Premier Sports issue statement after pundit is banned from Hampden Park

Premier Sports have issued a statement after one of their pundits has been banned from Hampden Park for the Scottish Cup semi-final between Celtic and St Mirren.

The decision to ban one of Premier Sport’s pundits was taken by the SFA, as the individual's outspoken views on the standard of refereeing in Scotland led them to inform him that he's no longer welcome at the national stadium.

Since then, Premier Sports have released a statement to defend their pundit, Michael Stewart, seeing this as a ‘direct attempt to censor one of the valued members of our team’.

Their statement read: “The SFA have written to Premier Sports to say that Michael is not welcome in the broadcast trucks situated in the car park here at Hampden.

“Premier Sports see this as a direct attempt to censor one of the valued members of our team. As a broadcast partner of the SFA, we are very disappointed with this position.

“Michael won’t be part of our coverage today, but we will welcome him back soon.”

It is understood the decision followed complaints from the union representing referees, who have made it clear they have had enough of Stewart's commentary, as reported by the BBC.

Speaking on the ban, Stewart said: “Instead of trying to silence voices of dissent, the Scottish FA should be engaging with us, answering our questions and explaining their position.

"People have every right to disagree with me – and many of them do every day.

"But all football commentators should be free to express an opinion, without being denied access to the places we go to do our jobs."

In Scottish football at present there appears to be less tolerance from clubs and governing bodies to allow opinions from individuals they believe are supposed to report facts.

BBC Scotland endured a seven-year stand-off with Rangers after the club accused Chris McLaughlin of unfair reporting.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen had a dispute with the corporation for a period this season, while a dispute remains with Celtic, who do not invite the BBC to pre-match media conferences.

The BBC are not the only broadcasters to have fallen foul of this banning, as STV, Sky and various radio stations across Scotland have also suffered this fate.