Jimmy Calderwood, the Dunfermline manager, yesterday described the SFA as ''unprofessional and antiquated'' after they turned down the club's appeal of Steve Crawford's sending-off against Dundee. The Scotland striker was red-carded by referee Willie Young for an alleged punch on goalkeeper Julian Speroni in the 2-2 draw on Wednesday night.
Dunfermline appealed using TV footage of the incident, which shows the 28-year-old trying to wrestle the ball free from the Argentine with an open hand, before Speroni fell to the ground.
The SFA's disciplinary committee ruled that ''from the viewing angle there was insufficient evidence to prove that the referee was wrong''.
Crawford is automatically suspended from today's game against former club Hibs and faces a further two-match ban.
Calderwood hit out at the way football is structured north of the border and the fact the club could not be represented at the hearing at Hampden Park.
He explained: ''They are agreeing with the referee's report but the referee said to Stevie after the game that he had punched the boy and now they're saying it was an attempted punch in the report.
''Because of the antiquated laws in this country, you can't defend yourself, not being there. I can't see why we can't go and sit there. It's just another example of how far we're behind. They're trying to make a professional sport of it and they treat it as amateurs.
''We don't know who the governing body is, they've all got their own wee castles, and I'm sick of it. Get one governing body, get the rules, and find out what we're doing.
''If you want to ask about suspensions you've got to ask one body, if you want to ask about a game you've got to ask another body. In 2002, we're still trying to be professional.''
In an outburst which is sure to put him in further trouble with the game's governing body, he also revealed that Young told Crawford after the game that if the striker had not punched Speroni then he should not be refereeing. But Calderwood said: ''Referees make mistakes, they've only got a split second to make a decision. They've not got the time we have with the cameras.''
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