In 2010 I had several sources who assisted me to break the story about Hugh Dallas and the email that cost him his job.
For the uninitiated, you can read about the background in this piece I wrote for the Guardian.
One of these sources was particularly well placed within the referring world in Fair Caledonia.
He told me that there was a “canteen culture” among Scottish referees.
Now today a hat tip to the Daily Mail for serving the public interest.
The story by Stephen McGowan reports that Stephen Brown 35 had posted “sectarian, discriminatory and homophobic social media posts” concerning Neil Lennon.
The social media content has since been deleted and Mr Brown and has expressed remorse.
Interestingly his local referees association only issued a censure for this bigoted behaviour.
However, Mr Brown tendered his resignation.
He stated that these social media posts had been made “made during a period of great personal difficulty.”
Moreover, he admitted that “…perceptions linger, regardless of how much sorrow or regret I express…”
Ah, the poor dear.
These social media posts from Stephen Brown occurred at the same time as Mr Hugh Dallas was forwarding on THAT email to two colleagues.
Of course, back in the day (1952), the Scottish Football Association did seem to have a problem with any public displays of Celtic’s Irish roots.
In the end, it was all resolved and the Irish flag still flies over Paradise.
Moreover, I’m sure that the SFA has issued an apology to the club formed by Irish immigrants for this unfortunate misunderstanding.
It is just that I cannot find any evidence for it.
That’s very remiss of me I must say because I’m sure that the SFA, after a period of mature reflection would have seen that they were in the wrong.
After all, had it not been for this charitable institution formed from Glasgow’s Irish community Scottish football would not have a club that had won the European Cup.
A year after the SFA seemed to have a problem with Celtic’s Irishness the community that gave birth to the Hoops a Church of Scotland reports referred to the Irish in Scotland as “an alien race”.
At the start of the 21st century, the Kirk looked back at those days and offered a full apology to the ethno-religious minority that they had described in such viciously Eugenists terms.
In 2010 when I made reference to the belief among some that there as indeed an anti-Catholic anti-Irish “canteen culture” extant within the refereeing community I received a strongly worded missive from a firm of solicitors acting for the SFA.
Of course, I took on board their assurances that what I had uncovered was just an unfortunate one-off and not in any way representative of such a world-class organisation.
Therefore, one can only conclude that Mr Stephen Brown and Mr Hugh Dallas are highly atypical of the Scottish refereeing community.
I must say that is a very reassuring thought…
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We overdo our allegations about discrimination in Scottish football It was certainly true in the past and like everyone else I’ve witnessed this in person from my first game in 1955 . Now, I see our supporters accusing certain referees of bias and the facts don’t bear it out. Or was I sitting in stands imagining Madden award two penalties against sevco and sending off Mcrorie? Or Beaton awarding penalty for foul on Roberts?
Perceptions might linger and I’m a different person to the one I was back then……no kidding Sherlock.
Thats the problem with social media if you post the bile going around in your head.
No surprise that his referees association only deemed his posts to be worthy of a yellow card. That tells you all you need to know about their own views.
The Irish are feted and welcomed all over the world yet in Bonnie Scotland there remains deep rooted hatred of all things Irish amongst a significant proportion of the population.
I’m not quite so sure about the term “historic baggage” it all still seems pretty rife to me. This stuff belongs in the dark ages.
I’m starting to wonder if now that Maxwell has a president and vice he can rely on for backing we may see more of these cobwebs being dusted off. I know Petrie is a bit mental but he was never really in any sort of power position.
Doesn’t surprise me this shit is going on but at least it’s coming out now, could be we see this as a catalyst for change.
Hope so
I think you could have done better on this one,Phil.
Why have sevco not won more trophies?Seriously though…
They have the backing of the sfa(L-5),a great % of the referees,the smsm,the police,most probably a very high percentage of the judiciary,the oo,the masons,the blue order AND EBT’s etc etc…
Yet,NO major trophies for SEVEN years!! You’d think with All of those aforementioned ‘advantages’ that they’d be extending their packed trophy room…
IF CFC🍀 had half of those advantages can you imagine how big a trophy room We’d need??
Celtic Football Club🍀 disadvantaged in a plethora ways YET still winning a Triple Treble in the last three years,not to mention what has gone before.ie.The Big Cup.Eat yir heart out sevco.😐
And that’s the first time I have seen the SMSM admit that there is indeed a Diversity & Inclusion department at the SFA.
The logical follow up for that particular department is to thoroughly investigate and assess if this ref’s attitude and beliefs are common throughout the refereeing population – and take appropriate action.
I’m quite sure those Category 1 refs of an ethnic, or non-Central Scotland, or non-Freemason background would appreciate an opportunity to express their feelings…
What? Both of them???
You fail to add than ‘working hand in glove’ with the Church of Scotland and their “alien race’ proclamations were none other than the SNP, a party you support and who would impoverish Scotland, most especially our 17%.
Really.
Strange that the CoS published their paper in 1923 and the SNP were not founded for some 9 years after that.
As far as politics in Scotland are concerned things have changed a lot since the 1950’s anyone who doesn’t recognise this is living in the past.The people of Irish/catholic background have moved on from those days and are now represented in lots of professional occupations and are active in Scottish politics, especially in both the Labour and SNP parties.Scottish football is one of the only organisations that is still stuck in the dark ages especially within the sfa and Scottish football journalism,maybe someday they will catch up but I wouldn’t hold my breath,As my politics are to the left I never thought I would ever say this but top marks to Stephen McGowan and the daily mail for giving publicity to the obvious bigotry within the refereeing group at the sfa .
According to the followers on follow follow Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon are working undercover for Sinn Fein.
My parents told us about the public meeting they attended at which Willie Ross, later Labour SS of Scodland multiple times, lectured those in attendance that if they didn’t have so many children there’d be no need for a bigger, better site for an RC primary school in Busby/Clarkston.
And no nonsense if you please about “Non denominational” Schools. A girlfriend’s dad was a minister and had some good stories.
The C of S report was published in 1923, long before the SNP came into existence. I think you’ll also find that a plurality, if not a majority of Scotland’s RC voting age community are SNP voters. They’ve certainly not impoverished me….free bus pass at 60, free NHS prescriptions, help for young families. Yes what a shame we don’t have those nice austere unionist parties running Hokyrood.
As these dubious comments only came to light in 2014 , I suppose we should be grateful for the prompt action by the refereeing authorities !
The Labour administration introduced free bus passes.