Referees have been forced into taking strike action due to online criticism and rule changes according to Stuart Dougal.
The former Grade One referee has been vying with Kenny Clark to become the unofficial mouth-piece for refs since Hugh Dallas was forced into retreat.
Dougal has had a long running grudge against the SFA since Neil Lennon was ‘only’ handed a two match ban for arguing with Dougal after a 3-1 defeat to Rangers in August 2005.
Lennon turned up to defend himself alongside SPFA chief Fraser Wishart and a lawyer and got handed a two match ban whilst Dougal and others were lobbying for a three month ban or more for the Celtic skipper.
Speaking to the Daily Record today the simmering anger that Dougal has been nursing spills out.
He claimed: “It has got to the stage where the pressure has become intolerable.
“It seems a story is coming out about referees, whether it be individuals or as a group, almost every day now.
“It is just adding more and more pressure and, as I have been led to understand it, they have just had enough
“With the fanzines and abuse they take from fans online and, of course, the more serious threats, enough is now enough.
“Don’t be fooled for one second into thinking referees do not feel, or are immune to the criticism within the game.
“If they make a mistake they expect it and take it, but the recent goings-on have taken things too far. There are pressures on everyone within the game and referees know the pressures which are on managers and players.
“But there is a situation where referees are now being placed in personal danger.”
If any referee has been placed in personal danger it’s surely a police matter rather than a point scoring exercise for Dougal to speculate over in a newspaper.
Spin that Steven Craven was forced out by threats to his family were firmly denied when the former assistant revealed exactly what went on following the Dundee United-Celtic match last month.
Dougal’s own refereeing career ended in controversy when he retired a week ahead of schedule after it was revealed that he’d be making an after-dinner speaking engagement at a Larkhall masonic club.
In his last top flight match he was forced to retrospectively reverse red card’s given to Charlie Mulgrew and Rangers Madjid Bougherra.
Rent-a-quote Dougal added: “My main concern is we are going to lose the top referees that we’ve got.
“Listen, referees have had criticism for years. Referees are big boys. They are strong people and they can handle and accept the honest criticism. But this has gone too far and there is also the extra demands which have been placed upon officials.
“Officials are now asking: Do I need this?
“People point the finger and say the pay and the rewards are good if you do an SPL game most weeks but some amount of baggage comes with it.
“You are taking verbal abuse non-stop and there are so many new rules that have placed refs under more pressure and the scrutiny is incredible.
“But it is now going too far and a stance has been taken.”
SPL referees are paid £800 plus expenses per match which is more than some players receive in a week.
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Is this the same Dougal who is married to an East Kilbride schoolteacher..?
If so I allege at least 1 class of pupils know where his allegance lies.. and it ain’t Pollok Juniors
Anyone confirm?