Hearts manager Craig Levein surprised by calls from foreign arbitrators in Scotland | Football News

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Hearts manager Craig called for greater geographic diversity among Scottish Premiership referees

Hearts director Craig Levein rejected proposals that suggested the use of foreign referees in the Scottish Premiership, but called for greater geographic diversity among local officials.

Levein, who also sits on Hearts' board of directors, attended a meeting between Scottish first division clubs, after which news was published suggesting that it had been proposed to introduce foreign arbitrators.

However, the Scottish Football Federation has declared Sky Sports News On Wednesday, the idea was a "non-starter", and Levein corroborated their account.

Craig Levein dismissed suggestions that foreign referees should be used in the Scottish Premier League

"The foreign referees have been a total surprise to me," Levein said Thursday.

"I was at a meeting last week and it was never mentioned."

The last arbitration controversy of the Scottish season took place on Wednesday night. Steve Clarke, Kilmarnock's coach, described Alan Muir's decision to send goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann against the Rangers as a "joke" after losing his 5-0 team to Ibrox.

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Kilmarnock coach Steve Clarke has called the Scottish referee level "joke" after goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann was sent off in a 5-0 defeat by the Rangers in the resumption of play. fifth round of the Scottish Cup at Ibrox

Another referee, John Beaton, contacted the police after receiving threatening messages as a result of his handling of the Old Firm derby between Rangers at Celtic in December.

Levein explains that Beaton, a native of Lanarkshire, and member of the Glasgow Umpire Association, Muir, must live in communities where they are surrounded by Rangers and Celtic fans, which only makes sense. increase the pressure to which they are subjected.

"The referees in Glasgow and Lanarkshire are playing most games, we have seven FIFA officials, all from Glasgow or Lanarkshire," said Levein.

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Hearts director Craig Levein supported Steve Clarke's decision to say after Kilmarnock's boss accused Rangers fans of abusing sectarians.

"So, if you ask these guys, because they are the best referees to make an Old Firm match, then the pressures are huge.

"You've seen what happened to John Beaton, that kind of thing comes from him living in the downtowns of these clubs, they can not get out of it.

"If we strengthen the other badociations present, we could place a referee in Edinburgh, a referee Fife or a referee in Aberdeen."

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