Official warns rise in abuse will lead to Scotland ref shortage

FORMER Scottish top-flight referee Kenny Clark has warned that several of his old colleagues are considering quitting the game amid an increasingly vehement backlash over their decisions.

Days after Willie Collum received threatening phone calls after handing Rangers a dubious penalty on his Old Firm debut, Clark has warned that Scotland is at risk of a referees shortage.

Assistant referee Steven Craven’s resignation from the professional game was confirmed 24 hours after the Parkhead controversy, as a debate over the penalty U-turn in Celtic’s previous game turned into a Scottish Football Association investigation.