DUNDEE, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 10: Premier Sports' Michael Stewart during a William Hill Premiership match between Dundee and Heart of Midlothian at the Scot Foam Stadium at Dens Park, on August 10, 2024, in Dundee, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Scates/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Michael Stewart has been banned from media duties at Hampden because of his criticism of referees!
Ian Maxwell has written directly to the former Scotland midfielder to inform him of the decision.
BBC Scotland and Premier Sports have been informed of the issue and have agreed to comply with the ban.
Stewart would normally be part of Premier Sports coverage of the Scottish Cup semi-finals this weekend.
The decision by the SFA effectively means that they are choosing the pundits for broadcasters.
If you don’t comply and play the game access is denied. Your ability to earn is reduced.
The Sun reports:
HAMPDEN bosses have banned Michael Stewart indefinitely over his criticism of refs.
SunSport can reveal pundit Stewart was ordered to stay away from the national stadium before last month’s Scotland friendly with Japan.
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell is thought to have informed him he won’t be welcomed back any time soon.
It’s understood the association are fed up with what they believe has been a sustained and concerted effort from Stewart to question their integrity.
They are also unhappy at his treatment of head of refereeing Willie Collum and match officials during his work for Premier Sports.
Refs and assistants are believed to have made their complaints known to the SFA and Premier Sports via the Scottish Senior Football Referees’ Association.
Scottish referees have had a nightmare season under the leadership of Willie Collum.
The Head of Refereeing at the SFA is only interested in projecting himself as a right good lad in media circles.
Last week FIFA announced 170 officials to take charge of 104 matches at the expanded World Cup Finals. Wisely they have body-swerved the conflicted mob on Collum’s rota.
Perhaps if the SFA got in line with every major country in UEFA and got their officials to declare the club that they support they might gain some respect.
STEWART HAS ACCESS TO THE SECRET VAR CONVERSATIONS
Working on co-commentary duty Stewart gets access to the conversation with VAR officials.
He highlights the concerns of supporters over a cheap version of VAR, sub-standard officials and a climate of cover ups.
Matthew MacDermid has had a nightmare season. A walking disaster.
He is an accident waiting to happen, totally overwhelmed by events going on around him.
Being a fellow member of the Lanarkshire Referee Association Collum has put him in charge of Sunday’s match between Celtic and St Mirren.
In his last Celtic match MacDermid sent off Auston Trusty against Hibs then ‘missed’ the blatant and extended shirt pulling on Liam Scales from a Celtic corner.
This weekend’s Premier Sports pundits are all approved by Ian Maxwell and the SFA.
Stewart played for Manchester United, Hearts and Hibs, gaining four full international caps.
Maxwell played for Queens Park, St Johnstone, Ross County and Partick Thistle.
This is absolutely shocking! Despicable that the broadcasters have agreed to this! What a cosy Cabal it is that is running Scottish Football! Only in Scotland! ???????
Surely he can sue?
How can referees decide he can’t earn cos they don’t like his hurty words?
If ever proof were needed our refs are shite this is it, in fact, as we close in on the most important part of any season we’ve ever had….do they not want certain individuals to hear VAR conversations?
The big fix is on.
The only sane and independent voice in the room , the man’s got to be admired for his openness and honesty not to mention his courage , he’s like a breath of fresh air who all fair minded people who will miss him , this amounts to a sacking , deprived of employment a loss of income , i’d love to see it brought before an unfair dismissal tribunal , that would open some can of worms which is long coming
If Sky Sports had any brains they would double his money and sign him up instantly.