13th April 2019, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish Cup football, semi final, Heart of Midlothian versus Caledonian Thistle; Ex Heart of Midlothian player Michael Stewart commentates for BBC Sport
Michael Stewart has apologised to the SFA over his criticism of Scottish referees and match officials.
Last season the former Hearts and Hibs midfielder was highly critical of decision made by VAR officials.
With Willie Collum trying to charm the media though his VAR Review Stewart’s comments stood out.
In an incredible act of petulance the SFA decided to ban Stewart from Hampden.
That was an attempt to silence and marginalise the pundit, ruling him out of work with Premier Sports and BBC Scotland.
That decision shone a light on the failings of Scottish referees. Stewart revelled in the notoriety, Premier Sports turned it into a story.
For the first Scottish Cup semi-final last season Stewart covered the match from the Premier Sports broadcast unit in the Hampden car park.
STEWART BAN EXTENDED TO THE HAMPDEN FOOTPRINT!
The SFA retaliated. They extended Stewart’s ban to cover the Hampden ‘footprint’.
Premier Sports lapped it all up.
The pettiness of the SFA was getting more and more attention.
Now, a peace deal has been agreed with Stewart forced into a public apology and back inside Hampden for the weekend League Cup semi-finals.
Michael Stewart returns to Hampden today ?? https://t.co/aeJRjc0Z9z
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) October 31, 2026
Stewart’s future comments will be watched carefully.
With the current set of match officials in Scottish football there are blatant talking points and controversies every matchday.
From Ryan Lee’s constant refusal to apply the Advantage Law in the Hibs v Celtic match to David Dickinson allowing Hearts to take a throw in 15 yards further forward when they scored against Celtic.
Those incidents didn’t impact the outcomes of those matches but highlight the problems with officials.
Lee and Dickinson are refereeing this weekends semi-finals at Hampden.
In May 2022 Stewart issued a public apology to James Traynor over criticisms made on Radio Scotland. At that time Traynor was the Communications Director at Ibrox.
@AGCeltic_ How can this mob get away with things like that and still believe there’s some sort of conspiracy against them ffs
— CW ? (@_CW88_) October 31, 2026
