Ex-referee shares the ‘conflict of interest’ officials must tell the SFA Celtic fans will find interesting

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The subject of referees has hit the headlines this week and it is one that has been the bug bear of Celtic fans for a long while now.

The David Coote furore in England opened up a debate on refereeing integrity by Ally McCoist about Celtic vs Rangers refereeing this week.

McCoist doesn’t believe it’s important for referees to disclose which football teams they support before being handed games to officiate because it would open questions about ‘integrity’.

Whilst the English FA do make it a stipulation for referees to declare their football allegiances, former SFA referee, Des Roache, has shared what Scotland’s national association asks from its match officials.

Scottish referees don’t need to declare if they support Celtic or Rangers

When asked by journalist Scott McDermott if the SFA ask their match officials to declare which team they support, Roache gave an answer that will really interest the Celtic support.

Roache told Hotline Live [18m], “No, Scott, it doesn’t. The only thing we have to put in for regarding as a conflict of interest is if you have got family members or who are involved.

“So a quite obvious one that sticks out, Stephen McLean, his brother is Brian, also used to play senior with Motherwell, etc. It actually went as far back as when I was coming through the ranks at junior level.

“I had a family member who was manager of Renfrew Juniors, so I would never get a Renfrew Juniors game, etc. It’s tiny as that.

“But it’s nothing to do with, you’re never asked to put out there your line of allegiance, team you support or anything. No.

“It’s purely conflict of interest regarding close family friends and family members. And Steve McLean is probably the most high profile of that.”

What Ally McCoist has previously said about referees and Celtic

The topic of referees has always been at the top of not just Celtic fans’ list, but football fans all over Scotland.

Whilst declaring football allegiances would be welcomed, it would quickly dilute the small pool of Grade One referees Scotland already has to choose from and that is something the SFA must fix.

However, speaking about referees and Celtic previously, McCoist has said, “By the way, it’s happened. It’s happens.

“If we don’t think for a minute that some of the officials that officiate in Rangers and Celtic games maybe as a kid or a family member who has an allegiance to Celtic or Rangers, we’re kidding ourselves on.

“But we can’t afford to challenge their integrity.”

It seems the SFA have a job on their hands to solve this particular issue now, don’t they because no matter what McCoist says, fans will, rightly or wrongly, always question the integrity of decisions as long as mystery surrounds this issue.