[KIPAX]

FA BACK DOWN ON PRE-SEASON REFEREE DEBACLE
The Football Association have backed down on a controversial referee ruling that could have cost non-League clubs hundreds of pounds.
They had ruled that when non-League teams meet Football League or Premiership clubs in pre-season friendlies, they must engage officials qualified to take charge of League or Premiership matches and pay threm at the appropriate rate.
That could have pushed up the bill for officials for games from around £150 to more than £450 and a good deal more than that for Premiership officials.
But after protests from a number of non-League representatives, the FA's Referees Committee has issued new instructions.
They say match officials will still need to be at the level appropriate to the highest competing team but that clubs may continue to organise their own officials and arrange their own remuneration.
If the appointment is made by one of the appointing authorities, the match officials are, "in the absence of any other agreement", to be paid the fees and travelling expenses appropriate to the competition of the lower club competing in the match by the home side.