The SFA are likely to shy away from punishing Jim McLean for his attack on a BBC reporter. It had been thought the SFA would throw the book at the former Dundee United chairman but it seems THEY are running scared. McLean resigned his position after the assault on John Barnes but he knew his behaviour would be discussed by the SFA's general purposes committee, who meet on Tuesday.

The incident after United's 4-0 defeat by Hearts on Saturday will also be discussed at a board meeting of the SPL today but they will also be unwilling to take action. The game's governors are becoming increasingly wary of infringing on the basic rights of individuals and if any punishment is handed down it will be on United as a club rather than their major shareholder. There had been talk of a life ban for McLean but the SFA have already had to back off one case because they had no authority under EC law and they are likely to do the same again. It is understood they called Celtic's chief executive Allan MacDonald to account for his actions regarding the now infamous Hugh Dallas/ psychologist affair but had to rethink their strategy.

They were advised that in this more EU aware age they had no real right to bring MacDonald to book and it is unlikely they will risk being challenged legally by McLean. It is believed the SFA and SPL would only be on secure legal grounds if they were to attack the club rather than McLean. Yesterday McLean received a letter from the association's disciplinary committee warning him about his future conduct following comments he made to a referee during an under-21 game against St Johnstone. ©Daily Record