Kenny Clark said it was "open season" on match officials

The Scottish Football Association has gone soft on dealing with managers who criticise match officials, according to a former top referee.

Kenny Clark, who retired as a Grade One official at the end of the season, says the SFA must adopt a tougher stance.

He told BBC Scotland: "Referees are blamed but managers are loathe to criticise their players."

Clark said it was "open season" on match officials and that managers threw up a smokescreen to blame referees.

Clark, who refereed his final game in Aberdeen's 2-0 victory over Rangers on the last day of the Scottish Premier League season, said officials were not receiving the respect they deserved.

And he urged the SFA to consider how it approached the growing tide of criticism against referees.

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"In my opinion, the SFA in recent years has gone soft on coaches - particularly on comments during post-match conferences.

"It used to be managers and coaches were far more careful about what they said, now it seems to be open season."

Clark added: "They throw up a smokescreen blaming the referee and then fans start having a go at the referee as well."