Dallas, Hugh

Quick question - who is the only Scotsman going to the World Cup next year? No, don't count Alan Hansen summarising for the BBC, he was disowned by the nation when he started referring to England as "we". The answer is, of course, referee Hugh Dallas, who will head to Japan and South Korea as Scotland's representative and there are more than a few Scottish football fans who will hope his stomach doesn't agree with the local cuisine. Rightly or wrongly, Mr. Dallas is not the most popular figure within Scottish football. From the outset, let me stress that I am not a paranoid Celtic fan. Nor am I a deluded Rangers fan, who for some obscure ...  Read the complete review

Hugh Dallas may not be the most popular ref in the world - but who can honestly tell me that he is not a good one? Sure, Dallas has had plenty of conroversial incidents in the past, but have they really been merited? In the infamous Old Firm derby, Dallas became the victim for Celtic's poor display. The penalty he awarded was justified, his sending off of Stephane Mahe equally so. In truth, it was the Celtic fans who behaved disgracefully that day, not Hugh Dallas. Furthermore, Dallas has shown a steely nerve and determination sadly lacking in other Scottish referees. He is not afraid to make decisions and for that he must be applauded. ...  Read the complete review

If you follow the Scottish Premiership, you can't be surprised by Hugh Dallas' decision of granting a penalty to the Italians at a very important point of the game vs the Turks! He had just spotted a blue shirt in the goalkeeper's area...funny enough, it just looks like a Rangers vs Celtic game remake. You all know that Dallas who lives in Motherwell is biased in the sense that he'd rather see Rangers win... Yet Dallas showed his good side when he defended Slovenian colleague in Portugal vs France fury! ...  Read the complete review

Hugh Dallas is one of the most over-rated refs in the world today. Anyone who follows Scottish football - and who isn't a Rangers fan - will know just what a dodgy ref he is. He seems to take great delight in ruining Celtic's season year after year, and yet somehow he is allowed to go to major championships like Euro 2000. Just look at the dodgiest of dodgy pens he game for Italy against Turkey, when Inzaghi was hardly touched yet went down like he'd been shot. I am constantly amazed that people don't realise what a joke of a ref he is, he is often left miles behind play, and his decision making is less than perfect to say the least (especially when ...  Read the complete review