Mind the ref

Referees in the English Premiership will be driven to and from matches in "safe cars" if new proposals are put into operation. The move comes in the wake of a week which saw Hugh Dallas hit by a coin in the Celtic-Rangers match and an attack on Robert Harris' car in the wake of the West Ham-Leeds clash in which he sent off three Hammers.

Harris had to drive quickly away from lights to escape from several West Ham supporters. Under the new guidelines, referees will stay overnight at a hotel on the eve of a match before meeting their assistants and being driven to the ground together.

Premiership referees officer Philip Don tried to play down the problems. "The authorities are doing everything in their power to alleviate any problems but you can count on one hand the incidents involving referees." Mind you it brings a whole new meaning to the term getaway car.