Referee at centre of strike protest quits

DOUGIE McDONALD last night blasted the Scottish Football Association for failing to protect referees from attacks on their integrity as he announced his immediate retirement from the professional game.

McDonald has stepped down from the SFA’s category one list in an attempt to move the spotlight away from his role in the crisis engulfing Scottish football.

McDonald’s decision to rescind a penalty he had awarded to Celtic last month, and subsequent admission that he had misled his supervisor and Celtic manager Neil Lennon over the circumstances, sparked the escalation of events leading to this weekend’s referees’ strike action.

McDonald initially resisted pressure to resign over what he claimed was a “white lie” told to protect his assistant, Steven Craven.

But Celtic chairman John Reid called for him to quit 10 days ago and McDonald has done so — but only so his colleagues are given the opportunity to rebuild their relationship with the SFA, managers, clubs and fans.

And McDonald, who received a warning from the SFA over the inaccuracies in his post-match statements on the Dundee United-Celtic match, insisted the problems were rooted deeper than the Tannadice encounter.

In a statement, McDonald said: “My category one colleagues decided rightly to withdraw their services from matches this weekend in response to the outrageous way they have been treated by sections within Scottish football and, in my opinion, the lack of support they have received from the SFA general purposes committee in recent years.

“However, their united stand, and the position of strength they have established this weekend, has been clouded by one issue, namely the aftermath of the Dundee United v Celtic match on October 17.

“I apologised for my role in that and wanted my previously unblemished 29-year career to move on.

“Now is the time for all of Scottish football to move on.”

McDonald warned that another weekend of strike action would “undoubtedly” come if the football community did not temper its criticism of referees.

And he hopes his decision to stand down will lead to media coverage being concentrated on “those who engage in referee-bashing and those who condone it”.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon will have to wait to discover his fate after today’s meeting of the SFA’s general purposes committee was cancelled due to adverse weather.

The Irishman faces an automatic two-match ban after being sent off during the defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle on November 10, following a furious tirade against fourth official Steven McLean.

Referee Craig Thomson accused the Hoops boss of “excessive misconduct” for his angry reaction after his side were denied a penalty claim, which could lead to further time in the stands.

Back on the pitch, Paddy McCourt reopened the debate about his value to Celtic with another solo goal in the Scottish Premier League against Inverness at Parkhead on Saturday.

The enigmatic Derryman, 26, has struggled to pin down a regular starting berth since signing from Derry City in 2008 and came off the bench once more to have a hand in Ki Sung-yueng’s opener and to then score his 65th-minute wonder goal.

However, Celtic threw away their advantage as goals from Dubliner Richie Foran and Grant Munro earned a point for the visitors.

Referee Alain Hamer and his officials flew in from Luxembourg to take charge of the game due to the local referees’ strike and did nothing to upset either set of fans or the managers.

The Hoops are now two points behind SPL leaders Rangers, who had their match at Dundee United yesterday postponed due to adverse weather.