Derek McInnes has opened up a can of worms for the SFA following his all in media conference at Hampden today.
The Dons boss was dismissed from the technical area midway through the second half as the discipline of his players collapsed with two players sent off.
Craig Thomson clearly took instructions from fourth official Nick Walsh with McInnes dismissed from 20 yards away without any conversation with Thomson.
It seemed a standard dismissal of a manager whose cup dream had died a death, losing for the fourth time in three years at the national stadium to the same opponents.
McInnes then indulged in a longer conversation with Walsh, as he eventually made his way up the tunnel there were some Celtic fans foolishly singing the ‘Cheer Up’ song.
During a lengthy interview with Radio Scotland after the match McInnes apologised for reacting to Celtic supporters but didn’t make any mention to a chant or song.
Behind his technical area was the area of the South Stand filled by Aberdeen supporters, the Celtic fans behind him to his right were fairly sedate.
A third sending off for Aberdeen…
This time manager Derek McInnes is dismissed to the stands ????#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/DQvqsUd4Qn
— Premier Sports ???? (@PremierSportsTV) April 14, 2019
Following his Radio Scotland interview McInnes went into the general media conference where one reporter asked if his reaction was in response to sectarian singing from Celtic fans which the Aberdeen boss decided to go along with.
There was a small amount of Celtic fans in the North Stand, in the area closest to Aberdeen supporters, who did sing the Cheer Up song but it was very isolated. This was while McInnes was in the technical area.
Having claimed that his dismissal was as a reaction to sectarian singing the SFA are duty bound to look into the issue.
Brutal challenge, absolute disgracehttps://t.co/SL52N7mVR2
— Joe McHugh (@videocelts) April 14, 2019