Scottish FA Backs Referee Don Robertson Amid Controversy

The Scottish FA has doubled down on its backing for referee Don Robertson, releasing audio and video that it says closes the book on the late-game controversy – but the political fallout is far from over.

Before the governing body published the material, Labour peer George Foulkes had already written to SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell seeking a full review of the incident. He wanted clarity on whether the match had been abandoned or properly brought to a close.

The recordings, the SFA insists, provide that clarity.

In a detailed statement, the association stressed that the footage shows Robertson was right to end the game rather than abandon it, and that the officials had followed the Laws of the Game.

“It was made clear at that meeting that the match official, Don Robertson, took the correct action in ending the game,” the SFA said.

There had been heavy speculation over whether a final whistle was blown, and whether that mattered. The SFA’s response was blunt: the law requires the referee to signal full time, but it does not dictate how that signal must be given.

From their perspective, Robertson did exactly that.

“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 governing body also leaned on the hard numbers. The match clock, they pointed out, showed 53:07 – or 98:07 overall – when Robertson confirmed the game was over, beyond the minimum eight minutes of added time that had been indicated.

For the SFA, that timing matters. It reinforces their argument that this was a completed contest, not a fixture cut short.

The audio, they say, reveals something else as well: Robertson did not act in isolation. His decision came after a conversation with the Heart of Midlothian technical area, where the Hearts head coach raised concerns about player safety.

“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.”

That detail shifts part of the focus towards the dugout. Safety concerns, once voiced, left the referee with a clear call to make.

The SFA then reached for the law book. Citing Law 5 of the IFAB Laws of the Game – which states that the referee’s decisions on facts connected with play are final – the association underlined its stance that the matter is closed from a regulatory point of view.

“We fully support the decisive action taken by Don Robertson and his team to end the game.”

Yet, even as the SFA attempted to draw a line under the episode, Foulkes signalled that the political and public debate is not finished. Responding on X shortly after the statement and video emerged, he wrote: “There’s more yet to be revealed regarding the SFA.”

The officials have had their say. The laws have been quoted. The clock has been checked.

Now the question is whether the release of audio and video calms the storm around Hampden – or simply marks the start of a deeper examination of how Scottish football handles its most contentious moments.