Sad Strachan defends Hugh Dallas
The former FIFA referee was sacked by the SFA after it emerged that he had sent out abusive emails at the time of the Pope’s visit to Scotland.
Speaking to his friends at the Daily Record Strachan said: “At the time of the Hugh Dallas sacking I read an article from Jim Traynor who said the only thing to be offended about was the fact it was making fun of child abuse. Jim was right.
“But it was made out that Hugh was guilty of attacking a certain religion and I couldn’t get my head around that. How many of us have had questionable emails sent to us?
“I get them from my brother-in-law all the time, there’s something to offend everybody but it’s meant as a joke. You can’t stop that.
“What about when Frankie Boyle is on TV having a pop at everybody and everything? What’s the difference?”
The difference is that Boyle is an individual. Dallas was in a responsible position at the SFA, a body that claims to be inclusive and which receives generous public funding.
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Strachan added: “When I spoke to Hugh he was trying to explain himself to me. I told him there was no need – I’ve lived up there, I know what it’s like. He was telling me personal stuff and trying to make it clear he was not a bigot.
“But that’s the way we are now, everyone is so scared of being branded something or other that we have to explain ourselves even when we have done nothing wrong.
“The problem is that the zealots had taken control of the situation. Hugh was having to answer to them.
“I contacted Hugh to offer my support and sympathy because he was a victim of this mob mentality. People wanted to get him. I think he’s a good man.
“I didn’t have contact with him much when he was refereeing, although I met him at a game and he was full of self-importance. But maybe you need to be like that as a referee.
“He was trying to do a good job for the SFA. If he had got the sack for trying to cover up what happened up at Tannadice I wouldn’t have had a problem with it, although it would have been harsh.
“But to be sacked over that email? Ridiculous.”
Strachan has strong views on the ned culture that most people with sympathise with and support.
Had Dallas sent out abusive emails about Muslims or Jews he’d probably have been sacked instantly.
Sadly the delay in the SFA taking action and the sympathy of Strachan and others for Dallas reveals much more about Scottish society than the actions of the former Head of Refereeing.
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