McLeish: Our refs must be firm – but fair
FROM BACK PAGE officials from overseas. It follows the revelation of a stormy summit involving the governing body and Premiership club representatives over improving the current disciplinary process.
Referees withdrew their service in 2010 after severe criticism and were replaced by officials from Israel, Luxembourg and Malta
McLeish doesn’t want to see a repeat but admits our men in black need to regain authority and respect.
The 60-year-old national team boss has managed in England and Belgium as well as Egypt where foreign referees, including from Scotland, have been drafted in for big games.
And McLeish said: “When you’re in Europe the players have more respect for refs in the Champions League or Europa League.
“They know not to mess with the refs. They seem so much firmer and if you confront them it’s an instant booking.
“In domestic games there is a familiarity. I heard in Spain a few years ago that if you dissed a ref they would do you in for the next incident.
“That’s how it worked. It’s not a secret. It was out in open. Referees have to be firm and there has to be a respect but at the same time you don’t want refs to be stubborn.
“I saw a ref the other week give a penalty and then got the word in his ear and changed his mind and upset another team. But it was the right decision and I thought, ‘Brilliant’.
“I want our guys to continue. Refs have been under scrutiny like never before. Back in the day I had my run-ins with referees as did Sir Alex while Willie Miller reffed games really well!
“I always felt it was the toughest job in football because of the abuse they got and that was back then.
“The scrutiny is now very severe and that’s the modern world we’re in with cameras, VAR, social media. There’s no hiding place. We should back the guys as much as we can.”
Scotland’s top-flight bosses and officials have backed the introduction of VAR. But McLeish pointed to the World Cup Final when, after the use of VAR, France were awarded a penalty for an accidental handball by Croatia’s Ivan Perisic and then it wasn’t used to pick up Antoine Griezmann’s dive that led to the second goal, as how the system can be improved.
He added: “VAR is coming – it can’t be stopped. I’ve seen VAR and it’s not entirely clear.
“You saw the ref in the World Cup Final – it was all down to his opinion and he disregarded looking at Griezmann’s dive.”
A referees union has reacted furiously to the idea of foreign refs.
And a statement from the Prospect Scottish Football Referees officer Ian Perth said: “If there is substance to media reports the SFA are in talks with clubs about introducing overseas-based officials, it’s another appalling development.
“We will seek that the SFA urgently clarifies its position on this matter.”