Ref watch is a must for game
Boss insists officials need “help”
A Junior boss has hit out at the lack of officials for his side’s games.
Maybole gaffer Carlo Walker reckons that referees’ jobs are “impossible” as there are no line officials for the majority of their games in West League One.
He has called for Junior chiefs to find bodies to help officiate these games, rather than just “hope” people will come through.
Walker’s side lost 4- 3 to Port Glasgow, and the fuming boss reckons that his side were denied a “stonewall penalty” when the sides were level at 3- 3.
His side are now 13 games without a win in all competitions, but he is adamant his men have been playing well enough.
Carlo said: “I have stopped shaking referees’ hands, I just can’t cope with them.
“I have worked it out - the guys at the very top have VAR ( video assisted ref ), but we have nothing.
“There is no help, no assistants, nothing.
“The SJFA need to find a solution to get assistant referees, if the clubs need to pay more money we will happily do that to get guys out to do it.
“There are incredible pictures ( see page 78) of our player being punched, elbowed and then strangled.
“The ref didn’t do anything, I think he maybe booked one but that’s ridiculous.
“Then later on he was going to give a player a second booking, he had his hand in his pocket then decided to let him off as he was already booked.
“I have never seen a reaction like that from players about how bad a referee was.
“Who helps him though? That’s the problem.”
Walker added: “It was the same against Benburb a few weeks ago – terrible mistakes from the referee.
“They’re not biased, I am not saying that.
“But it doesn’t help when you are down there and not getting the lucky breaks.
“We are not that bad, if Port Glasgow are third top.
“Their celebrations at the end when they beat us showed it all, we played so well.
“You can’t score three goals and not play well.
“The penalty would have killed them and their goalkeeper would have been sent off.
“He said there was contact, but not quite enough.
“It was a penalty all day long and there wasn’t even a protest from their players.
“It’s really unfair on the referees, they need help.
“It’s terrible, they don’t need criticism from people like me, they need help.
“What we need to do is address the situation.
“I need to ask what the SJFA are doing about it.
“The answer will be nothing - all they do is hope that referees come through.
“Hope doesn’t work – I have nothing against the referees, they are human and just need help.”
SJFA Secretary Tom Johnston said: “The main problem is availability.
“We would need another 60 officials if we were to have every game covered.
“If that was the case then it could take away officials from the likes of youth and amateur football.
“Recruitment is down to the SFA so we can only deal with what we are given.
“A big problem for a lot of clubs is the cost of extra line officials.
“I’m sure if the manager in question wants to contact myself we could try and ensure his side have officials whenever they are available - providing he pays for them.”