Ian Maxwell has killed off the Daily Record claim that Celtic are pushing to introduce foreign referees to Scottish football.
The SFA chief executive hosted a meeting on Monday at which all Premiership clubs were represented with referees and disciplinary matters top of the agenda.
On Wednesday morning the Daily Record claimed that during the meeting Celtic proposed that the SFA investigate bringing in match officials from outside of Scotland for next season.
Throughout the day the idea was trashed on social media by pundits and former players with the idea clearly taking root that Celtic were undermining match officials. The referee union even got in on the act producing a statement responding to the speculation.
Yesterday, Craig Levein, who attended the meeting, revealed that foreign referees wasn’t discussed with Maxwell confirming it today.
“Our match officials are highly respected at Fifa and Uefa level,” the SFA chief told BBC Scotland.
“I am acutely aware that changes implemented in the summer – changes that had input from and were approved by the judicial panel working group comprising Scottish FA and SPFL staff, club, players’, managers’ and referees’ representatives – have subsequently caused some confusion and uncertainty.
“For the avoidance of doubt, however, at no point during Monday’s meeting did any discussion take place on referees from outwith Scotland, nor will the Scottish FA countenance such a notion.”
Celtic haven’t made any comment on being linked with the move for foreign referees by the Daily Record.