HIBS boss Lee Johnson has been criticsed by two former referees for his part in Ryan Porteous' conduct in winning a penalty against Aberdeen on Saturday.
The Edinburgh side beat Jim Goodwin's outfit 3-1 in the capital thanks to a Martin Boyle spot kick and a Josh Campbell double.
Goodwin blasted at the penalty decision, as he branded Porteous a cheat in a move which eventually saw Liam Scales sent off.
Hibs boss Johnson backed his player, insisting that it was "good play" from the Scotland defender.
And former whistlers Des Roache and Steve Conroy have slammed the Easter Road manager for condoning Porteous' behaviour/
Speaking on the Get Involved Referee podcast, Roache said: “As bad as that is, what’s worse is that his manager is condoning it. He said in his post-match interview that ‘good play forced the sending off’.
"That has to be looked at – a manager encouraging and enticing his players to get another player sent off. Let’s take that back to the bones – that’s cheating. Porteous is in the wrong and the manager is even worse, in my opinion.”
Conroy added: “It goes beyond condoning, it’s encouraging cheating. Let’s not kid ourselves here.
"It was cheating by Porteous and his manager is coming out and praising him for it.
"I have said before I don’t understand how the SFA do their business. Going by what is being reported, Johnson could get away with encouraging his player to cheat and Goodwin could be hauled up by the beaks for calling Porteous out.
“I feel sorry for David Dickinson because he has also been cheated by what Porteous has done.
"And what worries me is that the choreography of events didn’t look natural – it looked practiced.
"Johnson has come out and basically said he’s encouraging his players to cheat.
"Surely they have some common sense up there (Hampden)? You can’t come out and say that. It’s in neon lights – Hibs encourage you to cheat.”
