A really good guy- Martindale jumps to defend ousted Allan against online criticism

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.