I’ve always been uneasy about current players and coaches who represent football clubs appearing on mainstream media podcasts like Superscoreboard to give their views on the game.
Especially when they discuss referees like Andy Halliday did on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard.
Giving his ‘Howler of the Week’ Halliday said, “I mean mines is kinda VAR drama I’m going down the John Beaton route.
“I’m gonna go straight for the referee which is not going to be popular.
“You know what it is for me. Ricky Lamie, how he has not won a penalty for his side at the weekend was incredible.
“And the fact that VAR has had a look at that incident and saw nothing wrong with it. I don’t understand that.”
Correct me if I’m wrong but is it not against the rules for football players and managers to criticise officials/referees in public?
There is. And here it is:
According to the SFA website:
Disciplinary Rule 77 – ‘A recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall, at all times, act in the best interests of Association Football. Furthermore such person or body shall not act in any manner which is improper or use any one, or a combination of, violent Conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.’
As a serving player, by criticising the referee who is about to officiate his next match, Halliday has not acted in the best interest of Association Football. Just as the rule states.
His comments could anger Beaton and the referees judgement could be clouded on Wednesday night as, after all, he is only human and such public criticism could illicit an indirect response from the whistler.
Halliday is best leaving the punditry gig until he is retire and do his talking on the park.
No wait………
Celtic should take the video of the brutal attack on Adam Montgomery whilst on loan to st Johnstone to the sfa /spfl and ask their opinion of this if it is not assault.