You're a disgrace: McLeish urges UEFA to axe bungling official

The Scotland manager's anger bubbled over in the wake of the dreadful decision that helped clinch Italy's 2-1 win at Hampden.

And McLeish risked censure from UEFA as he complained about referee Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez and linesman Juan Carlos Jiminez, who wrongly awarded a free-kick against Alan Hutton in the prelude to Christian Panucci's winner.

Sportsmail understands the SFA will make no formal protest to UEFA but that didn't stop McLeish arguing that the pen- pushers in Switzerland must look at the performance of the Spanish officials.

"The official gave the decision, unbelievably - a terrible one, no doubt about it," said McLeish. "And UEFA people must ask him why he gave that and say that's a terrible decision. If it was a player making a terrible decision in a game or a big mistake, he might not play in the next game.

"They will have to look at that official and say: 'Should he be officiating in a game such as that?'

"I think he has made a horrendous mistake. I don't know why he did it. The guy, for me, doesn't deserve to be officiating at a high level."

UEFA did act in the aftermath of Scotland's 3-1 win over Lithuania when a Slovenian referee wrongly awarded a penalty for the dive by Saulius Mikoliunas.

The Hearts winger was given a subsequent two-match ban from international football.

But, although SFA chief executive Gordon Smith said after the final whistle the SFA would 'mark the officials as poor', the reality is it will be the UEFA referee delegate who will grade Gonzalez and friends.

Furious James McFadden embraced the conspiracy theory, as he accused referees of costing Scotland their place at Euro 2008 over recent games.

Gonzalez enraged Hampden with a series of bad decisions that helped condemn Scotland to armchair viewing next summer.

Scotland have had penalty claims denied in their last three qualifiers and McFadden and Alan Hutton were rightly incensed by the free-kick decision that led to Panucci's headed winner, when the Rangers defender was clearly the player fouled.

"I am gutted, absolutely gutted, and it's the same for all the players," said McFadden. "I know you are not supposed to say these things but we were robbed by the referee. It is hard to take. I would not say cheated, but I wouldn't say the referee helped us. I think he was more for Italy than he was for us.

"And, if you look back to the Ukraine game here, there have been some dodgy decisions given against us or not gone our way. I think it goes to prove that we were not wanted at the big championships."

Scotland had two penalty claims denied against Ukraine, then McFadden was also angry not to win one against Georgia in Tbilisi. On Saturday, Gianluca Zambrotta blocked a Lee McCulloch shot with his arm. Hutton could not disguise his frustration at being penalised when he himself was barged by Azzurri substitute Giorgio Chiellini.

"I think it was a terrible decision by the referee," said Hutton. "I was in control of the ball and their player, I don't know who it was, hit into me and they managed to get a foul out of it. It was a foul on me, so it was beyond me. But that's football, I suppose.

"It is a massive decision and it has put us out of the competition. What kind of a decision is that to make? It was very upsetting for me but what can you do?"

Smith, meanwhile, will today start the SFA's investigation into how a Tartan Army punter made it on to the pitch during the game.

The Hampden hierarchy face a fine from UEFA following an incident that mirrored the Celtic v AC Milan tie in the Champions League last month.

Celtic were fined in that instance but, while the Scotland fan in question did not approach any of the players on Saturday, he still had time to dance around in Gigi Buffon's goal after eluding stewards and police.

"I saw what happened immediately after Barry Ferguson scored when a fan came on to the pitch," said Smith. "He was able to cavort around in the penalty area and in the net before he was caught.

"He should not have been there and, although he did not go near Gigi Buffon, he should not have been in the goalkeeper's territory. We will look at our security procedures and a ban for the person involved is definitely something we will discuss."