THE scene must be wearily familiar to Hugh Dallas.

Appointed only in late July to the position of head referee of the Greek Super League on the recommendation of Pierluigi Collina, the famed former Italian match official and a close friend, the Scot is already facing up to something of a mini-crisis amid scenes of public consternation.

The hope had been that by appointing a foreigner to select and assess referees, Greek football would be able to finally rid itself of the persistent allegations of corruption and match-fixing that have plagued the country's football in recent years. There are already fears, however, that it may prove a challenge too great for just one man in a league where the powerful and the rich tend to hold sway.

Already this season, there is a feeling that standards have dropped rather than improved on the watch of the Scottish Football Association's former head of referee development. In last week's Athens derby between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, a contentious penalty was awarded in favour of the former, while the winning goal came from a controversial free kick decision.

In other games there have been questionable offside flags, and debatable red cards. Rino Gattuso, the former Rangers player now manager of OFI Crete, will at least have a familiar face to complain to the next time decisions go against his side.

Such has been the level of outcry about the way the campaign has started, that Dallas will meet the Greek authorities next week to discuss it. "I have my opinion about things and I have watched the games but I cannot make a comment on it for now," he said.

"But I am aware of the situation. I will go to Athens on November 14 to speak with the Greek Football Federation. That's my role, to inform the federation. At the moment I can't make further comment, but I know what is going on."