Angry Michael Stewart has launched a furious attack on the SFA and VAR officials, claiming many supporters across Scottish football believe Celtic’s title triumph has been overshadowed by controversial refereeing decisions.
The former Hearts midfielder argued that the defining moment of the title race came during Celtic’s dramatic clash with Motherwell at Fir Park, when a late penalty decision ultimately proved decisive.
With the match level at 2-2 in stoppage time, Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson was penalised for handball after VAR official Andrew Dallas advised referee John Beaton to review the incident.
Kelechi Iheanacho converted from the spot to hand Celtic a crucial 3-2 victory — a result that significantly altered the title permutations heading into the final day.
Had the game remained level, Celtic would have required a three-goal winning margin against Hearts to secure the Scottish Premiership. Instead, Martin O’Neill’s side only needed victory and eventually sealed the title with a 3-1 win.
Speaking on the Premier Sports Social Club, Stewart insisted the controversial moment effectively determined the outcome of the league race.
“Wednesday night is where the title has been won and lost. You change nothing in the performance of both teams throughout the season, and that one decision flips the other way and Hearts have won the title.
“If you look at the course of a campaign – and I have heard it all before about how it ‘evens itself out throughout the course of a season’ – my counter to that would be, so see if that decision doesn’t go in Celtic’s favour and didn’t exist, across the course of the season they needed that decision to go in their favour to create a perfect equilibrium?
“A decision that happens in the 95th minute of a game, and also – I am talking theoretically here – and at the 93rd minute of the season, is different from when it happens in the 23rd minute of the game or for example the seventh game of the season.
“So that decision – which has been derided all around the world, Gary Lineker calling it the worst VAR decision ever, Alan Shearer…these guys don’t have a connection to Scottish football.
“They don’t have any skin in the game, why would they be passing comment on that for any other reason than calling it objectively? That is it. Objectively.”
Stewart also warned Scottish football authorities that public confidence in officiating could continue to erode unless concerns surrounding VAR are properly addressed.
“I just feel far too often in this country we are just like ‘oh let’s move on, let’s move on’ – this is not a situation that can be moved on from. There is no question the title has been impacted on by decisions from the officials.”
When asked whether the controversy could reignite calls to scrap VAR in Scotland, Stewart said supporters from across the country were becoming increasingly frustrated.
“Possibly. What I would say is, if the authorities don’t deal with this properly they are in danger of disenfranchising a generation of football fans in this country, because it’s not just Hearts fans.
“It’s fans from many clubs across the country who feel absolutely scunnered and deflected and [the] guttural feeling that something isn’t right.
“I know Celtic fans want to enjoy the celebration, but they have to acknowledge something doesn’t feel right to many other supporters, and in large part that comes down to the way this is officiated.
“And, unless the authorities are open and frank – and I will make this quite clear, that doesn’t involve banning people like me who have been critical and chucking you in a van, and then telling you that you can’t sit in a car park for daring to question the levels of competence within the hierarchy.
“They have to be open and frank, because they have impacted the title race in a way that many do not find acceptable.”
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12 Comments
Im surprised you have brought up English players making comment our club has a Irish following and dont say and what thats why have you heard of shearer visiting Celtic park in european games like some professional people in the game to feel the atmosphere for themselves and a good day in Glasgow he is known to support another Glasgow club yer be looking for a job with world cup in the offering
Boo Hoo. no mention at all of the assault on Maeda inside the penalty box in the same game.
Or the fact that until Sunday Hearts were the only team in the league not to have conceded a penalty.
Funny that.
VERY selective in what they want to highlight these people.
What about Trustx red csrd at Tynecastle. Never a red. No mention of that ” just to even it up” from anyone.
I wonder what political/footballing slant these ‘many’ people that are so rattled have ? Mickey has lost all credibility and sense of reason since he stepped out from the back of the van at Hampden. What happened in there ?
A lobotomy maybe ?
So.dissapointed.in.you.michael.always.like.your.input.on.football.but.you.arewearing.maroon.coloured.glasses.so.very.dissapointing
Michael Stewart is just banging the same drum as everyone not of a Celtic persuasion. It does even out over a season. Celtic have had many decisions go against them, let me ask Michael this, if that’s hearts and you get that penalty, you are taking it no question about it. So, let’s stop this conspiracy narrative there’s been going on around the same time as hearts actually started stopping pointed. Do you not think them dropping points had a huge impact on their title chance eh? It’s all relative because if they hadn’t then they win the league pure and simple so stop blaming everything other than the team that lost the league and by the way, I haven’t heard a peep of congratulations to the Celtic players and staff fur their victory it’s absolutely ridiculous
If it wasnt Hearts you wouldn’t hear a thing from him.
Gotta say i used to admire Stewart but when he has co-commentated on Hearts games his bitterness comes to the fore.
Just another biased media fud.
If the mistake in the 7th match in a season doesnt count, they why should one in the 37th game? Just dry yer eyes and get on with it, did ye huv yer seat on the open top bus already picked oot? Shame!!!!
Media Fud??? I like it.
Yes Michael that Var decision at Motherwell significantly affected the destination of the league flag , as did the one to award Hearts a penalty and 3 points at Tynecastle for the Hearts player head butting Stephen Welsh’s foot.
John Beaton and Andrew Dallas awarded the penalty as they saw clearly a hand to ball in the box,
We may not like the decision but that’s FACTUALLY what happened.
Decisions go for you and against all teams . Yes agreed Var in Scotland seriously needs an upgrade, but we cannot go back to the dark ages where it was left to dubious officials.
Scottish FA will get a significant windfall from our World Cup adventure. So th priority must be a top tier Var system fit for purpose…
Has he not got the decency to say that the decision was correct to be given to Celtic or that had hearts shown up at Celtic Park on the last day instead of cowardly playing for a draw things might have been different.
The only fans “across Scotland” that are moaning atall are from hearts and the ranjurs. Hearts I get. They want to deflect from their poor showing post split, as for the ranjurs, it’s nothing to do with them, reverse that decision they were still 3rd so no clue why they want to get involved other than pure hatred
Ridiculous comments is he saying that var in the split is only thing that effects the league . So ok then get rid of var until the split . All the other var decisions thruout the rest of the league has no effect on the current standings . Hearts have never had a single var decision for them all season just against them. If these idiots void just think before opening thaire clueless mouths totally and utterly hypocrisy at its best . Take a look at var for and against all clubs decisions all season . Hearts have the best of the decisions against them all season from all teams . Celtic have one of the worst. Hearts had 1 penalty against them all season that was the last game of the season . Beaton has given celtic 1 penalty in 6 years without var 9 with ? . So get grip look at the statistics before opening your stupid mouth ya numty.
Utter bollocks.
I have a lot of time for Michael Stewart and his (normal rational) levels of impartiality, but seriously?
Celtic are the Champions of Scotland IN SPITE of bad decisions by officials not BECAUSE of them.
There are videos galore showing evidence of more beneficial decisions to R*ngers and “Hertz” than there have been for us.
The pile on about this is pathetic, and frankly outrageous given the special history of one club on particular who – to this day – get the vast majority of decisions in their favour, week in week out, with barely an eyebrow raised from the same, predictable, biased, blinkered, unprofessional and incompetent media individuals who are as much to blame (if not more so) than the morons – idiots – running the game.
We are Champions by virtue of talent, effort and a turnaround of miraculous proportions by a legendary figurehead.
So MS and ALL the rest of the cheap click bait pundits can go and ride themselves.
Hail Hail and let’s enjoy a well deserved victory ✌️ 🍀