McDonald faces probe over tackle that triggered row

Scott McDonald could face a ban at the start of next season after his controversial challenge on Dundee United defender Lee Wilkie was referred to the Scottish Football Association’s review panel.

The Celtic forward’s challenge has been passed on to the panel as it was not seen clearly by referee Stuart Dougal, who came under fire from Dundee United boss Craig Levein for failing to stop play immediately so Wilkie could receive treatment.

The review panel will not meet until the end of this season so there is no chance of Australia striker McDonald missing either of Celtic’s two remaining Scottish Premier League matches.

Wilkie, who has lost three years of his career to injury, stayed down after being caught by McDonald’s studs but, when the ball went out for a goal kick, Dougal waved play on, sparking a furious reaction from Levein, who accused the referee of over-reacting to his legitimate protests.

“He lost his composure, stuck his finger in my face and told me to shut up,” the United boss said.

“It wasn’t acceptable. In all my time in football, no other referee has ever done that. I have lost all respect for him after the way he spoke to me.

“If it happened in the pub on a Saturday night to any of you guys, the guy would have got a punch in the face.”

McDonald’s chances of avoiding a ban could be helped by the fact that, immediately after the match, Wilkie absolved him of any blame for the incident.

“He caught me just below the knee but I don’t think it was intentional,” the defender said. “I was waiting for the ref to to stop the game but he waved play on and it looked like he wasn’t going to let the physio on.”

“I said to the referee at half time, ‘what were you playing at?’ and he said, quite arrogantly, that his kids had had bigger knocks than that, which was a stupid comment to make – his kids must be some size.”

McDonald is the second Celtic player to be referred to the SFA panel this week, with Dutchman Glenn Loovens’ challenge on Rangers’ American midfielder Maurice Edu during Saturday’s Old Firm game also being investigated.

An SFA spokesman said: “The same review panel will consider both incidents and we hope to get it convened by the end of this week.”

However, both players will be free to play in the title run-in as the disciplinary committee will not convene until the season is over, if they decide either player has a case to answer.

Levein’s public criticism of the match official could also land him in hot water with the SFA.