Dons to explain referee criticism

Referee Nicholls sends off Chris Maguire in the second half

Aberdeen have confirmed the Scottish FA has contacted the club seeking an explanation for criticism of referee Steven Nicholls earlier this week.

A website statement from the Dons pilloried the official for sending off Maurice Ross and Chris Maguire during Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Hibernian.

Aberdeen director of football Willie Miller said: "I would hope they would see there are valid points."

The statement was not attributed to any individual or official at the club.

The SFA's head of referee development Hugh Dallas had said "very comfortable with the two major decisions in the match".

Aberdeen's statement claimed the match had "almost descended into farce" because of what they describe as "the antics of the man in the middle".

It also said that Nicholls was "hell-bent" on ordering players off.

Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee had criticised Nicholls following the match, in which two late goals by Liam Miller and Colin Nish secured victory for the Edinburgh side.

But the statement, which was posted on Monday, also insisted the referee was intent on establishing his authority on the match from kick-off and appealed for a more "common-sense" approach to refereeing.

Responding to the remarks, Dallas asserted that football was unpredictable and referees have to marshal matches on an individual basis and take the appropriate disciplinary action when players breach the rules.

Miller said on Tuesday that he hoped the club would avoid censure for criticising the referee.