Scottish FA Backs Referee Don Robertson Amid Controversy
The Scottish FA has doubled down on its backing of referee Don Robertson, releasing audio and video evidence it says settles the controversy over the premature end to Hearts’ abandoned match.
Before that material went public, Hearts chair Ann Budge’s adviser, former MP George Foulkes, had already written to SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell demanding a review of the incident. He wanted clarity. He has now returned to the fray.
Shortly after the SFA’s statement and accompanying footage were published, Foulkes took to X and fired another shot: “There’s more yet to be revealed regarding the SFA.” The dispute, in his view, is far from closed.
The SFA sees it very differently.
In a detailed statement, the governing body insisted the newly released footage and audio show Robertson handled the situation correctly by ending the game outright, not abandoning it.
“It was made clear at that meeting that the match official, Don Robertson, took the correct action in ending the game,” the SFA said, underlining that the decision had already been reviewed internally.
The row has centred on whether a final whistle was blown and whether the referee followed the letter of the law. The SFA pushed back strongly.
“We note there has been speculation regarding the blowing of a final whistle. The Laws of the Game require the referee to signal the end of the match, but do not prescribe the method of that signal.
“In the context of what unfolded – which is verified by the footage and the Match Incident Report submitted to the Scottish FA – the match official clearly communicated that the match was ended and not abandoned.”
The pressure around the timing of the decision has been intense, so the SFA turned to the match clock to make its case. The footage, it says, proves the required time had been played.
“The footage shows that when the match official confirms the game has ended, the clock is at 53.07 [98.07], more than the minimum additional time of eight minutes signalled,” the statement continued.
One key detail in the audio, highlighted by the SFA, is that Robertson did not act in isolation. His call came after a direct exchange with the Hearts bench.
“It was also apparent from the audio that this decision was taken following dialogue with the Hearts Head Coach, who had intimated concerns over player safety.”
From there, the SFA moved to close off any suggestion that the decision could be revisited. Law 5 of the IFAB Laws of the Game is their anchor point.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Law 5 of the IFAB Laws of the Game state that ‘the decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final’.
“We fully support the decisive action taken by Don Robertson and his team to end the game.”
The message from Hampden is blunt: the referee called it, the evidence backs him, and as far as the SFA is concerned, the matter is settled. Whether Foulkes – and Hearts’ support – are prepared to leave it there is another question entirely.
