Steve Conroy (referee)

Steve Conroy
Born21 December 1966
Bathgate, Scotland
Other occupationMedical doctor (MBChB)

Steve Conroy (born 21 December 1966)[1] is a former Scottish football referee.

Refereeing career

Conroy became a referee in 1993 and was admitted to the SFA list five years later. He is a regular referee in the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League.

On 10 March 2007, Conroy was the official for a SPL match between Hearts and Aberdeen. During the course of the match he sent off Hearts player Laryea Kingston. Kingston reportedly reacted to the red card by calling Conroy a racist. Conroy reported Kingston to the Scottish FA for using "offensive, insulting and abusive language".[2] Kingston subsequently faced a disciplinary hearing on 1 May 2007 at which the SFA decided that a further 3 game ban was in order.[3]

Conroy took charge of his first Old Firm game on 3 January 2010.[4] Conroy was criticised for his performance in the game after disallowing a goal from Celtic's Marc-Antoine Fortuné for a foul on Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor and for showing a yellow card to Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty following a heavy challenge on Celtic's Andreas Hinkel when Celtic fans and some reporters had argued the challenge was deemed worthy of a straight red.[5][6]

On 3 December 2011, Conroy awarded a controversial penalty to Rangers in their home game against Dunfermline which Dunfermline manager, Jim McIntyre, described as "a disgrace of a decision".[7] Sone Aluko, who won the penalty, was subsequently given a two-match ban for 'simulation'.[8] Conroy was subsequently assigned to referee lower division matches and opted to retire in March 2012.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Our refs Scottish FA
  2. ↑ Kingston charged over ref comment, BBC Sport, 13 March 2007
  3. ↑ Kingston's season over after ban, BBC Sport, 1 May 2007
  4. ↑ Steve Conroy will be an able debutant in Old Firm clash, say former referees Herald Scotland, 23 December 2009
  5. ↑ Celtic 1 Rangers 1: Allan McGregor enjoys the last laugh as he saves the day after big let-off Mail Online, 3 January 2010
  6. ↑ Celtic 1 Rangers 1: McCulloch rescues Rangers ESPN Soccernet, 3 January 2010
  7. ↑ "Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre angry at Rangers penalty award". BBC Sport (BBC). 3 December 2011.
  8. ↑ "Rangers manager furious at Sone Aluko simulation ban". BBC Sport (BBC). 8 December 2011.
  9. ↑ Barnes, John (16 March 2012). "Disillusioned Steve Conroy quits top-class refereeing". BBC Sport (BBC). Retrieved 16 March 2012.