The referees, currently paid £575 per game are looking for an increased fee of £800 rising to £1,000 per match, to put them on par with the fees paid to their professional colleagues in the top flight in England. Talks between the referees, the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football Association have been ongoing over the summer and yesterdays meeting in Grangemouth failed to reach any agreement - the SFA has offered £600 per game. If no agreement is reached, the Scottish Referees’ Association, the body that represents referees across Scotland has not ruled out strike action ahead of Saturday's SPL kick-off. The discussions do not affect referees in the Scottish Football League; a deal worth £195 a game was agreed earlier this year.
There's no doubt that a referees life is not an easy one - just ask Mike McCurrie or Les Mottram. As the amount of money in the game increases, pressure on referees to make correct decisions is no longer a matter of three points won or lost, a wrong decision could potentially cost a team hundreds of thousands of pounds.
But without insight into the justification for the increase in fees, the mind boggles at the demands before the football authorities. The wage increase demanded is nothing short of piracy, but given the greed being shown in the game these days (the Old Firm are proposing charging SPL clubs a 5% 'administration fee' on every ticket they sell to their own fans to attend away matches, a move that could result in significant losses to SPL clubs playing Old Firm opposition at home) the move is not surprising - referees are just getting in on the act.
Should they be successful in their campaign for a 74% pay increase - an increase well above the inflation rate - the average referee (assuming he officiates four top games per month) would be paid more than a police constable with fifteen years service. And let's not forget that being a referee is a part-time job.
Let's hope the action fails so that the money saved in not meeting the demands can be put towards addressing the real issue: the indiscipline and lack of respect for referees in the game. This should be dealt with at club and association level, and not by holding Scottish football to ransom. Failing to address these issues and giving in to the demands is not fixing the problem, merely applying a plaster to hide the wounds.
As much as I think referees deserve to be paid a fee that makes it worth their while having the job, I think it's totally inappropriate that they should be paid more than an experienced police constable.
ReplyDeleteI've nothing against referees - in fact I think football players' salaries are obscene too... even more so.
It's a joke that they are asking for a 40% pay rise. Who else in their job would really expect such an increase?
ReplyDeleteFair enough they have a tough job but, until referees in Scotland can start showing better judgement on the field, I think we should tell them to swivel for an increase.
http://dundeeunitedfc.blogspot.com/
It's actually more, it's 74% - I was always shite at arithmetic. Thats the sort of rate increases that would have the mafia blushing. Honestly, I'm thinking of becoming a referee if that's the rates they're getting paid. It can't be that hard surely. I do think they come in for a lot of stick and I don't envy their jobs, but come on lads, lets calm down here. I think the problem about player indiscipline (not to mention looper managers :-) ) needs to be addressed so that referees feel a bit safer from the players, managers and the press.
ReplyDeleteSo, Dundee United for fourth this year?
74%!? Christ, where do I sign up?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think we can get fourth. Third, I think, will be a bit of a push, but a lot of our fans seem to think we can do it. We shall see.
I just hope to see a little more progress from United this year.
Oh and cheers for putting the link up!
It's a ludicrous pay rise that they're asking for. Problem is football is now such a falsely inflated business that everyone associated wants a bigger piece of the pie.
ReplyDeleteI think a deal needs to be done though. That wasn't my first reaction. But now I just think the SPL is such a joke that a delayed start would ruin any chance of rebuilding our credibility.
I'm still not sure *why* the refs are asking for more money. Inflation? Increased food or petrol prices? The rising interest rates putting their homes at risk? I do agree through, the season needs to start on time to avoid all that fixture pile-up that sank Rangers, allegedly.
ReplyDelete