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Polish Referees Pull Out Of Scottish Games

Tomorrow’s fixtures in the Scottish Premier League are once again under threat after Polish referees withdrew from plans to referee the games.

The SFA had arranged for officials to travel from Poland and believed that 11 of tomorrow’s 20 games in the SPL and Scottish League could go ahead, but the Poles have withdrawn from the plans after the Polish FA, the PZPN, told the SFA that the officials are required for games in Poland.

It is believed that SFA contacted officials in a number of European countries earlier this week but officials from Holland, Iceland, Ireland, Wales, Sweden and Estonia have all withdrawn their support for the plan. Around 11 games were said to have been saved: all six SPL games, one Division One games, three Scottish Cup replays and the Alba Challenge Cup Final, but nine games in Divisions One, Two and Three had all been lost, but the Polish move has now put those games under threat once again.

The referees are striking in protest at criticism from clubs saying their integrity is constantly questioned.

November 26, 2010 | Comments Off | Read More »

Scottish Referees Vote To Go On Strike

Fixtures in the SPL and the Scottish Football League look set to be postponed next weekend after referees in Scotland voted to go on strike.

The decision to strike was taken by Category One referees yesterday afternoon. The decision is said to be almost unanimous with only two of the 33 referees voting against the proposal. All ten of the Category Two officials voted in favour of the strike.

Match officials in Scotland are said to be unhappy about the amount of criticism they have to take both from clubs and from members of the public. Referees have reported that they have faced abuse in the street while some report that abusive emails have been sent to their workplaces.

The decision will affect six SPL games next weekend plus a programme of Scottish League games and the Alba Challenge Cup Final between Queen Of The South and Ross County.

The furore began in the wake of a decision by referee Dougie McDonald first to award Celtic a penalty in their game with Dundee United and then to rescind that decision. McDonald later lied to the Scottish Football Association over his reasons for overturning the penalty award. On Thursday Celtic chairman John Reid called for McDonald to be sacked.

The strike decision has received a mixed reaction. Motherwell boss Craig Brown told the BBC that it was “a radical course of action, a step too far,” while Kilmarnock boss Mixu Paatelainen warned “there has been too much talk of referees and I don’t think that’s healthy.”

November 22, 2010 | Comments Off | Read More »

Dundee Go Into Administration

Dundee Need To Save £80,000 In Wages

Scottish First Division side Dundee have gone into administration for the second time in seven years. Papers were lodged at the Court of Session in Edinburgh today and Bryan Jackson of administrators PKF will now assume control of the Club.

Mr Jackson will tomorrow inform staff who are to be made redundant with team manager Gordon Chisholm and his assistant Billy Dodds are among those who could lose their jobs.

The 117-year-old club has debts of around £2 million and the administrators have said they want to make wage savings of £80,000. A tax bill of £365,000 is due to be paid later this month and although investor Calum Melville has paid £200,000 into the club’s lawyers’ bank account it is believed the club needs a further £200,000 of investment to see out the rest of the season. Local businesses have pledged around half that amount.

It is thought that the club go out of business in as little as four weeks time if new investors aren’t found.

October 14, 2010 | Comments Off | Read More »

Scotland’s 4-6-0 Formation Fails To Prevent Defeat

Levein Defends Scotland Tactics

Scotland’s 4-6-0 Formation Fails To Prevent Defeat

Scotland manager Craig Levein has defender the defensive tactics used by his side last night as they went down to a 1-0 defeat to the Czech Republic in last night’s Euro 2012 qualifier.

The Scots played a 4-6-0 without an out-and-out striker and although a debut was given to QPR striker Jamie Mackie he played wide on the right, tactics Levein hoped might catch the Czechs on the break.

“I was happy with it,” said Levein.”I picked a system that I thought was working very well.

“We lost a goal to a set-piece, but I can’t fault the lads for what we did tonight. We restricted them for the majority of the game.”

The Czechs won thanks to a Hubnik header 20 minutes from time from a corner by Arsenal’s Tomas Rosicky.

“The whole game plan wasn’t to lose a goal and, when we lose a goal, it all changes, of course.

“We lost a goal to a set-piece, which generally we are good at defending, but I think we had some pretty good performances out there.

“A lot of hard work went into the performance tonight and I can’t fault them.”

The Scots have four points from their opening three games in their qualifying group and face Spain at Hampden in their next game on Tuesday.

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October 9, 2010 | Comments Off | Read More »

Scotland v Liechtenstein Team News

Scotland Team News

Kris Boyd, James McFadden and Lee Wallace will return to the Scotland team for Tuesday’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Liechtenstein, the first time the two countries have ever met.

Wallace replaces the injured Steven Whittaker at left-back after the Rangers man failed to recover from a calf strain picked up in the goalless draw in Lithuania on Friday.

Boyd and McFadden will come in for Steven Naismith and Barry Robson.

Wolves striker Steven Fletcher has been struggling with a foot injury and stayed behind while the rest of the squad headed for Lithuania and it remains to be seen if he makes the subs’ bench tonight.

Goalkeeper David Marshall has an elbow problem, and Everton’s Iain Turner has been called up as a replacement. Turner or Blackpool’s Matt Gilks will be named as substitute goalkeeper with Rangers’ Allan McGregor expected to start.

Liechtenstein Team News

Liechtenstein are expected to have Lucas Eberle and Yves Oehri despite both being taken off with injuries in their 4-0 home defeat by Spain on Friday.

“It will be important to survive their early attacks,” said coach Bidu Zaugg.

“I am convinced that if we succeed in doing that we will get space and chances to attack ourselves.”