SFA probe Dougal outburst
Dougal was caught out by television replays during Sunday's match at Partick Thistle with the official appearing to tell Nerlinger to 'f*** off'.
The Scottish Football Association received a complaint about the incident and are conducting an investigation in to the allegations.
The worst-case scenario for Dougal is that he could lose his referee's badge after The SFA confirmed they are probing the matter.
"Stuart has been invited to submit his comments," said SFA disciplinary chief Drew Herbertson.
"Regrettably, from time to time, a referee has been the subject of an allegation from a club regarding the alleged use of foul language towards players.
"These arise fairly infrequently but attention is given to these matters as a matter of course.
"It is inappropriate at this stage to speak of sanctions. The matter will be referred to the referee committee."
Dougal, though, has been backed by Nerlinger with the German insisting the referee should not be punished for his outburst.
"Players and refs can get caught up in the occasion and controversial things can be said in the heat of the moment," Nerlinger told the Daily Record.
"We are all adults here so we should be grown up about the situation.
"I've never heard of anything like this happening before where a referee can be charged with bringing the game in to disrepute. It's strange and I sympathise with Stuart Dougal.
"Everyone is under pressure and the most important thing for the referee is that he makes the right decisions. What he says shouldn't matter too much."
