28 Jan 2022 12:08:01
Good afternoon guys.
I'm wondering if some of you more enlightened and knowledgeable posters (Buzz? / Ed) can help me with some questions I have.
How do referees get to the top in Scotland?
Do they sit exams both practical and theoretical?
Do they get elected by their peers?
Are any experienced football people like ex managers and players involved in the process?
When they reach the top, how do they stay there? Are they awarded marks for the games they referee? If so who marks them?
Are they like lawyers insofar as they 'police' themselves and their performances or are any non refereeing football people involved in the process.
I'm seriously interested in your answers because I firmly believe that the standard of Scottish referring is pretty bad and that the only way to improve that will be to improve and modernise the system that elects then, as so far it seems to have been a load of duds who get themselves to the top.
I await serious responses eagerly.
?.


1.) 28 Jan 2022
28 Jan 2022 12:45:53
I’m not sure Harry.
My brother in law trained with the Lanarkshire referees years ago and he said it was extremely hard for Catholics to make it to a Grade One referee in Scotland.
My brother in law always sticks up for the Scottish referees and I thought it must be bad for him to mention that.


2.) 28 Jan 2022
28 Jan 2022 13:32:20
@HarryHoodini it also helps if you are called Dallas and have a dad called Hugh Go straight to Grade One no experience required.


3.) 28 Jan 2022
28 Jan 2022 13:59:21
Hugh Dallas went straight to Grade One from amateur football and he was murder refereeing amateur games, I played in a couple of game when he reffed .


4.) 28 Jan 2022
28 Jan 2022 14:27:22
And you have mastered the handshake.


5.) 28 Jan 2022
28 Jan 2022 14:28:46
Watch Anyone but Celtic. Tells you all you need to know, being a Mason is a good start!


6.) 28 Jan 2022
28 Jan 2022 14:38:10
I don’t know what it was with Willie Collum because he was definitely the exception.
Willie Collum is OR was the Golden Boy and he’s a Roman Catholic.
I think Collum must be the only referee who made his referee debut in a Premier League match.
It make sense to start at the bottom but Willie was sent straight to the top.
And then in his first “Old Firm” match he gave the Old Rangers a penalty, with his back turned and that was before the technical equipment the officials use these days.


7.) 28 Jan 2022
28 Jan 2022 16:00:10
Willie Collum’s first ever senior match as a Scottish referee was -
Falkirk V Dunfermline in the Premier League on April 15th 2006.
After that match he was the referee in a foreign Under 17s tournament.
What was special about Collum because he’s always been hopeless and craved to be the centre of attention?