referees on strike. all scotlandshire league fixtures cancelled next week

[Boba Fett]

lol seethe less guys.

Over the years in every league there has been incidents with refs and some team or other, including Rangers and Celtic, however in the last few weeks Celtic have taken abuse of refs to a new level, its embarrassing.  Lennons antics, Hoopers ridic press conference, Im not surprised they have had enough and are striking and bets of all its the perfect time for it as Rangers will avoid an away game against Dundee Utd on Sunday and give us time to get some players back from injury

[Div]

lol seethe less guys.

Over the years in every league there has been incidents with refs and some team or other, including Rangers and Celtic, however in the last few weeks Celtic have taken abuse of refs to a new level, its embarrassing.  Lennons antics, Hoopers ridic press conference, Im not surprised they have had enough and are striking and bets of all its the perfect time for it as Rangers will avoid an away game against Dundee Utd on Sunday and give us time to get some players back from injury

Unlucky. The game is ON

Possibly with a ref from The Republic of Ireland. Enjoy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9216271.stm

[Teacake]

George Peat, SFA: "The climate of inference, innuendo and conspiracy theories must stop"

journalist: "Who are you talking about in particular George?"

George Peat, SFA: "You can judge for yourself, I'm not mentioning any names"

So that's what we're up against.... sigh!!!

what do you mean that's what you are up against? Whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation there are clearly inferences, innuendos and the like emanating from Parkhead are there not, including from John Reid?

I am not saying those inferences and innuendos are wrong, by the way, just that they must create an atmosphere of mutual mistrust and a bunker mentality amongst the referees.

If participants in the sport, whether celtic or other clubs, are going to be so blatant in their disregard for the authority that runs the game, then its quite difficult for that authority to matter isn't it? The SFA might deserve it, I don't know, but Celtic are reaping what they sowed surely?

GP: "The climate of inference, innuendo and conspiracy theories must stop"

journalist: "Who are you talking about in particular George?"

GP: "You can judge for yourself, I'm not mentioning any names"

So he should have said "the climate of inference and innuendo must stop, just after I've made this announcement."

George Peat is feckin clown maybe he would be better concentrating on ensuring the refs were fit for purpose -

From yesterdays Sunday Mail

MAILSPORT can today reveal more than 80 percent of Scotland's top refs have failed an SFA test on the laws of the game.
Of the 31 Category One officials who took part in the 30-question written exam, only FIVE achieved pass marks.
And the astonishing results will send yet more shockwaves through the corridors of power and Scottish football.
Refs chief Hugh Dallas was taken aback by the findings and immediately put plans in place to help improve our whistlers' knowledge.
In some countries such low marks would mean the officials could no longer take charge of further senior games. The test took place at a Spanish winter training camp in February.
The pass mark was 80 per cent but a document obtained by MailSport reveals over half of the Category One officials scored 70 per cent or under. Indeed, one whistler scored just 50 per cent.
All the officials were given their results in an email that also contained remarks from the Referee Development Department. And the ref with the 50 per cent score was told: "This is unacceptable. We will inform the Referee Committee of your results in the test.
"Concerns will be raised about your lack of knowledge and understanding of the Laws of the Game.
"The Development Department will furnish you with a test paper as a matter of urgency and you will sit it under examination conditions."
A score of between 70 per cent and 79 per cent was achieved by nine refs and they were informed: "If we operated in the same way as several other countries you would now require to be re-examined.
"Warning bells should be ringing and failure to achieve a pass mark is concerning for the department. We will be looking for a significant improvement in the next test."
The highest mark was 89 per cent and the ref was told: "A very good knowledge - you have to be congratulated for attaining this pass mark."
An SFA spokesperson last night tried to play down the findings and claimed officials were now tested about their knowledge every month.
The spokesperson said: "This was the first in a series of hypothetical awareness exercises. These exercises now take place at every monthly referees' meeting in a 10-question format.
"They are designed to test officials on some of the most unlikely and unusual scenarios they may encounter.
"The improvement in that awareness has been apparent since these assessments became part of our monthly meetings.
"I'm sure most people would agree that implementing such an assessment based on the Laws of the Game can only be a benefit to refs and the game in general."
This report will heap further pressure on our whistlers during a turbulent season.
Celtic have called for the SFA to dismiss ref Dougie McDonald after he admitted lying to Neil Lennon in the aftermath of last month's game between the Hoops and Dundee United at Tannadice.
McDonald tried to cover-up the real reason why he U-turned on a decision to award the Hoops a penalty.
Celtic went on to win 2-1 but the whistler's behaviour sparked a storm.
One of the assistant referees that afternoon, Steven Craven, quit in the wake of the game and claimed SFA bosses had hung him out to dry.
McDonald has yet to resign even though members of the SFA hierarchy feel he should go as soon as possible.

Predictably the media reaction is to deflect this onto Celtic you'd think we were the only team to criticise referees, its laughable, Walter Smith has had plenty of touchline bans, Jim Jeffries has had one already this season for criticising the ref against Celtic he then had to apologise when it shown the ref was right.

We are continually told that the referees integrity is beyond question, that is utter nonsense, one has already been caught lying, he should have resigned and if he refused then he should have been sacked as his position is untenable.
 

[Div]

Current Scotland manager Craig Levein after a shambolic performance by Mike McCurry at Ibrox a couple of seasons back:

"It's impossible to win here in important games. The referee bottled it because he knew if he'd given the penalty Weir had to go.

He knew it was a penalty but the game was so important to Rangers he couldn't give it. The assistant probably had a better view than the ref but he won't put his head above the parapet, will he?

It's Rangers. At Ibrox. You cannae win that. An important game, a title decider? We cannae have Dundee United winning that game. Who gives a toss about United, eh?

Swanson's goal is a good one as well. It hits Weir and goes in. We deserved to get something from the game - but you CANNOT win.

I said to the ref we'd be as well not turning up. What's the point? Mike could have phoned me this morning and said: 'Look, Rangers are going to get the points, tell your lads to stay in the house.'"

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/2008/05/11/levein-blasts-referee-mike-mccurry-as-rangers-claim-controversial-victory-over-united-78057-20414114/

After this game the media defended McCurry, stating that as a church minister his integrity was beyond reproach.

Unfortunately for the married church minister, it was later discovered he was shagging his mates daughter.

He also lost his career as an accountant after being accused of 'misconduct and incompetence' by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

But help Rangers out with a few dodgy decisions. Inconceivable!

[Boba Fett]

Your team is rank and your manager is a whiner, its not the refs fault

[Div]

Tsk, punctuation these days. I blame the schools.

Interesting take on things here from a non-Celtic website.

http://footballsfootball.com/WeknowSFA/media-hyperbole-sets-crucify-celtic/

[Rod Paradise]

George Peat, SFA: "The climate of inference, innuendo and conspiracy theories must stop"

journalist: "Who are you talking about in particular George?"

George Peat, SFA: "You can judge for yourself, I'm not mentioning any names"

So that's what we're up against.... sigh!!!

what do you mean that's what you are up against? Whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation there are clearly inferences, innuendos and the like emanating from Parkhead are there not, including from John Reid?

I am not saying those inferences and innuendos are wrong, by the way, just that they must create an atmosphere of mutual mistrust and a bunker mentality amongst the referees.

If participants in the sport, whether celtic or other clubs, are going to be so blatant in their disregard for the authority that runs the game, then its quite difficult for that authority to matter isn't it? The SFA might deserve it, I don't know, but Celtic are reaping what they sowed surely?

GP: "The climate of inference, innuendo and conspiracy theories must stop"

journalist: "Who are you talking about in particular George?"

GP: "You can judge for yourself, I'm not mentioning any names"

So he should have said "the climate of inference and innuendo must stop, just after I've made this announcement."

George Peat is feckin clown maybe he would be better concentrating on ensuring the refs were fit for purpose -

I'm glad the point of the post didn't miss everyone like it did Tighty.

The whole cosy little cabal is coming crashing down & it's about time. They lie about decisions, their supervisor uses the lies, they lie about intimidation & hey - it's believed & we're the bad guys.

Funny thing is while Lennon's questioned Decisions, & Reid's demanded the resignation/sacking of the one proved to be dishonest, Hearts have accused refs of potential bias & match-fixing - but it's Celtic that are the bad guys......

http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20101031/hearts-call-for-increased-accountability-for-referees_2241384_2202854

Heart of Midlothian Football Club (Hearts) today called for more accountability for referees.

Board director Sergejus Fedotovas said: "I would not like to comment on any specific situation in the game in Scotland, but I would like to suggest that the refereeing standards need to go up significantly.

"If there is poor performance on the park by players it does not mean that the referee needs to match that level.

"Referees need to come out after the game and comment and explain their decisions. Refereeing is a big part of the game and people want to see high standards, hear the reasons behind decisions and gain clarification. Human error is part of the game, but it should be in minimal proportion.

"There is no place for a high proportion of human error meaning low standards - it can easily be a cover for bias and match fixing.

"If the Scottish FA is interested in showing there is no bias and minimizing the risk of match fixing the organisation needs to continue working to improve refereeing standards, by implementing the best practices available in the world and being innovative to insure that the Scottish game is not a place for reputation damaging situations.

"And there should be no double standards - all clubs need to be treated equally, not just those that dominate the game. I do not remember any other situation where referees have been so strictly cautioned when it involved any other club outside the Old Firm.

"In an era where players, managers and clubs are suspended or fined heavily for their actions on the pitch, it will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of every honest employee and supporter of football clubs around the country that match officials could act as deceptively as has been reported.

"It is time that the Scottish FA implements a proper system of accountability otherwise the integrity of our game will be further diluted by future incidents. How long might it be before attempts by a referee to verbally engineer a situation to suit his own purposes spills into a referee actively engineering situations through actions rather than words? Only a fool would say 'That could never happen'.

"However it is also crucial that our referees are helped in every way possible. In addition to the actual support that a proper system of accountability would provide for them, they should be encouraged to be transparent in their actions.

"When players and managers are interviewed in the minutes after a game, referees should also be given the opportunity to explain decisions to supporters.

"We would also urge the Scottish FA to continue its lobbying in world football for the implementation of video technology. We appreciate this is a wider issue but it has to be adopted in time otherwise the spotlight will remain on the officials as much as the players and managers.

"Until then, honesty amongst our match officials remains paramount to the game. Those officials that fail that basic character trait should realise that the football pitches of Scotland are no place for them. High standards and not double standards - this is what we need to raise the game to a higher level."

[Rod Paradise]

George Peat, SFA: "The climate of inference, innuendo and conspiracy theories must stop"

journalist: "Who are you talking about in particular George?"

George Peat, SFA: "You can judge for yourself, I'm not mentioning any names"

So that's what we're up against.... sigh!!!

what do you mean that's what you are up against? Whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation there are clearly inferences, innuendos and the like emanating from Parkhead are there not, including from John Reid?

I am not saying those inferences and innuendos are wrong, by the way, just that they must create an atmosphere of mutual mistrust and a bunker mentality amongst the referees.

If participants in the sport, whether celtic or other clubs, are going to be so blatant in their disregard for the authority that runs the game, then its quite difficult for that authority to matter isn't it? The SFA might deserve it, I don't know, but Celtic are reaping what they sowed surely?

Just for clarification - George Peat calls for an end to inference & innuendo, while using inference & innuendo. I'd have thought that pretty obvious?

John Reid made no inference or innuendo, he flat out said the proven liar's position should be untenable - not much room to read anything else into it & not a lot can be said against it.

The SFA are reaping what they've sowed, and Celtic are quite happy. The season tickets are already sold for Saturday's match, the SFA are in a position to be sued for loss of earnings if they fail to honour their contract with the SPL, and our enemies are shooting themselves in the foot. Instead of 'seething' as some sad Fergus accolyte calls it, we're happy as sandbhoys.

As far as the SFA deserving it, ask Div about his dialogue with them over Stuart Dougal's self admitted cheating/incompetence.

[Boba Fett]

lololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololol

[Teacake]

Current Scotland manager Craig Levein after a shambolic performance by Mike McCurry at Ibrox a couple of seasons back:

"It's impossible to win here in important games. The referee bottled it because he knew if he'd given the penalty Weir had to go.

He knew it was a penalty but the game was so important to Rangers he couldn't give it. The assistant probably had a better view than the ref but he won't put his head above the parapet, will he?

It's Rangers. At Ibrox. You cannae win that. An important game, a title decider? We cannae have Dundee United winning that game. Who gives a toss about United, eh?

Swanson's goal is a good one as well. It hits Weir and goes in. We deserved to get something from the game - but you CANNOT win.

I said to the ref we'd be as well not turning up. What's the point? Mike could have phoned me this morning and said: 'Look, Rangers are going to get the points, tell your lads to stay in the house.'"

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/2008/05/11/levein-blasts-referee-mike-mccurry-as-rangers-claim-controversial-victory-over-united-78057-20414114/

After this game the media defended McCurry, stating that as a church minister his integrity was beyond reproach.

Unfortunately for the married church minister, it was later discovered he was shagging his mates daughter.

He also lost his career as an accountant after being accused of 'misconduct and incompetence' by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

But help Rangers out with a few dodgy decisions. Inconceivable!

Can you imagine if Neil Lennon had given that interview the permaragers would have wanted him lynched. The actual footage is worth watching, Levein is clearly raging  seething.



By the way isn't it interesting how Dallas has suddenly vanished off the face of the earth, strange that!

[Maxriddles]

Celtic are a joke and a complete laughing stock with fans of all Scottish clubs with this paranoia shit they've been bleating on about for years. We are bored beyond belief with this rubbish. The club have helped make their fans believe there's some sort of a conspiracy, in fact they have played up to some of the most undesirable of their fans when they should be actively discouraging such nonsense. Some of what Rod has posted is a fine example of this paranoid drivel that some Celtic fans actually believe.

This team complain like f**k about correct decisions ffs!! Lennon was doing his nut about two decisions against Hearts recently too, another game Celtic lost, one was a red card for a two footed lunge by Joe Ledley that Lennon described as not even a foul, the next a penalty claim for Celtic where nothing was given, in fairness the ref did get that one wrong, it should have been an indirect free kick to Hearts for a dangerously high boot of that puppet Hooper. They continually act like the poker player who bleats on about bad beats but forgets about all the races they win or in Celtic's case the favourable decisions they get, and believe me they get loads.

I have less than no respect for Lennon, Dr Reid, Peter"Sporting Integrity"Lawell, and anyone else bleating on about conspiracy theories. Wake up, grow up, stop cheating (this is cheating, they don't want parity they seek an advantage), stop pouring fuel on the fires of hatred burning too brightly already where the OF are concerned especially with some of the cretins following both clubs. Celtic should be punished for all of this but they won't be, the shame they are bringing to their once great club may be punishment enough though.

I am sure there will be a lot of Celtic fans who will disagree with all I have said but it's pointless for me to try to reason with them or post any further on the matter, I mean why let the truth get in the way of a good conspiracy theory. I know a lot of Celtic fans who feel very uncomfortable with their clubs behaviour and how it is viewed by those outside of it.

[Snowball]

Celtic are a joke and a complete laughing stock with fans of all Scottish clubs with this paranoia shit they've been bleating on about for years. We are bored beyond belief with this rubbish. The club have helped make their fans believe there's some sort of a conspiracy, in fact they have played up to some of the most undesirable of their fans when they should be actively discouraging such nonsense. Some of what Rod has posted is a fine example of this paranoid drivel that some Celtic fans actually believe.

This team complain like f**k about correct decisions ffs!! Lennon was doing his nut about two decisions against Hearts recently too, another game Celtic lost, one was a red card for a two footed lunge by Joe Ledley that Lennon described as not even a foul, the next a penalty claim for Celtic where nothing was given, in fairness the ref did get that one wrong, it should have been an indirect free kick to Hearts for a dangerously high boot of that puppet Hooper. They continually act like the poker player who bleats on about bad beats but forgets about all the races they win or in Celtic's case the favourable decisions they get, and believe me they get loads.

I have less than no respect for Lennon, Dr Reid, Peter"Sporting Integrity"Lawell, and anyone else bleating on about conspiracy theories. Wake up, grow up, stop cheating (this is cheating, they don't want parity they seek an advantage), stop pouring fuel on the fires of hatred burning too brightly already where the OF are concerned especially with some of the cretins following both clubs. Celtic should be punished for all of this but they won't be, the shame they are bringing to their once great club may be punishment enough though.

I am sure there will be a lot of Celtic fans who will disagree with all I have said but it's pointless for me to try to reason with them or post any further on the matter, I mean why let the truth get in the way of a good conspiracy theory. I know a lot of Celtic fans who feel very uncomfortable with their clubs behaviour and how it is viewed by those outside of it.

[TightEnd]

a reasonable article from an impartial BBC man (or not?)?

     
By Chick Young
BBC Scotland football reporter

Start the revolution on a Saturday: always a good thing.

The match officials who have decided that enough is enough are spot on to register their protest and withdraw their labour. Let's see how the whingeing clubs, in the words of Corporal Jones of Dad's Army, like it up 'em.

Celtic have set about Dougie McDonald with a baseball bat, a ridiculous over-reaction in the crime and punishment scenario of what went on during and after their fixture against Dundee United.

Their chairman even hijacked the club's annual general meeting to call for the resignation of a referee who, may I remind you, actually got right the penalty-kick decision which lit the blue - or rather green - touchpaper in the first place.

And now the game has got itself into a right little mess.

Here's the truth: you can't treat people like this.

You can't haunt their existence, call them cheats, stare into their private lives and expect them to sleep at night.

Less than two years ago Lex Gold, chairman at the time of the Scottish Premier League, proudly announced that club managers had agreed to refrain from speaking about refereeing decision after matches.

I screamed my protest and cynicism at the time. I knew it would never last and pointed out that this was Scottish football, not the editorial floor of Pravda. And last it didn't.

But the restraint crashed and burned in spectacular style despite then Celtic boss Gordon Strachan saying: "I think we should take the pressure off referees a bit."

This is a strike of protest, not a crowbar threat to embrace more money. Just a plea for clubs to understand about respect and decency.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with managers or players pointing out that decisions were wrong, if wrong they were. No-one is handing out halos to our referees.

But it has gone way too far.

I watch the game of rugby and the respect of players for match officials is clear. Referees have the right in their armoury to move kicks forward 10 yards in the wake of players questioning decisions and, maybe more importantly, they have the time to pore over video replays.

But right now, in the once beautiful game, you couldn't cross the gap between managers and referees with a transatlantic liner.

I'll be told if I'm wrong, but I don't recall the last time a match official was invited into the office for a post-match glass of wine or beer with the two managers.
   

Too many people in the game have forgotten how to smile, forgotten that indeed this is, after all, only a game.

Referees and their assistants have changed their ways. They guard their words and look over their shoulders like ventriloquists' dummies.

They look shell-shocked and haunted. It shouldn't be this way.

I admire their stance and indeed applaud it. The lunatics out there might see it as a triumph for their mad ways, but this is a cry for help.

And someone needs to come to the rescue.

The Scottish Football Association's silence has been deafening and if last week I argued that they needed time to contemplate their deployment, then now they need to act…fast and loud.

Celtic have had them on the ropes. They need to come out fighting.

Meanwhile I wonder what's on at the movies this Saturday afternoon...

[Rod Paradise]

No Tighty, Chick "St Mirren Fan" Young is not an impartial BBC man.

His diatribe is as impartial as max's.

[Boba Fett]

Lol you all need, to get a grip.  Dallas "disappeared" because he reached the age that officials are forced to retire, which is a shame as he was 1 of our best officials.  You may have noticed some other refs have "disappeared", like Collina.  Maybe he shafted Celtic sometime too and took the easy way out?

I could take all the points listed on here about refs against celtic and point out the flaws/lies in each point and then list off many times Celtic have benefitted from refs/SFA decisions but its a waste of life and you're so brainwashed by all of this that you'd never agree anyway so Ill leave to to seethe in the tic cave with the rest.

Lets face it, even with the refs help it wouldnt have stopped Celtics complete capitulation in Europe, or the pumping we gave you in the 2nd half of the last old firm game on your own park.  Id be extremely embarrassed if the staff and board at Rangers acted like this.