Kris Commons has told Derek McInnes he should not have felt the need to apologise for reacting to sectarian abuse from Celtic fans.
The Aberdeen boss was sent to the stands after gesturing to Hoops supporters after they directed chants of "sad Orange b*****d" at him.
Afterwards, McInnes insisted he was wrong to react to the bigoted song.
But Commons has absolved the 47-year-old of blame because he was the victim not the offender.
In his Daily Mail column, the former Celtic star said: "McInnes felt the need to explain himself after being verbally abused by thousands of people inside a football stadium.
"Can someone please tell me why? Nobody should ever have to justify their actions when they are on the receiving end of these idiotic chants.
"McInnes struck a really dignified tone in his post-match comments by saying he was 'wrong' to react to the Celtic fans in the way he did.
"But he wasn’t in the wrong at all – he would have been fully entitled to come out and give them both barrels.
"In fact, he only stopped short of offering an apology. It’s such a sad reflection of Scottish football because he had absolutely nothing to be sorry for.
"Let’s call it out for what it is – religious hatred. It’s been happening all year in what is turning out to be a season of shame."
Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke and Rangers manager Steven Gerrard are just two others who have been subjected to "Fenian" and "Orange" chants this season.
McInnes revealed the Hampden incident has been included in the match delegate’s report.
