The SFA are looking to appoint two OUTSIDERS to replace Crawford Allan.
Yesterday the SFA announced that their Head of Refereeing would be leaving at the end of the season but a report in the Daily Mail claims that he was forced out following a vote of no confidence among Premiership clubs.
Allan was appointed to the job in January 2020 just before the pandemic and as two remarkable runs of penalties being awarded against the club from Ibrox kicked off.
On the day that his departure was announced just two SPFL penalties has been awarded against the Ibrox club in their last 85 matches.
In a recent report the SFA claimed that Kilmarnock’s January 2 penalty at Ibrox shouldn’t have been awarded but that Steven Kirkland should have told the match referee to review penalties awarded against Livingston and Dundee that allowed Tavpen to score.
Allan came through the ranks in Scotland to reach the well paid job at Hampden, the same route as his predecessors John Fleming and Hugh Dallas.
With Scottish referees repeatedly ignored by UEFA for top fixtures the SFA are reported to be ready to break with tradition and make two appointments from outside to take charge of all refereeing issues.
The Daily Mail reports:
Mail Sport understands the SFA will investigate appointing a head of VAR to work in tandem with the position that’s being vacated.
Although the issue may be decided by budgetary restraints, the SFA are believed to be concerned that the remit of the current role is proving too demanding.
It’s likely one or both positions will be filled by suitable people without any prior connection to Scottish football. Since being introduced to Scottish football in October 2022, VAR has rarely been out of the spotlight, with many observers questioning the benefit brought to the game.
Complaints have ranged from a negative spectator experience to the fact that officials are still getting many key decisions wrong.
The appointment of an outsider on merit would be a crushing blow to Bobby Madden who has been positioning himself to take over from Allan for two years.
Soon after a horrendous performance in Celtic’s 2022 Scottish Cup semi-final defeat the East Kilbride based official announced that he was leaving for English football.
Judged on merit he never got further than League One, denied the limelight he decided to quit after one season and return to the welcoming arms of the Scottish media where he competes with Steve Conroy as the go-to for refereeing decisions.
With an Instagram account generally agreeing with complaints from Celtic fans and regular appearances with Kenny Macintyre on Sportsound Madden has been working hard to ditch his well deserved reputation as a fan of all things Ibrox.
The appointment of two outsiders by the SFA could break the dominance of the Lanarkshire Refereeing Association which ensures that aspiring referees from Bellshill, Wishaw and Harthill are more likely to reach Grade 1 than referees from Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen.
CLICK HERE for the incredible Crawford Allan penalty stats.
Crawford Allan started as head of refs Jan 2020.
This coincides precisely with Rangers’ two incredible back to back runs of 44 & 75 league games without conceding a penalty starting January 2020 to January 2024. https://t.co/04z4zxwX7Z
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) March 18, 2024
