SFA hit back at Charlie Richmond’s claims of favouritism

THE Scottish Football Association’s head of referee development has hit back at comments from Charlie Richmond after the former official claimed he had been the victim of a culture of favouritism.

Richmond called time on a refereeing career dating back to 1991 on Saturday after feeling unfairly sidelined from taking charge of Clydesdale Bank Premier League games over the last 18 months.

The 43-year-old, a category one official since 2000, blamed “people within a position of power at the SFA” and followed Steve Conroy in quitting this year.

However, John Fleming, the SFA’s head of referee development, disputed the claims made by Richmond. In a statement on the SFA’s website, Fleming said: “I consider his comments an affront to the work undertaken by the Scottish FA to promote and support referees at all levels. I am sure there will be plenty of Charlie’s former colleagues who will feel misrepresented by his comments.

“Over the past few seasons he made a decreasing effort to attend referee association meetings and training sessions. Charlie has also failed to attend our winter training camp for the past two seasons.”

Richmond had told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound programme: “Apparently, I’m not a team player. My interpretation is it means I don’t suck up to the right people.”

Fleming insisted Richmond had been supported, adding: “Charlie claims he lost the support of the ‘decision-makers’ within the referee committee, yet was reintroduced to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this season after a prolonged period of performance management. It is curious that Charlie did not see fit to air these grievances while he was officiating in Uefa and SPL matches.”

In addressing Richmond’s comments, aired on Tuesday, Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan responded on Twitter: “Referee appointments are based on performance. Would prefer to see consistent under-performers ‘retire’ without feeling need to blame others.”

John McKendrick, chairman of the Scottish Senior Football Referees Association, took issue with Regan’s comment, while also criticising Richmond’s remarks. Richmond has not been a member of SSFRA for several years. In a statement, McKendrick said: “The SSFRA also considers that it is unhelpful and regrettable that any recently retired referee should be described as a ‘consistent under-performer’. Scottish football should value, rather than deride the contribution that recently retired referees have made to our game.”

He added: “The SSFRA takes issue with some of the insinuations and assertions that were made by Charlie in this interview. We are offended by the claim that referees need to ‘suck up’ to progress.”