The SFU condemns the threats and abuse directed at our referees

No matter what you think of their decisions, our referees are human beings, with lives to live, families to protect and jobs to do and they simply must not be subjected to unaccepable threats and intimidation.

The SFU is working with the SFA referees to help them recruit and retain more officials. We have real expertise in this area and are happy to help. Without referees we don’t have a game and we need more officials at every level of Scottish football. Youngsters sometimes can’t get to play simply because of a shortage of referees.  Given the levels of abuse right down to the youngest levels of the game, this is, sadly, unsurprising but until we as fans, parents, clubs and players – and especially the media – stop treating referees as human punchbags, nothing will change. With today’s shocking news, not only must personal abuse and threats to referees stop, it is also time for us all to decide if we are going to be part of the problem or part of the solution. 

Stuart Murphy, CEO, The Scottish Football Union