Labour peer says “undue pressure” being put on SFA by “outside factors”

LABOUR peer Lord George Foulkes has claimed that “undue pressure” is being placed on the SFA by “outside factors”.

He went on to make the bombshell claim that “violence, threats and intimidation on the one hand and financial inducements on the other” need to be examined in a public inquiry.

This comes after the SFA responded to urgent calls for an inquiry into events at the end of the Celtic-Hearts title decider on Saturday

Hundreds of Celtic fans streamed onto the pitch after Callum Osmand rolled Celtic‘s third goal into an empty net. There was some confusion, after the game, about whether the referee, Don Robertson, had blown the final whistle or if the game had been abandoned due to the pitch invasion.

The SFA responded to an official statement from Hearts and calls from across Scottish football to reassess events at the end of the game, and said Robertson clearly signalled the end of the game.

Audiovisual evidence was also released by the SFA which appeared to show match officials confirming the end of the game and suggesting that Hearts staff were content to end the contest.

Foulkes, who called for action from the SFA against what he deemed a “clear breach of the rules” has disputed the SFA’s version of events. He even escalated his complaints to FIFA, before it became clear that FIFA were leaving the matter to the SFA.

In a letter responding to the SFA’s statement, he said: “Although I still maintain that your interpretation of this particular event is wrong it is for the current management at Hearts to decide whether they wish to take any further legal or other action on this.

“There is, however, a wider concern about the state of football in Scotland ably described by the departing Motherwell manager, Jens Berthel Askou.

“It appears that undue pressure is being put on to you and your colleagues by outside factors.

“I share your concern that referees can be in fear of their safety because of intimidation.

“Violence, threats and intimidation on the one hand and financial inducements on the other can influence outcomes unfairly and need to be urgently examined.”

The “violence, threats, and intimidation” here presumably refers to Celtic fans’ pitch invasion, but the suggestion of financial inducements is an unprecedented claim.

Foulkes does not clarify exactly where this “undue pressure” is coming from, but he is clear that he believes there are deep-seated structural issues affecting Scottish football which need to be examined.

He explained: “I see that there is a call for an inquiry into Scottish football and there does seem to be growing concern about a range of aspects.

“While there is understandable pressure to move on and prepare for European fixtures and next season there is also a fear that some of the problems where we have seen contradictory decisions by referees, referees under threat, stands destroyed, pitch invasions and other concerns continue into the new season.

“I hope your management committee will consider this as a matter of urgency.”

In a club statement on Wednesday, Hearts said that they were cooperating with Police Scotland’s inquiry into events at the end of the game.

They referred to the “premature ending of the match” but made no reference to “financial inducements” or “undue influence” on match officials.

The SFA’s statement concluded with the line: “We fully support the decisive action taken by Don Robertson and his team to end the game.”

Foulkes has sat on the House of Lords since 2005.

The SFA has been approached for comment.

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