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METALMAN

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Fixtures in Scotland face possible postponement next weekend after Category One referees voted to strike.

Scottish match officials are upset with the avalanche of criticism that has come their way this season.

The decision to take strike action was reached at a referees' union meeting held on Sunday afternoon.

There are six Scottish Premier League games scheduled for next weekend. There is also a full card in the Scottish Football League.

SPL leaders Rangers are due to face Dundee United on Sunday, while nearest challengers Celtic are at home to Inverness on Saturday.

The ALBA Challenge Cup final between Queen of the South and Ross County at McDiarmid Park is under threat, as are any Scottish Cup replays.

BBC Scotland has learned that officials are concerned that their integrity is constantly being questioned and there are increasing fears over personal safety as a result of public criticism from managers and the media.

Scottish Premier League referees planned to strike over pay in 2008 but the threat was lifted when a review was set up to study their wage demands.

There were also rumblings of discontent last season, with head of referee development Hugh Dallas clashing with then-Motherwell boss Jim Gannon and accusing him of undermining the confidence of officials with his repeated criticism.

Last month, Hamilton manager Billy Reid warned that he would understand if referees were to refuse to officiate because of the excessive criticism directed at them.

On Thursday, Celtic chairman John Reid called for the resignation of referee Dougie McDonald, saying "his position is completely untenable" after he was warned by the Scottish Football Association for lying about his reasons for overturning a penalty award.

In the wake of McDonald's admission of deception, SFA chief executive Stewart Regan has promised an overhaul of how referees are disciplined.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon was critical of the McDonald episode and has since questioned refereeing decisions after defeats to Rangers and Hearts.

And Celtic striker Gary Hooper caused a storm when he said the thought referees "want" to give decisions against his team because they are one of the world's big clubs.

Politicians have also been getting in on the act, with SNP sport spokesman Pete Wishart calling for referees to be forced to declare which team they support.

The SFA are not commenting on the matter, with a spokesman saying they have not had any official notification of the planned strike.

A source at the SPL told BBC Scotland: "This is a matter for the SFA and the referees. The SFA have a contract to provide us with officials and we expect them to honour that."

In December 2008, SPL managers jointly agreed to refrain from speaking about refereeing decisions after matches. However, the experiment was short-lived.

Referees in Scotland have voted to strike next weekend, putting the entire SPL programme at risk, according to Sky Sports sources.

The referees Union north of the border has voted for the action, following a constant barrage of criticism.

The issue has stemmed from referee Dougie McDonald's decision to over-turn a penalty decision against Celtic in their game at Dundee United.

McDonald later admitted to lying about the reason behind his decision and was warned by the Scottish Football Association.

Earlier this week Celtic chairman John Reid called for McDonald to resign, claiming his position had become 'completely untenable'.

Following McDonald's admission of deception, SFA chief executive Stewart Regan has promised an overhaul of how referees are disciplined.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon was also critical of McDonald episode and has since questioned refereeing decisions after their defeats to Rangers and Hearts.

The decision to take strike action was reached at a referees' union meeting held on Sunday afternoon.

There are six Scottish Premier League scheduled for next weekend. There is also a full card in the Scottish Football League.

The ALBA Challenge Cup final between Queen of the South and Ross County at McDiarmid Park is also under threat, as will any Scottish Cup replays.

BBC Scotland has learned that officials are concerned that their integrity is constantly being questioned and there are increasing fears over personal safety as a result of public criticism from managers and the media.

Scottish Premier League referees threatened to strike over pay in 2008 but the threat was lifted when a review was set up to study their wage demands.

There were also rumblings of discontent last season, with head of referee development Hugh Dallas clashing with then-Motherwell boss Jim Gannon and accusing him of undermining the confidence of officials with his repeated criticism.

Last month, Hamilton manager Billy Reid warned that he would understand if referees were to refuse to officiate because of the excessive criticism directed at them.

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Yeah, because it was Lennon who undermined their integrity by purposefully lying to - oh wait.

Like metalman said, scottish refs are fucking useless. Celtics recent whining has brought things to a head, but it's nowhere near entirely down to Celtic. The constant paranoia about refs favouring Celtic and Rangers has been going on for years, decades, its only recently that anything close to proof has come up and now the refs are shitting themselves.

I wish they would get foreign refs in, it would sort out Celtics whining, and all of Rangers dodgy decisions too.

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Foreign referees would be amazing.

Still remember the I believe German referee from Hearts vs Dinamo Zagreb who was fantastic, best refereeing display I've ever seen live.

In a way I'm glad if it's this weeks games that are postponed as we're away at Motherwell and we can't beat Motherwell and I want this run of 2-0 wins to continue :shifty:

Edited by Cadj
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Well these foreign refs we have in surely can't be worse than what we usually have to endure.

I also hope one of them awards ICT a penalty in the last second for a foul outside the box (maybe a dive too?) against Celtic and he sends off a Celtic player and ICT go on to win.

Just to see what Neil Lennon would say about the refs.

Edited by Cadj
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The ref saga should be almost over now.

Polish referees pulled out so a few games (cup replays/Morton vs Falkirk) have been cancelled but here are the refs:

The Luxemburg Fifa-listed official Alain Hamer will preside over games for both halves of the Old Firm, Celtic v Inverness tomorrow and Rangers' visit to Tannadice on Sunday.

Hamilton's visit of St Mirren will be refereed by the Israeli Meir Levi, Portuguese official Cosme Machado takes charge of Hibernian v St Johnstone and Kilmarnock v Aberdeen is officiated by another Israeli, Eli Hachman.

Hearts' visit to Motherwell on Sunday, which like the Rangers match will be televised live, will be refereed by João Ferreria of Portugal

I bet João Ferreria will be better than who would have got if the refs weren't on strike.

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