David Martindale has jumped to the defence of Crawford Allan, claiming that the outgoing Head of Refereeing at the SFA is a really good guy.
The Livingston manager has spent four years in prison for drug dealing and money laundering.
Earlier this month the SFA announced that Allan was stepping down at the end of the season to pursue new opportunities, later that day the Daily Mail reported that Allan had been forced out following a vote of No Confidence from Premiership clubs with the operation of VAR at the top of the list of complaints.
Allan took up his job in January 2020, during his time in charge of refereeing the club from Ibrox has enjoyed runs of 64 and 75 consecutive SPFL matches without conceding a penalty.
Despite the campaign launched against Willie Collum, Allan, during a very rare media appearance, praised Philippe Clement for saying he had no issue with the Lanarkshire based official.
Collum hasn’t been allocated a match involving the Ibrox club in the last 12 rounds of fixtures, on Saturday David Dickinson will referee the match against Hibs- his third SPFL match involving his Uncle’s favourite team in nine weeks.
Defending the Head of refereeing, Martindale told the BBC Scotland website:
I think Crawford’s a really good guy. I think the way the game’s going, the abuse that players, officials, myself take – there’s a tipping point.
I think the abuse Crawford has received for doing his job is despicable, I don’t agree with it.
Social media is taking over the world. Every decision that happens on a Saturday or a midweek deflects on to Crawford and for me that’s really unfair.
After his performance in the Hearts v Celtic match at the start of the month Allan has rewarded Robertson by putting him in charge of Sunday’s match away to Livingston.
When it suits him Martindale actually quite likes social media.
Talking Football: Coaching & Management with @LiviFCOfficial Boss @Daviemar13 part 1 drops tomorrow at 10am across the Network.
Part 2 will be out Thursday.
You can see from the clip below what David thinks regarding comments on his post match interview on @ScotlandSky pic.twitter.com/hHRcqQic8G
— Battle Fever Network (@Battlefeverpod) August 1, 2022
I wouldn’t be placing any credence in a character reference from a creature who ruined countless lives and contributed to the deaths of many for his own personal profit and greed.
Drug dealers are the lowest of the low.
The convicted drug dealer – The convicted money launderer – And The head of a convicted organisation that cheats one of it’s clubs (Celtic) through ‘Dougie – Dougie gate’ (And Craven) v Dundee United…
Just another day at the office in good old Scottish Football then !
Aye Martindale knows a good DEAL alright, probably hoping he gets the favours from the MIB now .
Ha!
So BR makes a public, critical comment about a refreree and gets charged and banned.
Another manager – Martindale – makes strong, unfounded public,
[but complimetary] comments about not just a referee,
but the Head of Refereeing Operations…and nothing?
Martindale should be charged by the SFA for his public comments.
Or, are the SFA rules only applied to negative comments about match officiating…?
My simple thinking is that according to the SFA rules,
no manager can make ANY public comment about match officials, [& their boss?]
Reminds me of the end scene in GoodFellas….
“You know, we always called each other ‘good fellas’. Like you said to, uh, somebody, “You’re gonna like this guy. He’s all right. He’s a good fella, he’s one of us”.
It says it all that Martinjail would defend him. Aesop was quite accurate when he advised us to judge a man by the company he keeps!
No doubt wee Wink thinks Allan has a nice ‘ grip ‘ of a handshake too ?
I can’t remember martingale coming out to defend the refs when slippy g was having a go at rhem
If Martindale has evidence that the
“Abuse Crawford Has Received For Doing His Job”
is inappropriate then he should report it.
Otherwise he is just blowing hot air!
Looks like the ex pharmacist is hitting his own stock to think and dribble those comments.