Aberdeen have no regrets over ref rant

Aberdeen director Willie Miller insists the Dons won't be gagged by the SFA - no matter how much they're fined, reports the Scottish Sun.

The Dons face a hefty punishment for using their official website to launch an explosive attack on rookie ref Steven Nicholls.

But Miller remained unrepentant: "We had to take a stance and what we said was common sense. If the SFA feel they need to take action that's up to them."

The criticism of ref Nicholls' display at Easter Road, when he sent off two Dons in the 2-0 defeat to Hibs, has sparked fury among refs and within the corridors of power.

The Dons accused the ref of being hell bent on sending players off, acting like Hibs' 12th man and threatening to turn the match into a farce.

Miller said: "What was said is the club's point of view. We are assuring our fans that we want to see the game in Scotland and at Aberdeen played in a certain way.

"Saturday's game wasn't physical, yet we ended up with two players sent off for innocuous challenges.

"The referee was inexperienced and there was no need for some of the tackles to end in bookings. Our fans were short-changed at Easter Road, someone has to take a stand.

"I refuse to stay silent when almost 2,000 Dons fans paid good money to go to Edinburgh and didn't get value for it because of things outwith the control of the players.

"These fans won't keep coming back if games are reduced to a farce. Hopefully the SFA will see we are making some valid points. I am sure this question of refereeing standards is on a lot of managers' minds."

Referees supremo Hugh Dallas claimed Dons boss Mark McGhee should have phoned him before the explosive statement was posted. "I'd encourage any coach or manager who has an issue on any refereeing matter to contact me."