IN THE wake of Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final handball howler, calls for the introduction of video replays have been matched by pleas for better understanding of how tough a job officials have.

Neither is likely to happen any time soon - if at all - but one man who was no stranger to controversial refereeing decisions believes something should, and can, be done immediately.

Chris Sutton has called for Alan Muir - the additional assistant referee closest to the scene when Josh Meekings thrust out his right hand to block Leigh Griffiths' goal-bound header - to be removed from job altogether.

The Hoops hero - now a summariser for BT Sport - could not believe what he was seeing as he watched referee Steven McLean wave play on, while Celtic were also so gobsmacked they wrote to the SFA asking for an explanation.

Their intention was never to have Meekings charged by the Compliance Officer, as has since happened; there is nothing in that for them. Rather, they wanted clarification of the match officials' decision process.

In these pages yesterday, the head of refs at the SFA, John Fleming, tried to defend the non-action by the gaggle of men whose faces were as red as their tops, and revealed introducing TV replays for major incidents had already been discussed at international level.

He can see how it would be of great assistance. But, if it ever did get the green light, it would be on a trial basis.

If that day ever dawned, it appears to be light years away.

But Sutton wants the button pushed on Muir now - and has called for him to be deleted from the list of additional assist referees.

"That has robbed Celtic of winning the Treble, and I don't think that the fifth official (Muir) should be allowed to be in that position again, if he gets something so blatantly wrong," said the man who was a major part of the Parkhead side from 2000 until 2006.

"They never make a decision, the guys standing on the end of the pitch. Just be strong. Everybody can see it was handball. How can you miss that? That's what you are there for."

Given that previous errant officials, Willie Collum and Graham Chambers, will tonight handle the Champions League tie between Monaco and Juventus, the perceived evidence is that mistakes are not punished.

However, Sutton is convinced that Sunday's was on such a scale Muir must pay the price. He insisted: "That's probably the worst decision I can ever remember.

"The referee had a clear view of it, okay. But the guy standing eight yards from it (Muir), how can he get that wrong? How can he miss it?

"I slowed it down on the television and watched it again and again. It was utterly ridiculous. It was an enormous cop out. He must have seen it."

Sutton considers McLean was also in a good position to make the call, even without help from the man on the goal-line.

"He's culpable, the referee," continued Sutton. "But, Alan Muir ... that's the real shocker.

"He was no more than seven or eight yards away. That's what he is there for, to help the referee.

"He was the main culprit for me. It was like a comedy of errors. It was ridiculous."

Sutton was a major part of the last Celtic side to win a Treble, in his first season at the club.

He knows how tough it is to make a clean sweep of the trophies, and is convinced this blunder has cost Ronny Deila the opportunity to join Martin O'Neill and Jock Stein as the only managers to lead the club to this achievement.

"Let's get it right, with the greatest respect to Falkirk (the other finalists), Celtic would have gone on, in my view, to win the Treble," Sutton said on the Peter and Roughie Show.

"It was a catastrophic decision. Everyone in the ground, other than the officials, knew what had happened.

"You can tell by the reaction of players on both sides. It was a shocker."

Celtic played their part in their eventual downfall by conceding an equaliser from their own corner in an incident which saw Craig Gordon red-carded after he brought down Marley Watkins.

Having played in a defence which boasted uncompromising characters such as Bobo Balde and Johan Mjallby, Sutton is used to watching Celtic defences deal better under such circumstances.

He reckons there was an element of naivety in how things panned out, but is tipping his former side to bounce back from the disappointment and focus on getting over the finishing line in the title race.

That quest continues at Dens Park tonight, and the sooner the championship is secured, the quicker Deila can begin to turn all of his attention to finding the players needed to strengthen a squad which the bench on Sunday confirmed does not have the depth of quality it initially appeared to have.

Sutton has hailed the signing of Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong - both cup-tied at the weekend - as evidence buying from the home market works.

But it severely weakened the challenge from Dundee United, and Sutton believes Celtic need Rangers back to give them the edge they need.

However, he warned it has to be a much stronger Ibrox side than the one currently playing for Stuart McCall.

"It has been a shambolic season, really, for Rangers," he said. "Stuart McCall has been a really sensible appointment and he has given the club stability.

"But I don't think they are strong enough to go up. I don't think they are a better team than Motherwell (who are in the play-off position in the SPFL).

"I'm not so sure they will get through the Championship play-offs. I just don't think they have the players there."

Sutton reckons that will be bad news for the game in this country, explaining: "I'd like to see Rangers back in the top flight, just because it would be better for the whole of Scottish football. I know some Celtic supporters don't want Rangers in the league.

"But everybody enjoyed the game in February, though Rangers fans probably didn't enjoy the result. We've missed the Old Firm for years. It's more exciting and there is more of an edge, whether we like it or not, and we do."

He added: "We want Scottish football to be competitive. Celtic need to be pushed, and that will help them in Europe.

"But I think it is going to take time for Rangers to get back to where they want to be and where they should be. They have got the right man in charge, a sensible man who knows his football."