SMITH challenges SFA to reveal who they think questioned integrity of refs
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WALTER SMITH has called on the SFA to name the club or clubs they feel have questioned the integrity of referees rather than tar everyone with the same brush.The Rangers manager has hit out after association chief executive Stewart Regan said he would write to every senior team in Scotland asking for them to back officials.
That infuriated Smith, who is adamant neither he nor anyone else at Ibrox has ever levelled any accusations of dishonesty at those taking charge of matches involving Gers.
This weekend's full SFL programme has been wiped out after Scottish referees went on strike in protest at the way they have been portrayed by some.
Assurances have been given that SPL games will take place as planned, with foreign whistlers set to be shipped in for the sake of ensuring fixtures are played.
They'll take place following six weeks of fall outs after Dougie McDonald gave Celtic a penalty against Dundee United at Tannadice then overruled himself.
And Smith, who seeks an end to the entire episode, insists if the SFA feel there are guilty parties for fuelling the debate, they must state who they are rather than skirt the issue.
The Ibrox boss said: "As it goes on, I must say things have started to become a bit muddled and fudged.
"The chief executive of the SFA mentioned yesterday they're going to send a letter to all clubs asking them to categorically state they wouldn't question the integrity of referees.
"I can only speak from a Rangers point of view and I don't feel that's a necessary thing for us to do.
"I don't think anybody at my club has questioned the integrity of referees. I certainly haven't.
"There would be no real need for him to send the letter and I'd be a little bit disappointed at that as they're trying to fudge an issue here.
"If they've got a problem with people they feel are questioning the integrity of referees, they should name those people.
"That's exactly what they should do instead of making it a criticism on a broad basis. Referees are out there to make decisions and sometimes we disagree with them.
"We go in and see them 15 minutes after the end of a game, express our disappointment at their decisions and we get their opinion.
"Occasionally it is made public but I would never question their integrity as to why they've made that decision.
"I've argued refereeing decisions and I think we should always have the right to do that because we are all under a level of scrutiny.
"Questioning the integrity of referees is a totally different thing. If they have a problem with one club, they have to name them or come up with evidence others have done it.
"If someone can do that then fair enough, we'll need to face it. From my own recollection, though, I can't ever recall doing that."
Smith admits the attention on Scotland's refereeing crisis from elsewhere has done nothing positive for the image of football in this country.
But he feels the depths it has reached can serve a purpose from the point of view it could lead to a more structured system which prevents officials enduring the abuse they have.
Smith maintains the issue should have been dealt with and put to bed some time ago, adding: "Yes, I don't think there's any doubt about that.
"If there's one good thing to come out of it all, it's that it may mean more severe measures are taken against managers who speak out - and I include myself in that.
"The issue has not done the game in Scotland any good, not at all, and it has been dragging on for far too long.
"It seems as though, for the last six to eight weeks, all we have been talking about is referees.
"It's bad enough that managers get the profile they do and people have to listen to us when, on the majority of occasions, we'd prefer to be talking about football players.
"This needs to come to an end. This is the first time I've ever mentioned it and I'm fed up reading about it.
"The SFA has to take a far harder line to get things back to normal again. We can't continue to go on in the manner we have been."
Smith, whose team goes to United on Sunday, gave Scotland's striking referees his support and concedes they are entitled to take such severe action.
He said: "They obviously now feel it is time to bring it into focus for everyone. The situation is unfortunate but I don't think we can blame them for that.
"They have been under a fair bit of pressure, especially this season but also last season too. It's not an action they'll have wanted to take and I can sympathise with them.
"It's about time we got this sorted and the quicker we take action the better. If the referees' situation brings this to a head, it will have been a good thing.
"Then we can end it, get on with football again and get speaking about what we're actually doing, which is going on a pitch and trying to score goals."
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