Referee Dougie McDonald remains convinced that Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady deserved his second yellow card for diving during the Hoops' 1-0 win over Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday.

The game's flashpoint came when the Republic of Ireland player, booked in the first half for a foul on Derek Riordan, was sent off by McDonald after he went to ground following a challenge by Hibs defender Paul Hanlon.

Parkhead manager Tony Mowbray raged at the decision and claimed assistant Gary Sweeney had flagged to indicate a free-kick to the visitors.

McDonald admitted Sweeney's flag was raised for a Celtic foul but claims he over-ruled his linesman because he was in a better position.

The official reportedly held a post-match debrief with the SFA's Head of Referee Development Hugh Dallas, who is backing McDonald's decision.

"Hugh has spoken with Dougie and they are absolutely satisfied the correct decision was taken at that moment in the match," an SFA spokesman told the Daily Record.

"The referee was very well positioned at the incident, although the assistant did flag because he felt the Celtic player had been fouled.

"Any action of any player that is designed to deceive the referee is a cautionable offence, no matter where on the pitch it happens.

"It was in that context the yellow card was shown."

In a week in which Arsenal’s Eduardo was charged with ‘deceiving the referee’ to win a penalty against Celtic in the Champions League qualifiers, Mowbray refused to look at the McGeady incident again on television afterwards.

Instead he insisted the furore surrounding Eduardo which led to McDonald taking action.

The Celtic boss said: “If the Eduardo situation had not been blown up so big nationally, 99 times out of 100, maybe even 100 out of 100, it would never have been a yellow card.

“I think the referee has been influenced by the diving situation.

“I don’t need to look at it again, it happened right in front of me.

“It was unfortunate for Aiden. It was a poor decision and we are in all in disbelief.

“You have to put it into the context of the boy travelling 50 yards before the incident. He went to ground because he was knackered.

“He skipped past the first and second tackle and seen the third tackle. He has to ride tackles otherwise players like Aiden will never play football.

“Is it a dive? Never in a million years. A dive is when you try to influence the referee, you throw your arms up and so on.”