Gordon Smith wants final whistle in refs row

Published on Monday 14 December 2009 22:02

GORDON Smith has called for a cease-fire in the escalating war between managers and referees amid fears that it might harm efforts to recruit match officials in future.

The chief executive of the Scottish Football Association refused to talk about individual managers but warned of the climate of fear that is at risk of being created by the constant questioning of the integrity of referees.

Motherwell's Jim Gannon has been especially vocal of late, while Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo has written a letter seeking a meeting with the SFA to discuss the performance of David Somers in his side's recent match with Hamilton Academical.

Martin Cryans, chairman of the Scottish Senior Referees' Association, has already voiced a concern that Gannon's comments will dissuade an entire generation of future referees from taking to the game.

Smith agrees, and believes this is not the time to make refereeing seem less attractive. Fifa is currently using the Europa League to experiment having an extra referee behind each goal-line.

"Referees do make mistakes, no question," said Smith. "But they are genuine. If there was any hint whatsoever that there might be bias we would deal with it. There is no hint of it.

"Hopefully people won't be put off. We need referees for the game. And if this new system comes in with the two extra officials we will need more referees.

"You can't destroy people. Referees make mistakes and players make mistakes. It's part of life."

Smith applauded Hugh Dallas, his head of referee development, for his efforts to establish a route for dialogue between the managers and his department.

"Hugh is very much in favour of that," Smith said.

"I was there myself at the start of the season when he had a meeting with the managers and coaches.

"Hugh I know has given them his number for them to phone him. They don't have to write letters to him."

Smith is keen to establish a new code of conduct in the game. He is, however, conscious of how quickly the agreement struck last season by managers to avoid public criticism of officials broke down.

"We want to bring in a 'Respect' campaign, like they have in England," he said. "We were talking about it before they brought it in – a campaign to have people behaving in a much better way towards team-mates, opponents and also referees.

"People should have more respect for them.

"I am disappointed at what has happened of late. Mistakes are highlighted much more now," he continued. It's difficult for the guys doing it.

"My department go through games with the referees. I have been there when a referee has sat there and said: 'I got that wrong'. They are genuine people and he holds up his hand and says 'I got it wrong'.

"But then people go berserk about him admitting he got it wrong.

"You can say in advance of the season that a referee is going to make a mistake and a team might lose a game or win a game because of it. It's not because a referee is biased.

"There is a human element," he added. "The guys are doing their best.

"They have pride. The last thing they want is to open the paper the next day and see themselves get slaughtered.

"There is no doubt the standard can be better. But we have good young referees coming through, and ultimately they will become the mature and experienced referees everyone is looking for."