Regan 'set for crunch talks'

23 Oct 2010 - 21:30:46

Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan has convened a meeting with the SFA's head of referee development, to discuss the events of last Sunday's Dundee United versus Celtic game which has led to assistant referee Steven Craven reportedly set to resign.

Regan will meet with Hugh Dallas and the referee from Tannadice, Dougie McDonald, at Hampden on Monday afternoon.

While Craven, his assistant on the day is also expected to be invited along.

With the Clydesdale Bank Premier League game on Tayside level at 1-1, McDonald awarded Celtic a penalty then controversially changed his mind after consulting with Craven.

Despite scoring a last-gasp winner through Gary Hooper, Parkhead boss Neil Lennon was furious at the referee's U-turn and the fall-out has continued all week.

Dallas made a statement applauding McDonald for arriving at the "right decision in the end" but Craven is reportedly angry that it was not made clear that, contrary to perception, he did not instigate the discussion with McDonald.

It was reported that since Sunday, Craven has been the victim of threatening remarks with his teenage sons suffering verbal abuse and consequently the referee is believed to be ready to quit, although no letter of resignation has yet been received by Dallas.

It is believed there is growing concern among the refereeing fraternity about the increasingly stressful conditions in which they are being asked to perform, exemplified by Sunday's Old Firm game at Parkhead where Celtic boss Lennon appealed to Willie Collum, making his debut in the fixture, to "get the big decisions right".

While officials will accept criticism for major mistakes, there is real concern not only about the forensic examination of decisions, but the current climate of innuendo and inference about agendas and bias which pose possible safety fears for them and their families.

Last month Dallas had to dissuade referee Brian Winter from quitting the game following his failure to send off Steven Anderson at Tannadice, despite showing the St Johnstone defender two yellow cards in the game against Dundee United.

View the original article here

Labels: crunch, Regan, talks

posted by ron @ 5:07 PM