MX23RW : Sunday, May 5 03:38:51| >> :120:44078:44078:

Managers and referees attend SFA meeting in Scotland

Managers and referees attend SFA meeting in Scotland
© Reuters
The gathering was held in Perth on Thursday night.

The Scottish Football Association is hosting talks between referee representatives and Ladbrokes Premiership managers following a season of controversies.

SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell and compliance officer Clare Whyte were due to meet with managers at the gathering in Perth on Thursday night.

Press Association Sport understands the meeting was scheduled early last month, before Celtic called for the SFA to allow referee John Beaton to explain why he took no action against Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos following a series of derby incidents.

The likes of Rangers, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock have also been critical of the SFA disciplinary procedures and Hearts manager Craig Levein has been vocal about refereeing standards.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was hoping to get some clarity on certain items.

"It is good to communicate and I am sure there will be positive action afterwards," said Rodgers, who reiterated his backing for referees to move full-time.

"It is a very difficult job referees have but you are always looking to improve.

"Whether a coach, manager improving players, we want to try to help everyone be better so that communication between the managers and referees is important.

"I am sure it will be a really important meeting."

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard added: "We've had the invite, we respect that and I'll go along and listen to what's being said. If I'm asked what my opinion is on certain things then I'll give it."

Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes hoped the meeting would be a watershed moment.

"We were quick to support it and hopefully we can get a positive outcome on a lot of aspects," he said.

"Hopefully there is a wee bit more clarity about the procedures and how a lot of decisions are made and how they get to that outcome.

"Hopefully we can stop having too much debate about referees and the whole procedure part of it.

"We have an obligation to respect authority but I do think the authorities have to help managers and the game itself and referees to have more common sense to everything."

Dundee boss Jim McIntyre also felt the meeting would be important.

"It's always good to have communication with the referees and you can air a few things that you feel have maybe gone against you and see what the process of the decision was behind it," he added.

"Because nearly every club will have been in an appeal process this year and you would like to know how decisions have been made."

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke had made other plans before receiving an invitation but he hopes the meeting leads to fruitful change.

"More clarity, a better structure, and a good understanding between everybody in the game," he said when asked what he wanted out of it.

"There is a lot of good people in that meeting and hopefully they can find a good way forward.

"It might not be immediate, it might be a slow process but somewhere along the line the referees have to go full time and that will improve the decision-making and, if you can add VAR to that, you will have a much better game and a much better product."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'bd226393-87e0-469a-bc95-d4bacb6cb65e');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Managers and referees attend SFA meeting in Scotland'});

ID:347115: cacheID:347115:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5921:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jordan Jones in action for Kilmarnock on May 5, 2018
Read Next:
If Kilmarnock fans boo Jordan Jones then they are booing me – Steve Clarke
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic220085275884
2RangersRangers110074245078
3Hearts20114637963
4Kilmarnock10104334952
5St Mirren21014246-446
6Dundee20024659-1341
Relegation Group
1Hibernian21014854-642
2Aberdeen22003749-1241
3Motherwell21015053-340
4Ross County21013459-2533
5St Johnstone20022550-2531
RLivingston21012563-3821
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!