Jim Jefferies questions whether McDonald can referee Celtic again

Hearts boss Jim Jefferies has publicly questioned whether Dougie McDonald can ever referee another Celtic match.

The question that the SFA refuse to consider was aired by the Hearts boss as he previewed Sunday’s derby with Hibs.

Jefferies has been given an additional two match ban for his outburst after Hearts lost 3-0 to Celtic earlier this season.

Questioned about the latest refereeing farce the Hearts boss said: “Things have come out over the last weekend. Steven Craven had his say then Dougie admitted he got it wrong.

“But the thing that has everyone talking is why didn’t he go into the room with the supervisor and just tell it like it was?

“He made a mistake, fair enough, but to try to make up something that wasn’t true is where it has caused problems.

“I have listened to a lot of comments and some people have concerns.

“I am not suggesting for a minute that Dougie might, but if he took a game involving Celtic and there were any contentious decisions given in favour of them, what is the other manager going to be thinking? It is a problem that needs to be sorted out.

“But I believe referees are honest. Dougie made a mistake then tried to put it right. It’s how he went about it that has caused the problem.”

Dougie Dougie will be in charge of tomorrow’s Falkirk Ross County match and has been left out of the midweek round of SPL fixtures.

The SFA will be looking for a low profile match to reintroduce Dougie Dougie to Celtic but three weeks on from his lies at Tannadice the matter isn’t going to die down or be forgotten.