Icelandic referees are ready and willing to come to the rescue of Scottish football by flying in to officiate at this weekend's games, according to Sigurdur Thorleifsson, head of the referees' union in Iceland.
Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan is scouring Europe for replacement referees after Scottish grade one officials voted to go on strike this weekend and will be heartened by the news from Iceland.
"We have been talking about it and if we are offered the chance to go over to Scotland then it is fine by the union," Thorleifsson said.
"We are ready if they want us to help out Scottish football.
"Our federation has said it is okay so why not?"
Asked if there were any thought towards showing solidarity with their Scottish colleagues, Thorleifsson replied: "We have not heard anything from the Scottish referees.
"They have not been in contact to ask for any support. It is a matter for them."
It is understood Scottish referees, who are set to continue discussions with the SFA on Tuesday, will not be asking other refereeing unions to show support for their action.
Gylfi Orrason, vice president of the Iceland Football Association, confirmed a request from the SFA to facilitate the use of their referees. Orrason, also chairman of the Icelandic referees committee, said: "We have had a request from the SFA to provide referees and we have passed that on to the referees' union.
"It is up to them, we will not be appointing referees to Scottish games. It is a delicate matter as it involves industrial action but the season is just over and the referees are in good condition."
Source: PA
