REFS HAD TO TALK McBRIDE OUT OF QUITTING; Secret nightmare of linesman accused of Old Firm cock-up.
Bungling linesman Gordon McBride had to be talked out of packing in football after his Old Firm nightmare.The Erskine official's family have been targeted for abuse since he ruled out Jorge Cadete's equaliser for Celtic at Ibrox on January 2.
Friends say McBride felt like a prisoner in his own home - and decided he didn't want to carry on. But he was coaxed out of quitting by fellow refs, including Jim McCluskey, who suffered a similar nightmare seven years ago.
McBride was flooded by hate mail and was forced to change his phone number.
And last night a top referee revealed: "Gordon has had terrible harassment.
"His kids have been dragged into it, which is disgraceful, and people have been shouting through his letter box.
"It's outrageous that one split-second decision can turn someone's life upside down.
"It took an awful lot of persuasion from us to talk him round.
"Jim McCluskey offered him daily counselling. He was able to explain that he'd been through it all before and it would blow over."
Now McBride is to run the line at next month's clash between Wales and the Republic of Ireland - even though he hasn't worked at a Scottish game since the Ibrox rumpus.
A league spokesman insisted: "There's nothing sinister in it - officials don't get games every week."
McBride's blunder sparked conspiracy claims from Celtic fans, but Parkhead No.2 Billy Stark pointed out: "Nobody at Celtic thinks there's any conspiracy going on at all."
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
|---|---|
| Author: | Simpson, Gordon |
| Publication: | Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) |
| Date: | Jan 20, 1997 |
| Words: | 247 |
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