Police had been referred to as in after referee Kevin Clancy won “threatening and abusive” messages within the wake of the conflict between Celtic and Rangers on Saturday.
Michael Beale, the Rangers supervisor, claimed Clancy had were given two main selections flawed all through his facet’s 3–2 defeat, which left Celtic 12 issues transparent within the Scottish Premiership.
The Ibrox membership therefore wrote to the Scottish Football Association in the hunt for an reason behind one among them, an early function from Alfredo Morelos which used to be disallowed.
The SFA published on Monday that it had “referred a significant volume of threatening and abusive emails to Police Scotland after personal and professional contact details” of Clancy have been revealed on-line following the sport.
A commentary added: “The association’s security and integrity manager has been liaising with Kevin and Police Scotland following a series of unacceptable messages being sent via email and phone over the holiday weekend. We offer our full support to Kevin and reiterate our wider support to the refereeing community.”
The SFA chief executive, Ian Maxwell, said: “The nature of the messages goes way beyond criticism of performance and perceived decision-making – some are potentially criminal in nature and include threats and abuse towards Kevin and his family.
“We have referred the correspondence to the police and condemn this behavior in the strongest possible terms, as well as the posting of a referee’s personal details online with the sole purpose of causing distress.
“Football is our national game. It improves and saves lives. Without referees, there is no game, and while decisions will always be debated with or without the use of VAR, we cannot allow a situation to develop where a referee’s privacy and safety, and those of his family, are compromised.
“We all have a responsibility to protect our game and those essential to it.”
The SFA also confirmed that its referee operations team had responded to Rangers’ request for an explanation for the Morelos decision. The body that represents match officials, the Scottish Senior Football Referees’ Association, condemned the “wholly unacceptable level of abuse” directed towards Clancy.
A statement added: “Referees are not immune from criticism and accept there will always be legitimate debate on subjective decision-making.
“However, when this becomes targeted threats and abuse, impacting on their personal and professional lives, this clearly crosses the line.
“We continue to offer our full support to Kevin and all our members, many of whom have experienced an increase in abuse this season.
“We welcome the Scottish FA’s strong support to protect referees and the wider image of the game.”
As neatly as criticizing the Morelos function being disallowed, Beale additionally argued that Celtic winger Jota will have to had been penalized for handball right away prior to the champions’ 2nd function.
Rangers wrote up to now to the SFA over Clancy’s efficiency ultimate 12 months following a 1–1 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie, a recreation wherein the Dons felt they will have to have had a penalty for Allan McGregor’s problem on Ryan Hedges and Ryan Kent used to be despatched off for the guests.
The frame that represents fit officers, the Scottish Senior Football Referees’ Association, condemned the “wholly unacceptable level of abuse” directed in opposition to Clancy.
A commentary added: “Referees are not immune from criticism and accept there will always be legitimate debate on subjective decision making. However, when this becomes targeted threats and abuse impacting on their personal and professional lives this clearly crosses the line.
“We continue to offer our full support to Kevin and all our members, many of whom have experienced an increase in abuse this season.
“We welcome the Scottish FA’s strong support to protect referees and the wider image of the game.”