Kilmarnock have submitted a formal complaint to the Scottish Football Association after referee chief John Fleming claimed Jordan Jones had dived against Dundee.
The Northern Ireland winger agreed to accept a two-match ban after he was charged with simulation following his side’s win at Dens Park.
However, the Rugby Park outfit made it clear their player had not acted in a premeditated manner when he won his side a controversial spot-kick, insisting the only reason they had not challenged the punishment was a lack of supporting TV evidence.
Fleming has angered Killie bosses after he wrote to a Dundee fans group saying Jones of threw himself to the ground “solely to deceive the referee”.
In his letter to the Dundee Supporters’ Association (DSA), which was revealed by the Tele, Fleming stated: “The two-match suspension offered to the player has been accepted by the club which, in my opinion, clearly indicates the player committed an act of simulation during the match. On accepting the two-match suspension, the club, in my opinion, are accepting the player committed the act, solely to deceive the referee.”
However, that has enraged Kilmarnock, who released a statement which read: “The original correspondence from the DSA to the SFA and Mr Fleming expressing concern over the suitability of Steven McLean to take charge of Kilmarnock matches was completely baseless and cast unfounded aspersions on the referee’s character.
“It is highly ironic that after another organisation has cast aspersions on the integrity of a match official, it is our club which has been the subject of negative remarks.”
Dundee fans’ group writes to top officials over referee Steven McLean’s links to Kilmarnock
