THE long-simmering feud involving Aberdeen and Rangers football fans is to be raised in the Scottish Parliament after a leading referee claimed he had received threats of violence.
Glasgow-based referee Mike McCurry said he had received dozens of threatening telephone calls at home and work after his controversial handling of the Pittodrie clash between the sides last Sunday.
Mr McCurry incurred the wrath of Aberdeen fans when he turned down two penalty claims, sent off one of their players, and missed Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen kicking an opponent.
A Scottish Football Association spokesman yesterday confirmed that the official raised the threats with referees' supremo Drew Herbertson on Wednesday night at Hampden, before Scotland played Australia, where Mr McCurry was acting as the fourth official.
An SFA spokesman said: ''We are deeply concerned about any threat to referees whether at stadia or at their home.''
Scottish Conservative Party spokesman on sport, Brian Monteith, expressed concern at the latest twist to the simmering feud.
He said: ''I intend to write to Junior Sports Minister Allan Wilson, to ask him to call officials from Aberdeen and Rangers together, and impress on them that they must do everything in their power to ensure that an end is brought to this dangerous feud. Action is needed before a tragedy occurs.''
But, Mr Wilson said last night: ''It is a matter for the football authorities and the police in the first instance.''
Mr Brian Adam, SNP MSP for the North-east, who is a season ticket and shareholder at Pittodrie, last night condemned the threats and agreed the time could be near when the Scottish Parliament may have to consider how to defuse the tensions between each set of fans.
Mr Adam said: ''It is time the club officials and players of both Aberdeen and Rangers said 'what is in the past is in the past and we should draw a line under it'. With relations between Aberdeen and Rangers fans continuing to fester, maybe the time is near when the Scottish Parliament should consider the matter.''
Mr Martin Rose, secretary of the Scottish Federation of Football Supporters Clubs, called on the clubs to make a public statement condemning the threats.
Aberdeen yesterday said they would not instigate legal proceedings against Ricksen following his incident with Dons midfielder Darren Young.
Ricksen further fanned the flames of the row by stating on a website that he had decided to ''straighten out'' Young because he had fouled Rangers striker Michael Mols.
No-one from Aberdeen was available last night to comment on the threats against Mr McCurry. A spokesman for Rangers said: ''The club condemns anyone who would make threats of this nature.''
There has been a long history of trouble between Aberdeen and Rangers. It is widely perceived that it started in 1988 after Neil Simpson's controversial challenge on Ian Durrant. However, some maintain that a stamp by Rangers' Willie Johnston eight years earlier on the neck of John McMaster was the catalyst for the troubles.
Last week an Aberdeen fan was banned from using the club's website after sending an e-mail saying how delighted he was that two of the Ibrox club's fans had been killed in a road accident.
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