Perhaps Lawrence Scott should not have compared himself to Ronaldo when he stressed what a team player he was after being unceremoniously dropped from the Cabinet squad.

Given that the increasingly reluctant Manchester United player was disciplined recently for storming out of the stadium, it was probably not the best analogy.

But, did he get the penalty for trying to score as vice-captain of the Progressive Labour Party?

David Burt insisted yesterday that Mr Scott’s public musing on trying to oust Walter Roban as Deputy Premier at last week’s PLP leadership election had nothing to do with his decision to kick the son of former premier Alex Scott out of the top flight.

Mr Burt also insisted it had absolutely nothing to do with Mr Scott Sr giving him a hard tackle last Saturday when he said the Premier needed to appear less like an autocrat now that he had seen off the leadership challenge from Curtis Dickinson.

But then, after the former finance minister’s shock resignation from the Cabinet in February, Mr Burt insisted it had nothing to do with his plan for generous taxpayer-backed sweeteners for the would-be developers of the Fairmont Southampton.

Mr Dickinson called foul on that and has repeatedly said the hotel revamp deal was the main trigger for their political bust-up.

Whatever the reason for Mr Scott’s relegation, it certainly came a shock to the former transport chief.

He told The Royal Gazette: “I did a good job. I cut down on bus cancellations and rebuilt the rather fractured relationship with the cruise lines.

“And, I would have liked to have been in place when the air routes to Boston and the Caribbean I’ve been working to secure opened.”

Mr Scott was no stranger to controversy either as he initially seemed to be unaware of what sanctions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine would mean for the income for Bermuda’s aviation register, left ferry travellers feeling sea sick by cutting the Pink Route, oversaw delays in the introduction of electric buses, and had a very public spat with taxi drivers.

Generally well liked by parliamentary colleagues, some have questioned Mr Scott’s strategic judgment.

Nonetheless, Mr Burt’s move may also be a tactical error. In giving the red card to a man who compared himself to a Red Devil, if it is seen as an act of political revenge will it prove to be an own goal?