SJ1210

Craig Thomson refereed the Inverness v Falkirk (Championship) game on the first week of the League season John Beaton was not given a game to referee the first week, he was 4th official at the Celtic v Hearts Willie Collum refereed the Morton v St Mirren (Championship) game last week Steven McLean refereed the Dunfermline v Inverness (Championship) game last week So it's not a demotion, they just don't referee in the Premiership every week. When they are given a League 1 or League 2 game then maybe consider it a demotion.

You mean this section "Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offence was an attempt to play the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.) the offending player must be sent off. A player, sent off player, substitute or substituted player who enters the field of play without the required referee’s permission and interferes with play or an opponent and denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity is guilty of a sending-off offence." taken from the International FA Board who are responsible for the rules of Football http://www.theifab.com/laws/fouls-and-misconduct/chapters/disciplinary-action

See my post above as you have misinterpreted the ruling.

No that is wrong. It would only be a yellow card if the player made a genuine attempt to play the ball (i.e. a tackle or the goalkeeper coming out and diving at the feet of the attacker etc) but ended up fouling the attacker and sadly Dunne didn't do that either today or against Ross County. Players will still be red carded for all other fouls like pulling, pushing, clipping their heels etc that deny someone a goal scoring opportunity.

Could you explain this bit further, what part of the "new rules" means it should be a booking?

The Umbro Tailored range are excellent, just a shame that the current buns will be probably be wearing that next year

Wouldn't have been able to use Airdrie as it doesn't have undersoil heating and has been one of the first to go off every time there has been a problem with weather this season.

And a big muck and sand pile with no grass gives a true bounce.

Accies had less injuries during the time they used the fieldturf than the other teams in the SFL. If it was not for the SPL rule regarding having undersoil heating Accies would be still be using the fieldturf.

I have still to see any actual medical evidence to support this. Derek Ferguson actually made a great point on Radio Scotland on Saturday regarding fieldturf, if these claims of increased/long term injury risk are true why are all the youngsters being brought up playing on them surely that would mean then that they'd be putting them at risk of being injury far earlier in their careers than those currently playing pro.

Thats because it's a Futsal ball and they are designed to have 30-40% less bounce than a football.

That was my favourite top home or away, was an absolute cracker.

There are 2 new referees this year, Kevin Clancy and John Beaton. Beaton is 4th official on Saturday and originally a Jervy boy. Other than Dougal retiring only Rev McCurry got taken off the referee list.

I think that is only happening in the League stages of the Europa League not in the qualifying rounds.

Scotlands Craig Thompson is in the best group (Elite category) of UEFA Referees.

The away top, shorts and socks will be "Claret with Amber embellishments" according to the new SFA Handbook.

He was at the game v ICT recently.

Derek is a category 2 referee, so is the level below and doing SPL reserves and the top Junior games. He did referee a 3rd division game this year.

I'd say an u21 League with 3 over age players to replace the 19s and Reserve League. I think the move from 17s to u21s then to first team is a better progression than 17s to 19s to 1st team.

You did see in the technical area against St Mirren, just the wrong one, his brother was the 4th official.