SPL urges SFA to look to England for revamp of appeals procedure

The players' union wants a complete overhaul of the current system, which sees match officials review their original decision before deciding whether a claim for wrongful dismissal should go to a review panel.

PFA Scotland's stance was backed by Celtic, who were recently critical of the existing procedure after Scott Brown was sent off by Dougie McDonald in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox and the referee then opted to stand by his decision.

In a statement on Friday, SFA chief executive Gordon Smith stood by the system and claimed taking referees out of it would contravene FIFA rules. However, his SPL counterpart, Neil Doncaster, last night disputed that claim and referred to the English procedure, where a regulatory commision hear red-card appeals.

Doncaster said: "We are supportive of the stance that has been adopted by Celtic FC and PFA Scotland on this issue recently. We will be making representations through the Scottish FA to suggest improvements to the current system, which, as Gordon has said, is causing growing concern across Scottish football.

"The system I was involved in south of the Border is much more efficient, with appeals being reviewed by an independent panel in a one-stage process. FIFA does not seem to have a problem with this so why should it be different in Scotland?"

Smith admitted the system has its flaws but insisted it is fair. He said: "We are mindful of the growing public debate to streamline and harmonise the current procedures and I can confirm that discussions have already taken place to expedite certain aspects of the process. As a point of reference, the argument that referees should not be part of the review process in a claim for wrongful dismissal because they are disinclined to admit to mistakes is not borne out by the facts.

"In fact, of 13 claims for wrongful dismissal received this season, six have been upheld and seven dismissed."

He continued: "The association is always open to dialogue with its member clubs, managers, players and the referee fraternity.

"We are also open to new ideas. It has become apparent in recent weeks that, while there is a degree of unhappiness – and arguably a greater degree of misunderstanding – over disciplinary procedures, nobody has volunteered a viable alternative that would satisfy FIFA's laws of the game.

"The Scottish FA is acutely aware that football dominates the national agenda in an era of instant information and it is my intention as chief executive to help implement measures that improve the speed and consistency of decision- making to everyone's satisfaction."