Hetherston faces action over jibes at female ref

THE Scottish Football Association’s general purposes committee yesterday launched an investigation into alleged sexist remarks made by Peter Hetherston, the Albion Rovers manager.

Hetherston appears to be facing a disrepute charge after he was quoted in a newspaper report launching an attack on Scotland’s first women referee, telling Morag Pirie that she should have "been at home cooking" instead of running the line in his side’s 1-0 defeat to Montrose in the Third Division.

The general purposes committee is sending a letter to Hetherston asking for him to explain his actions following the match at Links Park on Saturday, and if he is found guilty of making those remarks to Pirie then he could be facing disciplinary action.

"That would be referred to the general purposes committee because it’s a manager commenting on a referee," said an SFA spokesperson yesterday. "We are aware of it and we have contacted the chairman of the committee and they are aware of the comments.

"We’ve got a meeting in December and what we will do is write to him [Hetherston] to explain the comments he is alleged to have made to find out whether they are accurately attributable to him.

"When that is established then we can deal with the matter but we would like to get his comments before the next meeting in December. The article involved would be bringing the game into disrepute but we can’t make comment on what further action could happen."

Hetherston, the former Raith Rovers manager, vented his anger at Pirie after what he viewed as questionable offside decisions and was reported as saying: "I knew it wasn’t going to be our day when I arrived at Links Park and found that we had a woman running the line.

"She should be at home making the tea or the dinner for her man who comes in after he has been to the football. This is a professional man’s game. I believe that she shouldn’t be here.

"Crucial decisions are being made which affect players and managers. Every time the ball went forward in the first half she had the flag raised for offside. That’s how I feel and I think I have to speak out."

Hetherston, it was reported yesterday, is standing by his criticisms of the officiating but claimed that his reference to Pirie cooking was just a joke.

Donald McVicar, the head of referees in Scotland, jumped to the defence of Aberdeen-born Pirie, who made history in August when she took charge of the Highland Leauge match between Huntly and Wick.

"I think this statement says more about Peter Hetherston than it does about Morag Pirie," said McVicar. "I think in this day and age that kind of comment is totally ridiculous.

"Morag has reached this position as assistant referee in senior football on merit. She is experienced and she is good, but she will always receive ill-informed criticism like that.

"Women’s football is the fastest growing sport in the world, so why shouldn’t they be involved?

"There was a women referee from Switzerland in charge of a UEFA Cup match this season - they have got as much right to be part of the game as men have."