Taylor: We'll never allow foreign refs to officiate in Scotland

May 18 2008 By Mark Guidi

UEFA chief David Taylor last night insisted foreign referees won't be brought in to take charge of Scottish games.

Dundee United boss Craig Levein called for such a scheme after being outraged with Mike McCurry's performance in his side's 3-1 defeat at Ibrox last weekend.

The Arabs were denied a clear penalty and had a goal disallowed for offside that should have stood. It left Levein livid and United have considered legal action against the SFA.

But former Hampden chief executive Taylor - now UEFA general secretary - says moves like that are a non-starter.

Taylor almost ended up in court against Levein when the then Hearts boss refused to pay a fine for criticising a referee in 2004.

He said: "There's no chance of foreign refs coming into domestic football.

"It's a matter for individual associations to decide if they want to swap but you have to consider the development of your own officials.

"I also saw some of the talk about legal action against referees but that's not welcome and is quite ridiculous. It's a road to nowhere. I saw the second half of United's game with Rangers and there were quite controversial incidents.

"But it's a matter for the SFA.

"We don't want video evidence in football. A recent decision of international board was that we're not going to countenance this.

"Michel Platini has this idea that maybe an extra official behind the goal might be a way of improving the decision-making of referees.

"It will be practised in a FIFA tournament later in the year."

UEFA are also not in favour of refs holding their hands up to making mistakes. McCurry went public to admit he cocked up and last month Iain Brines came clean about chalking of a good Aberdeen goal against Celtic.

Taylor said: "Referees have to be careful of speaking out too much.

At Euro 2008 we aren't encouraging them to admit mistakes.

"In Scotland I know from experience officials do get changed.

They maybe get assigned games or not considered for others but it's done behind the scenes.

"The important thing is to protect the integrity of referees."

A more pressing worry for Taylor is trying to urge Poland and Ukraine to get their act together and deliver Euro 2012. The co-hosts are behind schedule and Taylor is working closely with them in an attempt to sort it out. But he is close to pulling then plug.

He said: "We have issues in terms of stadia that aren't built and the infrastructure. We want them ready a year earlier for test events.

"In January we said we were concerned with the slow rate of progress. You could describe it as a yellow card for Poland/Ukraine.

"They were awarded the finals in April 2007 but so little was happening we had to say: 'If things continue in this manner UEFA will have to consider alternatives'.

"We're meeting almost every month and moving it elsewhere is not something we're looking for, we're looking for solutions. I think the wake-up call has been heeded."

By the end of this year the bidding documents will be sent out for nations interested in hosting the 2016 finals. And by that time more than 16 countries could be taking part in the showpiece event.

Taylor said: "It's a big decision because we have a successful format at present. Scotland, Ireland and Sweden were among those who suggested a change."