Michael Stewart v SFA: Referees' union wades into row with statement on banned pundit
SSFRA back decision to issue ban after comments
The union representing senior referees in Scotland has backed the Scottish Football Association’s decision to ban pundit Michael Stewart from Hampden.
Stewart was informed last week by the SFA that he was not welcome at the national stadium to cover the Scottish Cup semi-finals due to a number of comments made on officials this season.
The row escalated over the weekend, with Stewart attempting to contravene the ban by broadcasting from a truck in the Hampden car park. Premier Sports stood by their pundit, accusing the governing body of “a direct attempt to censor one of the valued members of our team”.
However, the Senior Scottish Football Referees’ Association (SSFRA) has welcomed the move against Stewart - claiming some of his remarks “have extended well beyond fair and legitimate criticism”.
In a statement, the SSFRA wrote: “The SSFRA notes the action taken by the Scottish FA in respect of Michael Stewart.
“While this is ultimately a matter for the Scottish FA, we are aligned in the view that his commentary this season has, at times, extended well beyond fair and legitimate criticism, including personal remarks that call into question the integrity of our members.
“We fully recognise and respect the important role that informed and constructive criticism play in the game. We do not seek to stifle legitimate comment or differing viewpoints.
“However, we believe there is a clear distinction between balanced, evidence-based critique and commentary that appears disproportionate, agenda driven, or personal in nature.
“We believe it is important this distinction is maintained to protect both the professionalism of match officials and the integrity of the wider game.
“There have also been occasions where exclusive access to VAR communications has, in our view, been used inappropriately, to deliberately create a narrative to undermine confidence in refereeing standards.
“As a group, we have actively participated in initiatives to strengthen engagement with key stakeholders across Scottish football, and we remain fully committed to continuing this constructive dialogue in a positive and collaborative manner going forward.”
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