Official meeting is set up

SCOTLAND’S leading refs will gather in Edinburgh on Sunday to discuss the furore of the Old Firm fallout.

Category one officials and specialist assistants will meet at the Oriam for a training day after their traditional mid-winter trip to Spain was scrapped.

The SFA are using the budget to promote the recruitment and retention of young refs instead.

The officials will be put through their paces in a series of practical exercises before joining forces at the end to discuss recent controversies.

Despite reports, there is no appetite from the country’s leading whistlers and their assistants to push for industrial action.

But they are keen to promote the introduction of VAR to the Scottish game in a bid to help the decision-making processes.

One senior ref said: “There’s no chance of strike action. It would only be pandering to the minority who would like to see foreign refs brought into the Scottish game.

“However, there is a recognition the authorities must push with proposals to introduce VAR to ensure Scottish football is not left trailing the rest of Europe.

“The rise of social media has put officials under greater scrutiny and there is no excuse for the behaviour that has seen police called to offer protection to John Beaton and Callum Scott recently.”

Meanwhile, Craig Levein insists there is a will among managers to sort out the differences with match officials.

The Hearts boss said: “There is a genuine attempt to bring the managers and the referees together and come up with something that suits everyone.”