The start of the Scottish Premier League is in jeopardy because of a strike threat from Scottish refs over a pay dispute. The SRA (Scottish Referee Association) has demanded that match officials payment rise from £575 to £800 per SPL match. The SPL have offered £600 per match and now strike action seems imminent, unless an agreement can be reached. Scottish football betting fans will be aware at the fixture congestion schedule at the end of last seasons SPL campaign that saw Rangers play 5 games in 11 days and lose the UEFA Cup final and also the SPL title on the final game of the season.

Do Referees Deserve More Pay?

Given the abuse that most Refs, professional and amatuer, put up with on match days you have to wonder why someone would choose this profession in the first place. But the real stress is that the discussion and debate doesn’t end after the final whistle. Modern media platforms carry it to Radio, TV, Newspaper, Online Forums and video sharing sites where refereeing decisions, are analysed in greater detail.

It is not just football that this happening but across many other sports where the match officials are increasingly feeling the pressure of split second calls that can change the outcome of a game. However, it is football that is the darling of the media and lets hope for Scottish footballs sake that all parties involved quickly get this sorted out. Then all us football betting fans can look forward at last to the start of another great footballing season with tons more controversy from the men in black.