Craig McLeish, the manager of St Mirren, has been charged by the Scottish Football Association for his comments regarding referee Sean Murdoch. The charges stem from McLeish's remarks after a League Cup match against Dunfermline, where he questioned a free-kick decision and a penalty awarded to the opposing team. McLeish had made a comment about Murdoch's past as a goalkeeper for Dunfermline, which he later claimed was a joke and not meant to imply bias.
However, the SFA has charged McLeish with breaching disciplinary rule 72, which prohibits public criticism of referees that suggests bias or incompetence. McLeish has expressed disappointment over the charges, and a hearing is scheduled for August 27.
This incident is not isolated, as Rangers manager Derek McInnes was previously handed a four-match ban for similar comments, and former Motherwell player Elliot Watt received a four-match ban for criticizing a VAR decision on social media.