08 Apr 2021 19:36:07
I seen Jim Goodwin on the TV suggesting that they should make our referees full time. He was saying that it would be a good job for ex players which makes a lot of sense having guys who actually played the game. Is that mad rule still in place that you need to have a responsible job like a teacher, lawyer etc before you can become a ref.

1.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 22:00:03
I never knew there was a rule cheers, though one of my daughters is a solicitor and works with a ref, who isn’t one of us.

2.) 08 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 22:01:30
I have never heard of that rule bud.

3.) 09 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 22:19:23
What a load of pish. Agree fulltime but ex footballers utter nonsense of the highest order. In no other sport is this a thing. Tennis, Boxing, Rugby, Baseball etc etc does not happen. What does ex player mean, i'm an ex player of some sort, were all ex players to some extent. Can you see top pros refereeing games NO chance or it would have happened by now. Refereeing at a high level requires fitness, training/ education, practise/ experience and the correct calibre of person, nothing to do with having played the game as a pro. Goodwin is just trying to put pressure on the refs to gain an advantage.

4.) 09 Apr 2021
08 Apr 2021 22:51:31
Kenny Clarke who used to referee was my lawyer years ago and he was a Tim. I'm positive that to become a ref you needed to have a certain high standing job but it must have changed because I just checked and it says nothing about that now to become a ref.

5.) 09 Apr 2021
09 Apr 2021 00:25:29
Dont think thTs true mate. surely discrimination to not let someone who has went through all the relevant training become s professional ref due to there job?

6.) 09 Apr 2021
09 Apr 2021 06:41:29
No that is 100% not a true statement. I know a ref/ linesman who is a joiner. Who he also knows other refs who are higher than him who also have normal jobs.

7.) 09 Apr 2021
09 Apr 2021 07:59:38
I did the SFA referee training 30+ years ago and started taking amateur games, under 16, under 18 games etc.
I was in the Renfrewshire referee association and started at same time as and a couple of other guys in their late teens/ early 20’s.
It was obvious early on that was the “chosen one” and he was fast tracked by the association. Other equally good referees were overlooked. A friend of mine in particular was a great referee and wanted to progress to take league games. He was a taxi driver, Craig a solicitor.
You don’t have to be a lawyer, doctor etc but it is such a clique that you rarely reach Grade 1 unless you are.

8.) 09 Apr 2021
09 Apr 2021 08:07:20
3 cheers, think you might have that wrong.

It’s pretty obvious that to qualify as a top class referee in Scotland you must have a high degree of incompetence, be half blind and not afraid to offend 1000’s of supporters every week.

{Ed001's Note - you could easily leave out "in Scotland".}

9.) 09 Apr 2021
09 Apr 2021 09:46:19
It's not a rule as such, maybe to be a top ref the SFA choose people in those professions but it's certainly not a rule.

10.) 09 Apr 2021
09 Apr 2021 14:41:56
The main problem is the Catholic/ Protestant thing in Scotland, other countries don't have to deal with the 'Bias Myth' like up here.

11.) 09 Apr 2021
09 Apr 2021 17:10:47
Stopping splitting the kids up in schools would be a huge step forward for scotland.