Ref strike would not surprise Reid

29 October 2010 12:00
Hamilton boss Billy Reid would understand Scottish referees taking strike action due to the "incredible pressure" they are now under. Willie Collum became the latest official to come under scrutiny following the Old Firm game at Parkhead last Sunday where he awarded a controversial penalty to Rangers in the 3-1 win for the visitors. It emerged that Collum later received threatening phone calls to his home. Assistant referee Steven Craven's resignation was confirmed 24 hours after the Parkhead controversy, as a debate over referee Dougie McDonald's penalty U-turn in Celtic's previous game against Dundee United at Tannadice turned into a Scottish Football Association investigation. The SFA's referee committee will rule on the incident on Friday after the body's new chief executive, Stewart Regan, handed over his investigation to them. Asked if he would understand referees withdrawing their labour, a measure which has been suggested in recent days, Reid replied: "Yes, I would, due to what I call undue pressure. It must be horrendous for them. The pressure they are under is quite incredible. I don't know how they manage to do it. They are in a no-win situation, they can't do anything right."

Source: PA