Well, isn't this the story that just keeps on giving. News this evening that Dougie McDonald has retired as a Category One referee.
McDonald was, of course, the referee at Tannadice for the Dundee United v Celtic match. He gave Celtic a penalty and then changed his mind. He did all that within the rules and probably made the correct decision in the end.
But then he chose to lie about. And triggered off a sequence of increasingly hysterical events that have led to this week's farce.
It was impossible to defend McDonald's position. The minute he lied to Celtic the game was up. Difficult to fight accusations of dishonesty in refereeing when a leading referee has been caught being dishonest.
Hugh Dallas and Dougie McDonald are both now gone. The pound of flesh, probably rightly, has been delivered.
Time for the SFA to reassert their own authority and make sure the refereeing system is properly modernised and the referees themselves are properly protected.
So, now we move on. Hopefully.
Sky on the story:
Controversial Scottish official Dougie McDonald has retired as a category one referee with immediate effect.
The 45-year-old announced his decision in a statement on Sunday night following the first ever Scottish football referee strike this weekend.
McDonald has come under criticism after admitting he had misled Celtic boss Neil Lennon over his decision to rescind a penalty he initially awarded to the Hoops in their league win over Dundee United in October.
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