After a fairly low key start to the season, ignoring Alan McGregor’s playacting in the Hibs-Rangers clash, Dallas couldn’t wait to go on record to congratulate himself and how well his officials had been performing.
One particular area that he was pleased with was the greater role being played by fourth officials in ensuring that justice is done.
Highlighting incidents at two of last week’s Co-Operative Cup ties Dallas boasted to the SFA website: “These incidents this week have highlighted the benefit of giving the fourth official greater responsibility during a match. It was made clear that video technology would not be used at this stage so I think it helps the referee to have some extra vigilance from the fourth official.
“You see it across the country now, fourth officials concentrating on the match action, and this is a positive development for the game.
“We will never be complacent – there will undoubtedly be incidents that are not seen or not acted on – but it is important everyone understands and acknowledges the benefit of the fourth officials’ new, more active role.
“It has required a change in mentality for the fourth officials. It is pleasing to see them willing to step forward and getting involved if they are convinced they had a better view of an incident or if they witnessed something the referee and his assistants did not.”
As Arthur Monford used to say ‘oh dear oh dear oh dear’.
If only Brian Winter and his fellow officials at Tannadice on Saturday at the Dundee United-St Johnstone match had been reading the words of their leader.
One man making a mistake is forgivable, when his two assistants and a fourth official are also unable to confirm whether Stevie Anderson had previously been booked it’s time to ask some serious questions about the overall competency of officials.
After talking Winter out of retirement it’s believed that he’ll be kept out of the spotlight in the coming weeks- away from the television cameras.
Perhaps Dallas should shoulder some responsibility and consider what sort of job he is doing with the standard of refereeing in Scotland falling season by season.
Supporters of Basel and Bayern Munich can look forward to their Champions League tie being refereed by Craig Thomson- the referee that Gannon referred to when highlighting the poor standards of refereeing.
If Thomson repeats the sort of decision making that he showed at Ibrox last October there will be no hiding place from the fans of Basel and Bayern.
The standing of Scottish referees in the eyes of UEFA and FIFA has never been lower- with Dallas calling the shots it’s going to be a long long time before another Scottish referee gets close to officiating at the World Cup or European Championships.
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You needn’t worry about Craig Thomson refereeing the Basel/Bayern game.
Just as long as Rangers aren’t involved there’s a decent chance he will referee the game evenhandedly.
If ever proof were needed that “jobs for the boys” rules at the SFA…..
Dallas has history when it comes to Celtic and the Dark Side….he should not be in this job…..
it’s a disgrace that he is….
end of………..
Does anyone else notice the startling resemblance of Hugh Dallas and The Trinity Killer from Dexter. Its uncanny.