Irish refs decline Scotland invitation

ALL Scottish Premier League matches will go ahead this weekend but Ireland’s leading referees have shown solidarity with their Scottish counterparts by declining to provide back up to the Scottish FA.

Authorities have reached agreement with “several European national associations”, after the country’s grade one referees confirmed that they would be standing by their decision to withdraw their labour this weekend.

The Israeli and Polish football federations have confirmed they plan to send officials with countries such as Portugal and Malta also reportedly cooperating. But referees in Ireland, along with Iceland, Norway, Wales and Sweden rejected overtures from the Scottish FA to take charge of matches.