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Gordon Smith, the SFA chief executive, yesterday launched a staunch defence of Mike McCurry as Dundee United revealed they will be contacting Smith for "a detailed explanation" of the referee's performance during the league match with Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

McCurry incensed Craig Levein, the Dundee United manager, by denying his side a penalty after David Weir appeared to foul Noel Hunt early in the second half, then disallowed a goal for the visitors due to an erroneous offside decision made by Stuart MacAulay, the assistant referee.

Rangers went on to win the match 3-1, cementing their Clydesdale Bank Premier League title position and ending Dundee United's hopes of qualifying for next season's UEFA Cup.

Levein was scathing of the referee in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's game at Ibrox, prompting Smith to spring to the defence of the referee, who the SFA chief described as "an honest, dedicated professional".

"Everyone at the Scottish FA is hugely disappointed in the accusations that have been levelled at one of our match officials following the match at Ibrox on Saturday," said Smith. "To impinge on a man's integrity in this way is extremely unfair and does nothing to encourage more people to take up refereeing.

"Michael McCurry has been a top-class referee for a number of years and has handled many a high-profile, high-pressure game. He has shown his own strength of character by being willing to be up front with his explanation of why he made these crucial decisions. To suggest that there was any kind of agenda behind the decisions does a massive disservice to the game and, quite frankly, is completely unfair.

"Football is a game played by people and people can make mistakes. It is always frustrating when decisions go against you, but this has been a part of football since the game started.

"We rely on our referees to make decisions in a split second and without the benefit of countless replays. I think that it is extremely sad that an honest, dedicated professional has been treated in this way."

McCurry used the Whistleblower website to explain the thinking behind his decisions, saying he was unsighted for the penalty claim, but admitting that, after watching replays of the incident, a penalty should have been awarded.

"I saw Noel Hunt fall to the ground with David Weir in close proximity behind him," said McCurry. "As my vantage point was extremely poor, it was not possible for me to say what, or if any, infringement had occurred. On this basis, I had no option but to allow play to continue amidst the appeal for a penalty.

"I have now had the benefit of seeing the incident again on television. I believe . . . I would have awarded Dundee United a penalty and would have cautioned Weir. In my opinion, there was another defender in close proximity with the possible opportunity to make a defensive challenge on the attacker."

McCurry also admitted he had erred in his decision to rule out a Dundee United goal after he and MacCaulay mistakenly believed David Robertson, the United player, and not Weir had got the final touch on Danny Swanson's shot. "The ball appeared to me to be deflected off a Rangers player and entered the goal," he added. "As I turned to award a goal it was brought to my attention that the stand-side assistant referee had his flag raised, signalling that an offside infringement had occurred.

"I informed the assistant referee that it appeared to me that the ball was deflected off a Rangers player. The assistant referee told me that he had not seen it touch a Rangers player, but had definitely seen it played by the Dundee United player, David Robertson," he added.

"Given that Robertson was behind the Rangers player, my view was such that I could not tell if the ball had been played by Robertson last before entering the goal.

"Consequently, I decided to accept the advice of my assistant referee. Again, with the benefit of seeing the incident again numerous times on television, I consider it would have been more appropriate to conclude that Robertson was not involved in active play and would have allowed the goal to stand."

Dundee United, however, will continue to pursue clarification on the matter, believing they have been the victims of a pro-Glasgow bias.

Derek Robertson, the Dundee United director, said: "We will be looking for a detailed explanation of the decisions in several controversial incidents during the game. We will also be seeking answers from the authorities on how so many such incidents - all in favour of one side - and the inevitable and understandable contention this causes, can be avoided in the future.

"It is widely thought that there is a bias shown against provincial clubs when visiting Glasgow, with Saturday's game being highlighted as a prime example of this and reinforcing this view.

"This is damaging to the game as a whole and Dundee United believes that this situation should not be allowed to continue without careful examination and constructive proposals and dialogue between clubs and authorities.

"For the record, the club will be backing the manager on all the important issues and hopes that his honestly held views can be used as a catalyst for constructive change."

Levein is still disillusioned by the events. "I have lost all respect for Mike McCurry," said Levein. "I thought he was one of the referees who could make the difficult decision, but he has shown I was wrong.

"By those actions he has shown a lack of respect for me, the Dundee United directors, our players and every Dundee United fan."