Former Scottish football officials are expressing outrage over having their complimentary tickets for the upcoming Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers revoked by the Scottish FA.

The retired referees and linesmen were reportedly informed that their usual matchday privileges, including a pre-match lunch, have been canceled by the governing body due to security and segregation concerns at Hampden Park. It is said that around 40 former officials received an email from SFA’s head of referee operations, Crawford Allan, stating that the annual event would not be happening this year. Instead, they have been advised to purchase tickets and seek reimbursement for the costs.

The email conveyed apologies for the situation, citing “high risk” factors within the stadium prompting the decision. The message urged the recipients to secure tickets through the provided link and later claim back the expenses for two tickets.

Traditionally, retired officials have been offered complimentary tickets, some even serving as observers to assess the referee officiating the final match. The report includes comments from an unnamed ex-official who believes that the SFA’s actions have caused dissent among referees, suggesting that there may be more to the story than just security concerns.

The source commented that there has never been an issue with safety or security in the past, regardless of the teams playing in the final. This move by the SFA has stirred emotions among the former officials, with suggestions that the governing body may be deliberately excluding them from the event. It appears that the relationship between referees and the SFA has reached a new low, with discontent spreading among both referees and observers alike.