Scots refs could be ditched for Euro tournaments under new UEFA plans

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http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/f...fa-axe-1294130

 

 

Scots refs could be ditched for Euro tournaments under new UEFA plans

 

MICHEL PLATINI announced ahe wants all of Europe to follow the lead set by Italyâ??s Serie A and introduce additional assistant refs for all top-flight games.

Scottish whistler Calum Murray Scottish whistler Calum Murray

 

SCOTLANDâ??S top refs were dealt a hammer blow here in Monaco yesterday.

 

Michel Platini threatened to have them blackballed from officiating in any European competitions â?? possibly as soon as next season.

 

The UEFA boss announced at a breakfast time briefing that he wants all of Europe to follow the lead set by Italyâ??s Serie A and introduce additional assistant refs for all top-flight games.

 

And Frenchman Platini warned ominously that any nation which fails to follow his command could find their best whistlers being frozen out.

 

The move is seen by many here as a deliberate ploy to escalate a running feud between Platini and his nemesis at FIFA, Sepp Blatter whoâ??s backed the introduction of goal-line technology.

 

But Platini remains against the introduction of any such new fangled practices â?? and is sticking firmly to his belief that teams of five officials is the best way forward.

 

And itâ??s Scotlandâ??s leading refs who could be among the innocents caught up in the crossfire.

 

While Europeâ??s big four â?? Italy, England, Spain and Germany â?? have enough officials and the cash required to meet Platiniâ??s demands, the SFA will struggle to make the numbers work just as readily.

 

Platini said: â??Weâ??ve decided we should suggest additional assistant referees is the system we want and we are trying to show the national associations itâ??s a good idea.

 

â??Serie A in Italy has started and they are happy with it.

 

â??Some associations will take longer than others. But if they want to have referees in big European competitions weâ??ll give priority to those from associations who are implementing the system so there is understanding among the team of five referees. It is not a threat but we can give advice.â?

 

After Record Sport informed the SFA of Platiniâ??s threat they issued the following statement.

 

It read: â??The Scottish FA invests significantly in referee recruitment and development in partnership with Specsavers.

 

â??This year, for the first time ever, we have two FIFA Elite Referees in Willie Collum and Craig Thomson, both of whom represented Scotland at the recent European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

 

â??Weâ??re delighted our referee development programme has been recognised in this way by FIFA and, through our involvement with the International Football Association Board, the Scottish FA has also been at the forefront of discussions on the additional assistant referee pilot and Goal Line Technology.

 

â??We would welcome any assistance from UEFA in enhancing our referee development programme.â?