Vio Ganea (left) accused the Scots of bully-boy tactics

Kennedy's Scotland debut came to an end after the Romanian's studs left the defender with cruciate ligament damage.

But Cameron said: "You are talking about two guys who are honest and who went for the ball.

"He's just a 100% guy who won't even pull out of tackles in training, but I don't think there is any malice."

Former Scotland international Craig Burley has joined those criticising Ganea, who has apologised for any injury caused, by branded the tackle "an absolute disgrace".

But Cameron was reluctant to accept that the challenge had been deliberate, saying that it was simply a result of the striker's competitive style.

He went for the ball and Ganea went right over the top of him Craig Burley

"The only thing I would say is John is younger and the other lad is more experienced; he will go in for it, but he will look after himself," he said.

But Burley said: "I thought it was an absolute disgrace.

"The referee had already blown his whistle.

"Whether Kennedy heard it or not, I don't know, but he went for the ball and Ganea went right over the top of him.

"You don't want to see that from a fellow professional and I'm surprised there weren't more Scotland players reacting to that incident."

Yet Ganea suggested it was the Scots who had employed the bully-boy tactics during Romania's 2-1 win at Hampden.

Kennedy faces year out

"I feel very sorry for what happened," he said.

"It was a foul on me just before and the referee gave it then we were coming together to get the ball. But there was no intention to hurt him.

"I ran and did not hear the referee stop the game. All I wanted to do was play the ball.

"It was a very physical, British-style game. The Scottish players were very aggressive and they started talking scary to us.

"That sort of thing is normal in Britain, but we don't play like that in Romania."