Walkaway referee bleats at SFA

Whinging Charlie Richmond has slammed the SFA after quitting as a referee.

The 43-year-old has been on the SFA senior list since 2006 but after falling behind the younger breed of emerging referees has decided to go public with his criticism of the SFA.

Richmond missed out on any SPL appointments last season but worked his way back into favour this term but can probably blame his abysmal performance in November at the Motherwell v Celtic match in November for being bumped out of the limelight.

Several early bone crunching challenges from Keith Lasley and Steve Jennings were ignored before Tim Clancy was given a red card for a much less obvious foul on Anthony Stokes.

Richmond has been given just two more SPL matches since his Fir Park shocker and has decided to chuck it after being overlooked from the high profile televised games.

Speaking to The Sun he said: “My close friends and family know I’ve been unhappy for the last 18 months.

“It sounds terrible but I was looking for an opportunity. Apparently I don’t suck up to the right people.

“Ability has to be there but if you move in the right circles you get the rewards.

“There will be people who walk over the top of others and people who say the right things to get to where they want.

“A few years ago Hugh Dallas told me it was just as important to promote yourself in refereeing as it was in any profession or pursuit.

“Promotion as a referee should depend solely on performance on the park.”

Richmond is expected to join the expanding number of former referees on the after dinner circuit with SFA chief executive Stewart Regan tweeting: “Would prefer to see consistent under performers ‘retire’ without feeling need to blame others.”

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