St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin has urged Nicola Sturgeon not to punish Scottish football clubs for SFA incompetence as the fallout from the refereeing cohort's Greek odyssey continues.
Graeme Stewart ran the line in Saturday's Scottish Premiership game between Hibernian and Hamilton despite being a close contact of fellow assistant referee David Roome, who returned a positive test on Wednesday.
Stewart and Roome, along with referee Bobby Madden, had officiated together in Greece last Sunday. Madden was pulled from officiating in Ross County's match against Celtic on Sunday evening at late notice when the error became apparent
The SFA described the incident as "a breakdown in internal process" and admitted Stewart's appointment contravened Scottish government rules regarding the self-isolation of close contacts.
The officials had taken charge of the usually powder-keg derby between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium in Athens at the request of Greek FA refereeing chief and former Premier League ref Mark Clattenburg.
An internal investigation has now been launched, but Saints boss Goodwin - whose side were initially deducted points for players contravening protocols by, among several citations, sitting too close during a pre-match meal before a successful appeal - admitted he was concerned about the reaction from Holyrood.
It follows Nicola Sturgeon's warning for football to "get its house in order" following the 'Rangers five' COVID party breach that saw a small group of Gers players attend an unsanctioned gathering in Glasgow.
Goodwin said: “It’s a little bit embarrassing for the SFA, especially a week or so after the First Minister has given us all a slap on the wrist, told us to get things in order and had a go at clubs.
“Hopefully the official who was meant to be isolating doesn’t test positive.
“If he was running the line and in close proximity with these players, we all hope the official is ok and the Hibs and Hamilton players and staff are not affected by it.”
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell has since apologised to both clubs involved over the incident.
Appearing on BBC Sportsound, SFA spokesman Darryl Broadfoot explained there was a "communication breakdown" between the two departments supposed to be regulating the trip.
“What happened should never have happened," he told the programme.
“It’s OK saying they have complied with Uefa protocol. The difference is as soon as you get a positive test the Scottish Government’s health protection system kicks in. It trumps Uefa’s protocols.
“I think there was a communication breakdown between the referee ops department and the medics.”
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