Chris Sutton has admitted to learning something new about the SFA after Celtic lost 2-0 to Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers’ side was stung by two controversial VAR decisions that many believe contributed to his team’s third league defeat of the season.
Celtic still sit two points behind Rangers at the top of the table as the chance to go top slipped away but after hearing that the SFA don’t ask referees to submit their football supporting allegiances like they do in England, Sutton said he was never aware of this.
Sutton was also told by journalist, Ian Ladyman, that the referees in England’s family must also declare their footballing allegiances to prevent a conflict of interest in the officiating of all games at the top level.
And speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast, Sutton admits he was also surprised at this.
Sutton: “I think it’s a really interesting one the difference, and I didn’t know this and I should have known this, between the the England and Scotland protocol.”
Ladyman: “I actually put this out to Stephen McGowan, our Scotland football correspondent, just before we came on and he’s confirmed to me that they don’t ask that question of referees.
“And you know why? I think that the reason is that the vast majority would say Celtic or Rangers and that would mean they would end up with no referees left.”
I thought this was common knowledge in Scotland as I have been aware of this for some time now.
There is a common thought amongst football fans across the country that referees could be influenced in their decision-making if they are in charge of a game involving the team they support.
And I can see the process in that train of thought. I consider myself to be a balanced Celtic fan but if I was in charge of a huge game involving the club could I say for 100% certainty that I wouldn’t be influenced should a contentious decision arise?
Of course not. I would be lying if I said I didn’t. Now that’s not to say that the current referees would or have ever done that.
The point I am making is that it would certainly make your job harder when officiating a football team, no matter which you one support, if you know that a decision you make could cost them points in the league or trophies in a cabinet.
And that is clearly why the English FA do this. Will the SFA consider this idea? I would think not because as Ladyman points out, there wouldn’t be enough referees to go round considering the small pool we already have to choose from.
In other news, Neil Lennon shares what Celtic captain Callum McGregor has told him about his injury
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