JOHN Hughes, the Falkirk manager, has accused referee Iain Brines of conducting a witch-hunt against him and claims personal vendettas are also being pursued by other match officials towards his coaching colleagues Gus MacPherson and Craig Levein.
Currently serving a six-match SFA touchline ban, Hughes can anticipate further action from the organisation's general purposes committee when they note the startling comments he made yesterday at a media briefing.
Hughes was still smarting from
the controversial element of Falkirk's 3-0 defeat at Celtic on Saturday, when Brines wrongly attempted to eject him from his team's dressing room at half-time as the champions led by two goals, one of which struck the arm of captain Stephen McManus.
It was the latest in a series of contentious and high-profile decisions by referees and their assistants which have clouded the opening three weeks of the new SPL season.
Gus MacPherson, the St Mirren manager, was incensed on the opening weekend by a dubious match-winning penalty awarded to Celtic by referee Eddie Smith and claimed afterwards he was among managers singled out by the officials at their annual summer conference.
The following week, Dundee United were denied what appeared to be a blatant penalty kick against Celtic by referee Charlie Richmond, prompting their manager Craig Levein to question whether his previous public criticism of officials was seeing him being targeted for special treatment.
Hughes claims that is definitely the case and has called on regular social gatherings of managers and referees in an attempt to break down an impenetrable barrier he says is currently placed between the two.
"I think there's a witch-hunt against me," said Hughes.
"It's now something personal, and if it's personal we have to sit down and get it sorted out for the good of Scottish football.
"He (Brines] knows where I am. But I've not seen an apology or heard from him.
"I can roll with it and have a laugh about things, but what happened on Saturday is totally, totally out of order.
"I objected to him being the ref on Saturday when I found out he was in charge.
"I did that before the game because he had control of Celtic for half an hour the previous week and shouldn't be put in that position again.
"That's nothing against Iain as a ref, but then I'm very disappointed with what followed on Saturday.
" I'd take a call from him, I'd actually prefer to sit down with him. He has a problem with me and I don't know why that should be.
"I'm not against refs, but I'm the voice of Falkirk and when I feel we've been harshly treated I have to say it.
"I think we both have to come together. There has to be bonding sessions between managers and refs.
"We need to know them better. I know time is precious, but we have to try and come together on this one.
"Gus MacPherson went on record to say that his picture was on a screen at a ref's meeting. Guess who's picture was next up – mine.
"Mangers all talk to each other about this and we have our views. I appreciate that refs have a hard job, but there's no craic. There's no joke, you can't question a ref. It's just the way they go about it, they put barriers up.
"I think they single me out because I speak out. I think they single out Craig Levein and Gus MacPherson too because they speak out.
"It might be unfair of me to name them, but we all know that these guys have felt hard done by."
Hughes was left bemused by Brines' attempt to remove him from the dressing-room on Saturday, despite SFA regulations clearly stating a manager can be there with his team even during a suspension from the technical area.
"I was embarrassed for the officials," said Hughes. "They showed me no respect by pulling me out my dressing-room when I have a job to do. Iain Brines pulled me out for a situation that had nothing to do with the referee on the day.
"Even though I'm banned, I could go as far as sitting in the dug-out and that's still nothing to do with the ref. The ref is there to ref the game.
"I'd get in trouble for going to the dug-out, but I'd get in trouble with the SFA at a later date, not the ref at the time. Why he has seen fit to drag me from my dressing-room at half-time to try and do me for something that is outwith his control is beyond me and has upset me.
"I'm not having a go at anyone's integrity, but what he did on Saturday was below the belt. It was there for everyone to see.
"Celtic's first goal was very disappointing and if Iain Brines is not in a position to see it, then he should have been. Him and his linesman have made a right pig's ear of the first goal.
"Yet at half-time he wants to pull me in his office about something that he has no control over and is wrong about in any case. Why is he looking to get me? What's his problem?
"I had a fall out in the past with Dougie McDonald, but the two of us ended up doing a quiz together and we talked and laughed about things.
"I now have so much more respect for Dougie because I got to know the guy and the character.
"If I ever get Dougie in the future and he makes a mistake, I'll accept it because I know the guy. I'm big enough to say let's build bridges, let's make the game better.
"If I have something to say, I say it. I was brought up to be that way. I understand refs have a hard job and the game is getting quicker.
"But as my incident with Dougie McDonald showed, if we were able to meet up and bond a bit then things could improve.
"Have a couple of beers, have a golf day or whatever. I've so much more respect for Dougie having spent time with him and enjoyed a laugh.
"I can now see he too can have a laugh. We forgive and forget and come out the other side. I think getting to know them better gives both parties more respect for each other."
The full article contains 1092 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
