An SPFL referee has announced his shock retirement from the game after 18 years as an official.
Trailblazer Craig Napier, who became the first openly gay referee in Scottish football when he publicly revealed his sexuality in 2022, announced on his social media that he had sounded the final whistle in a game for the final time during Annan Athletic’s defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in League One earlier this month.
Napier, who was 32 when he came out publicly in a heartfelt and brave SFA announcement in June 2022, took charge of almost 300 senior matches during a decade long career as a category one referee – including 40 in the Premiership, with his final top flight appointment coming in Kilmarnock’s 3-3 thriller with Dundee United in September, where he awarded Jim Goodwin’s visitors an injury time penalty. He has also served as a fourth official during UEFA Nations League and Conference League matches.
In a post on social media, Napier – a qualified GP away from the game – revealed the sacrifices behind becoming a top flight ref. He said: “The final full-time whistle. 18 years, 10 seasons as category one, 1,685 career matches, 283 matches as a referee in senior football, 40 SPFL Premiership appointments and 12 UEFA fourth official appointments.”
When he came out, Napier became the first openly gay figure in Scottish men’s professional football since Justin Fashanu played for Airdrie and Hearts in the mid-1990s, several years after announcing his sexuality. He was followed by fellow referee Lloyd Wilson and Gala Fairydean striker Zander Murray in publicly coming out whilst still being involved in the game.
Speaking to the SFA at the time, Napier said: “If you ask any referee, they’ll tell you that they don’t want to be the centre of attention, just like I don’t want to be a poster-boy for my sexuality. I know there are people who will shrug their shoulders and say, ‘why is this a story?’ I would love to be able to agree with them. Or at least look forward to the day when my reaction would be the same.
“Unfortunately, we’re not there yet so we have to encourage conversation. This feels like the end of a personal journey to self-acceptance. From being confused, not wanting it to be the case, hiding it and wondering if it would impact various aspects of my life. Would it cost my friends? Will it stop me progressing as a referee for whatever reason? I really don’t care now. Happiness is more important, and I’d rather be me.”