The champagne in Rangers' title trophy was quickly in danger of going flat after the Celtic striker Chris Sutton accused Dunfermline of "lying down" at Ibrox, a claim that brought an immediate threat of legal action from the Pars.
Sutton told BBC Scotland: "That's the way it goes. We know Rangers are a good side but today is a bit of a hollow victory for us.
"I think everybody could have virtually predicted the result at Ibrox before kick-off. Well, many people did.
"It is disappointing from the players who have put the effort in. We knew they'd lie down and they have done."
When asked if he thought the Pars had not been professional, Sutton said: "You would have to ask their manager and players."
That drew a furious response from Dunfermline, who said they were looking into the Sutton comments and deciding whether any further action could be taken. They felt they could have a case for defamation.
The Rangers manager Alex McLeish reacted in more measured fashion, reminding his audience that similar claims had been made after a heavy win for Celtic when Dundee visited Parkhead earlier in the month. "You can say the same about Dundee and Celtic but I don't believe that. I don't believe for one minute that Jim Duffy was not a proud manager and I'm sure Jim was hurt by that. Dunfermline today were dangerous. How can you say that they lay down? I know Jimmy was angry at losing the way he did.
"He will want to redress the balance next season. No chance did they lie down today, no way."
McLeish added: "They played five in the midfield, one up front and there was a definite plan there to stop us penetrating and scoring goals.
"If Celtic were playing at home today and we were travelling away to Kilmarnock, then we would have expected Celtic, with the crowd behind them, to have scored goals.
"They have gone to Kilmarnock and won 4-0, so I have got to ask Chris, 'Did Kilmarnock lie down?' I would say that knowing Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown, give the teams credit, Chris. Give Rangers credit and give your own team credit.
"It has been a great fight and unfortunately in this great battle there had to be a loser."
McLeish admitted fears that the title could swing out of his side's grasp had been very much in his mind.
He said: "I was aware - very aware - that Celtic were on top at one point. We did say to the players 'we need to score'.
"We started the second half and had to be patient, start again and we finally got a breakthrough.
"We got a wee break when Steven Thompson scored. But, with the season Celtic have had, I couldn't rule them out at that stage."
McLeish won the title as a player with Aberdeen and is one of Scotland's most capped players, but he said that winning the championship as a manager beat his previous achievements. "This feels as if it is the best."