As the head of refereeing steps down at Hampden, Rangers must lead the charge for change as Scottish football lags behind its natural competitors.
Crawford Allen has this week announced his plans to leave out the front door of Hampden at the end of a season of controversy naturally made worse by our position in the title fight.
The Head of Refereeing Operations in Scottish football, this is a big move and Rangers & the other SPFL clubs will be watching very closely to see how the chips land.
We’re well used to parochial politicking – even from the Rangers end – dominating our national game but as the footballing world modernises at a rate in keeping with the rest of society, it’s easy to believe Scotland seems doomed to a depressing eternity of conspiracy, claptrap, and delusional self-entitlement.
But it does not have to be this way and as the top of the game’s governance is somewhat rattled this week there is no more perfect an opportunity to embrace change.
SPFL governance should follow Crawford Allen’s lead
Rangers – who now also have the backing of five other Scottish Premiership clubs – have been outspoken about the governance of the SPFL.
Raising “serious concerns” over a recent independent review, it is the latest in a long-line of clashes between the nation’s top clubs and its members body.
The same old faces have been in charge draining the nation’s game for as long as we can remember and a fresh approach is necessary if Scotland is serious about keeping pace with the rest of football.
Whatever side you come down on in the SPFL debate, collectivism, modernisation, ambition, maximisation, and experimentation are not words we can readily associate with this group of footballing dinosaurs.
They are a relic of Scotland’s parochial footballing past and until they are ushered out the doors at Hampden, the game will forever remain stuck in the marsh of a backwater.
How can these individuals – handsomely paid despite consistently underachieving – attest to putting the game’s interests first when they continue with the status quo?
Surely, if Scottish football was the number one priority and not politics, money, or ego, then these individuals would either constructively acknowledge their shortcomings and change or step back for the good of the game.
They have – categorically – done neither. The SPFL’s governance is perhaps the greatest example of Scottish football’s steam-from-the-ears eagerness to cut off its nose to spite its own face.
Rangers must help drive Scottish football change
There are a number of huge debates raging at the centre of the game and almost all of them follow the same themes of modernisation which will improve the product on and off the park.
The application of VAR, the professionalisation of our refereeing structure, the state of the pitches (plastic and otherwise), and the outdated culture of over-physicality stand on trial in the court of Scottish footballing public opinion.
Off the park, it is time to move on from the culture of tragedy chanting, bloody glorification, sectarianism, and all that other vulgar nonsense which should be universally regarded as an unwelcome smite on the vibrant, positive, fanatical culture of football in this country.
And that’s before we even talk about ticket allocations, pyrotechnics, or TV deals. It makes you think, what are the SPFL actually doing?
All of this has to got to improve and evolve if Scotland is to maximise its potential in the global footballing arena. All of this has to evolve if we’re even to keep pace with the leagues around us. There is no fan – draped in blue, green or red – who can seriously attest to the idea we’re doing this.
The rest of the world is moving forward – we move sideways, at times backwards, and rather depressingly, have a habit of celebrating it.
Self-fulfilling mantras about financial limitations and standards have compounded the misery north of the border and the time for change is long overdue.
As Crawford Allen steps down, and the nation’s refereeing readies an overhaul, we suggest Rangers take the lead and demand the sort of change in Scottish football we should’ve seen years ago.
