Thursday 16 February 2017 08:55, UK
Motherwell boss Mark McGhee claims he will be consulting a lawyer about his treatment after being sent to the stands in his team's 7-2 defeat at Aberdeen.
The Scotland assistant manager was ejected from the dugout after an hour of the game at Pittodrie then became embroiled in a foul-mouthed exchange with an Aberdeen supporter.
McGhee claims the decision to send him off was a result of fourth official John McKendrick's overzealous attitude rather than a misdemeanour.
He said: "I'm absolutely disgusted and horrified by the attitude of the fourth official. Before a ball was kicked, he was causing issues that didn't exist.
"I'm not blaming the referee, because he can only go by what the fourth official said.
"I wasn't even getting excited about the fact we were losing the game. I wasn't losing my patience, I wasn't losing my temper. I was having a bit of a laugh actually.
"But right from the very first minute the fourth official seemed to me to have made up his mind, the attitude he was taking.
"To be honest, he spoiled the game for me as much as the seven goals did. Really, his attitude was diabolical."
Asked if he would be speaking to referee chief John Fleming, McGhee continued: "John Fleming? I'll be speaking to a lawyer. I can only think there is an agenda."
Home manager Derek McInnes was delighted with his team's biggest win of his tenure as Aberdeen scored seven goals in a league match for the first time since 1992.
While Adam Rooney took his goals tally for the season to 15 with a hat-trick, it was Ryan Christie's outrageous dinked finish into the top corner with the outside of his boot which thrilled McInnes most.
He said: "We've seen the goal of the season from Ryan Christie. It was top drawer. With the outside of his boot, it's so nonchalant and right into the stanchion.
"I'm absolutely delighted with the level of performance. Individually there was such a high level of performance.
"It was such a strong team performance. To score so many goals and threaten to score many more was above expectations."
Scotland manager Gordon Strachan was in the Pittodrie crowd and would have been impressed with the performances of Christie's midfield partners Ryan Jack and Kenny McLean.
McInnes added: "Ryan and Kenny are international players. They showed that tonight. For me, they're going to have good Scotland careers and they did themselves no harm tonight."
