John Fleming was aware of the sectarian, discriminatory and homophobic social media posts of Stephen Brown for FIVE YEARS as he promoted him through the refereeing ranks!
The headline story from the Daily Mail concerns the posts and the dismissal of Brown but underneath it paints a very distressing picture of attitudes within the SFA.
In 2014 the posts were put before a Judicial Panel who felt that they warranted censure, Brown offered to resign but that was turned down by his local refereeing association.
Five years later as he closed in on being in charge of a fixture involving Neil Lennon Brown has been forced to stand down.
Providing a timeline the Daily Mail reports:
Written shortly before the Scottish FA sacked former referees chief Hugh Dallas for forwarding an offensive email concerning the Pope, the governing body were informed of Brown’s indiscretions in 2014 and the matter was referred to the Judicial Panel.
The independent panel issued only a censure following a disciplinary hearing and Brown’s immediate offer to resign was turned down by his local referee association. It’s understood the SFA were ‘surprised’ by the tribunal outcome but bound by the independent finding at the time.
Progressing through the refereeing ranks the official became eligible to officiate at games involving both Celtic and Rangers when he reached Category 1 status this summer.
But, under the governing body’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan the position of one of the rising stars of Scottish refereeing has effectively become untenable – with Chief Executive Ian Maxwell clear that the historic baggage would make it impossible for Brown to take charge of matches involving or with implications for the Old Firm.
The article highlights the decisive action taken by Maxwell, we can now look forward to seeing what follow up action the chief executive of the SFA takes.
Fleming, Head of Refereeing at the SFA, will have been well aware of Brown’s actions and decided to continually appoint him. His local refereeing association are comfortable with his opinions.
Brown may be gone but until Fleming clears his desk out and the entire refereeing structure is overturned Maxwell will be guilty by association.