Scottish referees face a decade of mistrust after Dougie McDonald was caught telling lies, Celtic legend Frank McAvennie told the Scottish Sun. McDonald confessed to lying about how he reached his decision to rescind a penalty for Celtic against Dundee United at Tannadice.
McAvennie said: "It has set referees back 10 years.
"I don't think there is any way back for Dougie, no matter what he says.
"There will be trouble if he referees another Celtic game.
"I'm a great believer in getting in top referees from overseas to handle Old Firm games.
"I remember Stuart Dougal telling me he handled big games in other countries. It's such a powderkeg fixture that a foreign ref and linesman would be the way forward.
"What happened was so blatant. I don't like calling people cheats, but I don't know how Dougie McDonald can referee again.
"He certainly can't referee a Celtic game again.
"He made a mistake and instead of just admitting it he tried to talk his way out of it and lied.
"He's blaming the linesman and the linesman is blaming him and Hugh Dallas has not come out of his room yet.
"Hugh is in hiding - he's with Lord Lucan!
"I thought it was a penalty and nine out of 10 those ones are given. But to give it then change his mind, that adds fuel to the conspiracy theories and all the Celtic fans are going ballistic and saying they've been proved right."
McAvennie added: "I'd like refs to explain why they made a decision, but for some reason they don't want to talk.
"Sometimes they're arrogant and that's what really annoys players. It's as if they're above everyone."
