SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell has hit out at Kevin Clancy's personal details being published online as the governing body bring the hammer down on "potentially criminal" abuse after Celtic vs Rangers.
The referee's performance came under the microscope after disallowing an Alfredo Morelos goal for a push on Alistair Johnston with the game at 0-0, Celtic going on to win 3-2 following the foul by the Rangers forward. The SFA have confirmed the Referee Operations team have responded to Rangers’ request for an explanation for an on-field decision involving the Colombian.
But the Scottish game's governing body have 'referred a significant volume of threatening and abusive emails to Police Scotland' after professional contact details of Clancy's were put online. Chief executive Maxwell said: “The nature of the messages goes way beyond criticism of performance and perceived decision-making - some are potentially criminal in nature and include threats and abuse towards Kevin and his family.
“We have referred the correspondence to the police and condemn this behaviour in the strongest possible terms, as well as the posting of a referee’s personal details online with the sole purpose of causing distress.
“Football is our national game. It improves and saves lives. Without referees, there is no game, and while decisions will always be debated with or without the use of VAR, we cannot allow a situation to develop where a referee’s privacy and safety, and those of his family, are compromised.
“We all have a responsibility to protect our game and those essential to it.”
An SFA statement read: "The Scottish FA has referred a significant volume of threatening and abusive emails to Police Scotland after personal and professional contact details of Saturday’s Old Firm referee, Kevin Clancy, were published online following the derby match.
"The association’s security and integrity manager has been liaising with Kevin and Police Scotland following a series of unacceptable messages being sent via email and phone over the holiday weekend. We offer our full support to Kevin and reiterate our wider support to the referee community."
