At the crossroads

Nov 19 2008 by Kevin Drinkell

REFEREES are in the news again – so what’s new?

This time they are threatening to seek police protection against what they see as aggressive behaviour from both managers and players. They believe that one of their members could suffer physical abuse in the not so distant future.

One ref, Colin Brown, who just happens to be a lawyer by day, has already pressed charges against a Berwick Rangers player and more actions are expected to come at an even higher level of the game.

The SFA, who control the referees, have asked Mr Brown to reconsider his stance, but the official is having none of it.

He insists that Gary Greenhill pushed him aggressively after being shown a red card during a recent match and that he feared for his safety.

Now we weren’t there, so it’s hard to make judgement, but if the player has been as violent as the ref is saying, then he deserves everything that might come to him. However, I am a little concerned as to where this might lead.

Relationships between players and officials are at an all time low and this incident will only serve to widen the gap.

Football is at a crossroads right now and we need to come to some understanding as to the best way forward if we are to save it.

Mega bucks owners, TV monopolies, refereeing standards and the use of technology as well as a lack of respect shown by overpaid players are just some of the topics that are detracting from the sport that they call “the people’s game”.

We need to come together and address all of these problems before the fans on the terraces abandon us and look for a different form of entertainment.