UEFA chiefs will not become involved in the threatened strike action by Scottish referees, saying it's a "domestic matter". Some Scottish Premier League clubs were hoping that the European governing body would step in to help if, as expected, Scotland's leading referees confirm industrial action this weekend in protest at the levels of abuse.

It has been reported that Celtic - who have been at the centre of the controversy - hope the strike leads to an independent investigation and UEFA intervention.

A UEFA spokesman said: "This is a purely domestic matter."

There have been suggestions that UEFA and the English Premier League would be approached if the strike action was confirmed, which would see a blank weekend for Scottish football.

But it is understood the Premier League do not have sufficient numbers of officials themselves to offer elsewhere, while all UEFA referees are all drawn from individual associations.

All 31 of the category one officials who were present at a meeting of the Scottish Senior Referees Association yesterday - two others were absent - voted in favour of refusing appointments for the coming weekend.