Michael Stewart remains vocal in his criticism of the match officials following the contentious 3-3 draw between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox. The spotlight is on the Scottish Football Association (SFA) as Celtic demands transparency and accountability for the decision-making process that ultimately led to a penalty being awarded to Rangers. It all started when John Beaton originally cautioned Rangers’ Fabio Silva for diving before VAR intervened and Beaton was prompted to reevaluate the incident.
Upon review, it was revealed that Celtic’s Alistair Johnston had made contact with Silva’s knee, prompting the penalty decision. However, Stewart, along with many others, was not convinced that the contact was enough to warrant such a significant outcome. His commentary on the BBC’s Sportscene was scathing, where he did not mince words, describing the officiating as “embarrassing” and “disgraceful” for what he perceived as a direct impact on the outcome of the highly-anticipated match.
Taking to social media, Stewart doubled down on his stance, arguing that the slight deflection off Johnston’s foot should not have resulted in such a drastic repercussion. In a post on his platform, he questioned whether the match officials, particularly Nick Walsh, failed to register the initial touch of the ball, leading to what he viewed as a erroneous decision. Moreover, Stewart highlighted the fact that even some individuals were unaware of the subtle contact, further adding fuel to the fiery debate surrounding the match’s officiating.
While the dust settles on the controversial affair, Stewart shows no signs of letting the matter slide, demonstrating a firm belief in his assessment of the incident. As the debate rages on across football circles and among fans, the clamor for accountability and transparency in officiating decisions continues to echo, exemplified by Stewart’s unwavering stance on the issue.
