St Mirren manager Craig McLeish has been charged by the Scottish FA for publicly criticising referee Sean Murdoch following his side’s League Cup defeat to Dunfermline last week. The Buddies, who finished 10th in the Premiership last season with 30 points (7W-9D-17L), now face a disciplinary hearing on August 27.
What happened?
McLeish questioned Murdoch’s impartiality after a contentious first-half free-kick led to a disallowed St Mirren goal, followed by a late penalty awarded to Dunfermline. The 36-year-old later claimed his remark-'who was he a goalkeeper for?'-was a joke, referencing Murdoch’s past as a Dunfermline player. The SFA, however, cited disciplinary rule 72, which prohibits public criticism implying bias or incompetence.
Why does this matter for St Mirren?
The charge adds pressure ahead of their Premiership opener at Falkirk on Saturday, live on Sky Sports. St Mirren, who conceded 48 goals last season (27 scored, -21 difference), must now navigate the distraction as they prepare to face a tough campaign, having finished 40 points behind leaders Heart of Midlothian in 2025.
What comes next?
The club stated they will 'fully assess the notice' before responding, with no further comment until then. McLeish, disappointed by the action, joins a growing list of managers sanctioned under rule 72, including Rangers’ Derek McInnes and former Motherwell player Elliot Watt. The hearing date looms as St Mirren focus on their next fixture: an away trip to Hibernian on December 30.
