Well, this all feels very like 2010.
My understanding, as of this morning, is that Mikey Stewart is sticking to his guns despite being exiled from the national stadium and its environs.
The feature image indicates what the citizenry of Planet Fitba thinks about the decision.
Power is always on the wane when it is mocked.
Stewart’s settled position is that several individuals in the Scottish referring fraternity are best characterised as incompetent.
In particular, a specific Dynasty is being supported by a shaky Collum at Hampden.
Just like in 2010, this shitshow has been made many times worse by the work experience firefighting effort.
What is also similar to 16 years ago and the Hugh Dallas story is that the Fitba Fourth estate are posted missing.
It was your humble correspondent, an NUJ member, in another country, who did for Dallas Senior.
Yes, in another country…
Dear reader, this site is free to view and fully searchable.
November 2010 should be your starting point on this sorry saga.
Mike Stewart, an ex-professional footballer, makes no claim to be a journalist.
Yet he is doing more to shine a light on the mediocrity of Scottish football officials’ bowling clubs than the local media.
The Scottish Senior Football Referees’ Association (SSFRA) have made their position known by putting out this statement:
“The SSFRA notes the action taken by the Scottish FA in respect of Michael Stewart.
“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.”
After the Dallas debacle in 2010, I was convinced that Scottish football, at a governance level, was incapable of fixing itself.
Moreover, the local media had a vested interest in obediently looking the other way for a quiet life and an unearned paycheque.
The events of 2012 rammed home that undeniable truth.
Like the Jim Farry story, it took an outsider.
Fergus McCann, who wisely left Fair Caledonia as a teenager, wasn’t socialised to sit at the back of the bus.
In that sense, Mikey Stewart is also an outsider.
Fair play to him.
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MS has been honest to the core about all teams in the SPFL, and even when being critical about Celtic I’ve lauded his honesty because sometimes it’s easy to switch off to negative punditry.
But when it comes to the parochial minds that (cough) “manage the game” in Scotland, it’s toys out the pram.
Even with all the audio and video evidence of incompetence and inconsistency, to somehow double down and ban the most honest pundit on telly rather than attempt a saving grace message and commitment for actual improvements, we get faux outrage and denial.
That just sums up the shameless, pettiness and arrogance of our organisers.
I hate it when folk down South call us a “tin pot” league – but occassions like this give them plenty ammunition.
(The united fan comments all over reddit etc have been sublime though!!!)
I know Mikey Stewart personally and he is a sound guy. His honesty is what upsets certain people but he will not be silenced by a bunch of amateurs in the Sfa. If something needs to be called out is willing to do it.
His views are shared by many of the paying public in Scottish fitba. The standard of referee in Scotland is reflected by the number of them who have been chosen to referee at this years world cup. A grand total of zero, nada, zilch, none 👀