects 20 matches, a huge number of matches to cover and we sympathise with the referees because they’ve had a tough few weeks and they have been under massive scrutiny with challenges to their integrity.”

Regan said the SFA would hold a meeting on Tuesday night to discuss possible courses of action, but admitted he could understand the referees’ need to voice their anger.

“There was a meeting last night. We’ve got a further meeting this evening,” Regan said.

“We are trying to put a plan in place to support referees. We recognise that they are going through a very difficult time.”

“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.”

The Iceland Football Association Vice-President Gylfi Orrason confirmed to the BBC his organisation had received a request from the SFA regarding the possibility of using their officials this weekend.