Refs’ chief Hugh Dallas tells whistlers to crackdown on shirt pulling

Hugh Dallas will inform Scotland’s referees to award penalty after penalty this season, if they spot shirt pulling in the box. The SFA referee chief is at the front of a new zero-tolerance crackdown that aims to finally stop the tugging of shirts at free kicks and corners. In the past two seasons, clubs were [...]

Hearts hit with record £60,000 fine

Hearts have once again been hit with a fine for poor discipline, but after topping the disciplinary table for the sixth consecutive year, the Tynecastle side have been hit with a record £60,000 fine. The SFA have ordered Jim Jefferies side to pay £50,000 within 30 days, with the remaining £10,000 suspended until January. Since [...]

Changes to the Red Card appeals process

It has been reported in the media that from next season onwards, players who challenge red card decisions may see their suspensions increased if the appeal is ruled to be frivolous. The SFA want to stop clubs using the system to make sure they have key players available for specific games, and this decision comes [...]

St. Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown enters into referee war of words

St. Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown has entered into the war between Celtic and the SFA, saying that there is no agenda against the Parkhead side from Scottish referees. However Brown has launched his own attack on the whistlers, stating that his club and others like it – provincial clubs – have never seen a questionable [...]

Conspiracy nonsense tarnishes Celtic’s image

First of all, there is absolutely no refereeing conspiracy behind Rangers’ 10 point gap at the top of the SPL. The notion among Celtic fans that the referees and the SFA have come together to “allow” cash-stricken Rangers a place in the Champions League so they can claim the prize money on offer to help [...]

Lisbon Lion Billy McNeill claims referees have favoured Rangers for 50 years

Celtic legend Billy McNeill has claimed that referees in Scotland have favoured rival Rangers for 50 years. The Old Firm derby on Sunday was overshadowed by Celtic’s claim, that they were aggrieved by decisions they beliebe had goneagainst them this season, including the first two Old Firm derby games of the season. The controversy was [...]

Are Celtic now believing their fans paranoid conspiracy theories?

In the next issue of our Scottish Football fanzine The 12th Man , we take a look at the campaign set up by Celtic fans who believe that the establishment, comprising of the SFA, referees and anyone else linked with Scottish Football are trying to aid Rangers in securing a second SPL title to help [...]

Walter Smith defends Lafferty on ‘leg breaking’ tackle

Rangers manager Walter Smith has came out in defence of his forward Kyle Lafferty after much criticism over the Northern Irishman’s studs-high challenge on Andreas Hinkel in the Old Firm derby on Sunday. Lafferty was shown a yellow card for the tackle during the 1-1 draw at Parkhead by referee Steve Conroy, despite fans, commentators [...]

The Long Ball: Referees close to strike, Alexander considers future, Pedersen to Celtic? & Burley eyes return to management

After an enforced absence The Long Ball is back. Rangers’ Neil Alexander considers his future at the Ibrox club, Morten Gamst Pedersen considers a move to Celtic. Former whistler Stuart Dougal warns that Scotland’s whistlers are ready to go on strike over increasing criticism. Celtic snap up £2 million Korean ‘Gerrard’ and George Burley wants [...]

Scottish Referees to support campaign against domestic abuse

Scottish referees and linesmen – we refuse to use the term assistant referees – are to wear white ribbon badges this weekend during league and cup football matches, in support of a campaign against domestic violence. The decision to wear the ribbon marks the eginning of a campaign by Police forces to clampdown on domestic [...]

Police investigation launched after Official struck during Dunfermline match

Police have launched an investigation after an assistant referee was hit by an object thrown from the crowd at a football match. The object which was not identified, was hurled from the Dunfermline’s East Edn Par North West stand during the first half of the Co-op League Cup clash with Raith Rovers on Wednesday night.

UEFA give referees power to abandon games over Racist chanting

UEFA have approved new guidelines for match officials to deal with racist chants or other behaviour in stadiums which includes stopping the game. The new rules would allow the referee to first stop a match and issue a warning over the public address system requesting that the racist behaviour cease. If this did not work, [...]

SFA to explain refereeing decisions

The Scottish Football Association is to issue statements over controversial refereeing decisions in all domestic matches from the start of next season. An official will contact Hugh Dallas, the SFA’s head of referee development, on the day of the match to explain the decision that followed an incident. Dallas will, then review available footage before [...]

Mulgrew & Bougherra Red Cards overturned

Rangers’ Madjid Bougherra is free to play in Sunday’s league title decider as his red card against Aberdeen has been reduced to a yellow on appeal. The defender was sent off for a challenge on Dons goalkeeper Jamie Langfield in Rangers’ 2-1 win at Ibrox. The Scottish FA review panel have also reduced the red [...]

Match Officials announced for the SPL title show down

The match officials that will take charge of Sunday’s title deciders at Tannadice and Parkhead have been announced. Celtic v Hearts @ Parkhead Referee: Craig Thomson Linesman: Willie Dishington Linesman: Lawrence Kerrigan Fourth Official: Steve Conroy Dundee United v Rangers @ Tannadice Referee: Dougie McDonald Linesman: Stuart Macaulay Linesman:John Bicknall Fourth Official:Brian Winter

SFA have lost their faith in Mike McCurry as he is dropped

Mike McCurry’s career as a top class referee is over, after the SFA lost faith in the controversial whistler. The 44 year old has been omitted by the SFA from the list of senior officials for next season. McCurry has been a constant controversial figure in the past couple of seasons. Craig Levein’s comments about [...]

McCurry slams SFA for deliberately ignoring him

What? Who? McCurry, whose he? Controversial Referee Mike McCurry has allegedly accused the Scottish Football Association of ignoring him for the big games. McCurry has been at the centre of some of Scotland’s high profile controversies both on and off the field in the past year, but he believes that the SFA are ignoring him [...]

Former Jambo slams Tynecastle Con Men

Former Hearts Manager and current Dundee United boss Craig Levein has launched an attack on Hearts for their time-wasting tactics used in Saturday’s game at Tannadice. Levein was far from impressed with his former side, for feigning injury throughout the game, labelling David Obua as the main culprit. After watching a replay of the match, [...]

Next Page »

Scotzine Latest

• The United Nations of the Scottish Premier League
• First Round Draw of the Scottish Cup
• The Lasting Effects of the Manchester UEFA Cup Final 2008 Riots – can we blame them?
• Scottish Women’s Premier League Sunday Preview
• Co-operative Insurance League Cup Third Round Draw