Professor Jason Leitch reckons Dave Cormack 's claim he is shirking showdown talks with football chiefs is unfair.
The Aberdeen chairman this week launched a stinging attack on the Government over a perceived disinterest in getting fans back into stadiums.
National clinical director Leitch understands football's grievance but insists he "can't be at every meeting".
He reminded Cormack he has no decision-making power and maintains sport officials within Holyrood are in daily contact with the SFA and SPFL.
Leitch told BBC's Off The Ball : "I don't think I have (shirked away from talks). I mean, there's only one national clinical director so I can't be at every single meeting with every single sector.
"This week I've done faith leaders, retail leaders, one of my deputies did airports.
"The minister for sport met with the SFA and SPFL.
"This is a pandemic that affects every single aspect of society. And the chief medical officer, chief nurse and I give the best advice we can inside all of those sectors.
"I understand some feel aggrieved we should spend more time talking to restaurant number two or club number four or whoever that happens to be.
"But, honestly, our motives are good. We're trying our best to give the best advice we can.
"And, remember, I'm not trying to shirk this, I am not the decision-maker.
"Nobody elected me, thank goodness. So, I am one of the advisers amongst a host of others and then the decision-makers get to (decide) because of the jobs they're in.
"I wouldn't thank them for that job. They have to make these impossible choices, whether they're the leaders of France or Scotland.
"It's really hard."
Aberdeen have formulated a plan for the safe turn of supporters to grounds that the Pittodrie chairman feels is being ignored, despite having the backing of an epidemiologist.
Sports minister Joe FitzPatrick has also found himself in Cormack's crosshairs as he pushes for turnstiles to open.
Leitch remains adamant it's wide of the mark to suggest either of them are dodging tough questions.
He continued: "I don't think that's fair. Mr FitzPatrick, the minister for sport, met with the SFA and SPFL this week.
"He meets with them, maybe not quite weekly, but, regularly.
"I've met with those leaders a few times. I had conversation this week with the youth side of the SPFL and SFA.
"I think we're in touch, regularly, with the football authorities across the whole of the Government.
"Remember, there are also sports officials inside the Government who support Mr FitzPatrick, not me.
"There are sports officials and they speak to the authorities pretty much daily."
Earlier this week, Cormack exclusively told Record Sport : "I’ve asked multiple times for football to get together with the First Minister and the decision makers.
“I can tell you there are people who work for the Government who are highly frustrated with where we are.
“But these are the guys we are dealing with and they are four levels removed from the decision making.
“So the reality is we are asking for a conversation with the FM and her decision makers over the crisis we face and why it makes sense to bring fans back without endangering the safety of people.
“And when they say they are not meeting with any other sectors or individual industry groups, it’s not true. I know for a fact they meet every couple of weeks with the oil and gas sector because Roy MacGregor of Ross County is on that call along with the FM.
“So I don’t know why they have this problem with football? I don’t get it.”
