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YOU are the ref….?

Date: 14th February 2024

‘You are the Ref’ was a feature which appeared in a number of publications from the 1950s up to 2016. I first saw in Shoot magazine in the late 1960s and I subsequently discovered the illustrations that accompanied it were drawn by artist Paul Trevillion, better known as the illustrator of ‘Roy of the Rovers.’

If you follow us on social media (and if not, please do), you’ll have noticed that we have been sharing a lot of posts from the various Referees’ Associations across Scotland and from Ref Support UK, the biggest and most influential referees’ charity/group in the country. We also introduced a category for ‘Ref of the Year’ in our recent Fans Awards, as featured on the BBC’s ‘Off the Ball.’

Unsurprisingly, these posts attracted a few negative comments, along the usual lines. We are glad to say we also had a few positive comments from those who don’t think the entire refereeing system is a massive (apparently religiously-inspired) conspiracy. Having spent two years researching and writing a book about Scottish referees, I have to say that, while there was certainly anecdotal evidence of this in the past, I do not think it exists today. Almost all referees support a club and almost all of them, despite what fans think, have ‘played the game’ – often to a reasonable standard. In my experience, they are as mad keen on football as all the rest of us, but with one advantage: at the top level they get to see the players’ close-up – and they finish their careers able to dine out on fund of very funny stories about what it’s like to referee personalities like Neil Lennon, Ally McCoist, Gazza, Alex Ferguson, Jim McLean or Dick Campbell.

One thing that unites many fans during and after a game is how the referee and his or her assistants have performed. It’s always been thus and always will, but that doesn’t alter the fact that without the match officials we don’t have a game. Moreover, for all the accusations of partiality and bias by referees in favour of ‘their’ team, we need to remember that the vast majority of matches played every week in Scotland do not involve senior clubs. At every level, from schools upwards, games need referees.

The SFSA has over 80,000 members (an increase of 7,000 over 2023). Some will already be referees and know that by joining them you’ll get fitter and paid for your troubles, as well as making friends with other officials which will last a lifetime. We’d like to encourage some of you (whether you are young [minimum age is 16] or have just given up your own playing days, even if it was a few years ago), to get in touch with your local Association and find out more. You can find out the contact details of each association and more information about becoming a referee here. And, if you do qualify and take up a whistle, please let us know how you get on. In some areas of Scotland there is a shortage of referees. Our country’s national sport needs you!

Alastair Blair
Director of Operations, SFSA


Posted in: Latest News, Refereeing

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