6 Aug 2008SPL fixtures to go ahead as strike is avoided

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The opening fixtures of the Scottish Premier League (SPL) will go ahead this weekend after a potential referee's strike over a pay dispute was averted.

Referees wanted to be paid £800 per match instead of the £600 per game they had previously been offered.

But negotiations between the SPL and the referees have led to an agreement on the condition that a group will now examine the work of the SPL referees compared with European ones.

Refs will now receive the £800 fee they were looking for and another meeting will take place at Hampden Park on September 16th to discuss the matter further.

Iain Blair, operations director of the SPL, said: "The referees are seeking £800 per match. This exercise will involve the participation of all parties over the next six weeks or so.

"Contrary to speculation earlier today, the Clydesdale Bank Premier League fixtures this weekend will go ahead as planned," he added.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) has announced that a new TV deal for international matches will bring in substantial investment.

Sky Sports have exclusive rights to broadcast Scottish games and chief executive of the SFA Gordon Smith revealed the deal is worth up to £60 million over a four year period.

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