SFA may use overseas referees

The Scottish Football Association will look to foreign referees to officiate matches this weekend after a referees strike was announced on Sunday.

The Scottish Senior Football Referees’ Association decided to protest after what they felt was constant criticism and not enough support.

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan confirmed on Monday that the league would look to overseas to ensure that all top-flight matches would go ahead as planned this weekend.

“Fulfilling the weekend fixture calendar is our priority,” Regan said in a statement.

“I have every sympathy for the refereeing fraternity at this time. I cannot, however, condone what will amount to strike action and believe we must now engage in positive dialogue to avert the possibility that we will have no football this weekend.”

“We have an obligation to the leagues, supporters, clubs, sponsors and media partners to do our utmost to ensure all senior games are refereed.”

“While we remain hopeful that the situation can be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, we have no option but to draw up contingency plans, which will involve sourcing match officials in other countries.”

It is believed that all of Scotland’s 14 referees who officiate second-tier matches have agreed not to step in and replace their top-flight counterparts, forcing the SFA to look overseas.

“We will do everything we possibly can to broker a deal before the weekend because it’s obviously important that officials are on duty,” SFA president George Peat said.

“We do not condone the strike but we must sympathise with the grievances of the referees.”