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Rising star ref is fined £500 for assault

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red cardOne of the rising stars of the refereeing circuit, a serving police officer, has been fined £500 for assault.

Graeme Stewart was convicted following the incident in February 2013 and now faces an internal investigation from the Referee Operations Department.

Despite that incident Stewart seems to be getting fast tracked through the ranks and was nominated by the SFA, and accepted, onto the FIFA list for 2016.

Graham Chambers and David McGeachie were also accepted onto the FIFA list despite high profile howlers. In March 2015 Chambers grabbed Calum Butcher of Dundee United during a skirmish involving Scott Brown, Nadir Ciftci and Virgil van Dijk then instructed Craig Thomson to red card Paul Paton.

A month earlier McGeachie failed to flag for a ‘goal’ by Adam Rooney against Hamilton after an effort from the Aberdeen striker was at least a foot over the line. At the half time whistle McGeachie raced down the tunnel with Willie Collum to avoid explaining his decision to Derek McInnes.

It seems that an all expenses paid jolly to Qatar for Stewart with Thomson has pushed one of colleagues into becoming a whistle blower with the story revealed in today’s Daily Record.

Stewart was off duty when he committed the assault and was accused in court of saying ‘You’ve picked the wrong night to f*** with the police’ as he was restrained by on duty officers.

According to the whistle blower: “Stewart is being investigated by the SFA but the next minute he is being flown first class to Qatar to represent the SFA.

Any other match official who is under investigation or being eased back from injury would be put to a Lowland League game but he went to the other side of the world, where he was rewarded handsomely. It’s a scandal.”

The grass added: “Stewart has a conviction for an act of violence and yet was endorsed by the SFA to officiate at a football match where impartiality and high levels of ethics are demanded.

It’s appropriate the match was played on April Fool’s Day as you couldn’t make this one up.”

Stewart was on assistant referee duty for Celtic’s recent 1-1 draw with Ross County and was on the line for Steven McLean for Celtic’s visit to Hamilton last October.

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