SFA referee head 'didn't factor in differing protocols' over Stewart appointment
- Published
Highlights: Hibernian 2-0 Hamilton
The Scottish FA's head of referees did not factor in the differences between Uefa and Scottish government protocols after an assistant officiated at a game when he should have been isolating.
Graeme Stewart, along with David Roome and Bobby Madden, oversaw Panathinaikos v Olympiakos in Greece last weekend.
Roome tested positive for Covid-19 but Stewart and Madden returned negatives.
Crawford Allan appointed Stewart to Saturday's game between Hibernian and Hamilton, which Hibs won 2-0.
The SFA are investigating and apologised to Hibs and Hamilton the day after Saturday's match. Madden was withdrawn from Ross County's win over Celtic on Sunday evening.
Allan was made aware of the positive test for Roome on Wednesday and made the decision to appoint the assistant referee to the game at Easter Road given that all Uefa protocols had been adhered to.
However, he did not factor in the differences between Uefa and Scottish government protocols in relation to close contact identification.
'Match officials have done nothing wrong'
Scottish FA spokesman Darryl Broadfoot speaking on BBC Radio Sportsound
What happened this weekend should never have happened. How did it happen? Three weeks ago Uefa got in touch with the Scottish FA and told them to expect a call from the Greek FA. As they often do they seek foreign officials for their high-octane derbies.
The referees were due to do the round of 32 Europa League tie with Roma this coming Thursday, and so the request from Uefa was sold as, 'This would be another high-profile game, another high-pressure game, to prepare that team for the Europa League'. So that's how it happened.
Was the trip legal? Yes, it fits within the elite sporting exemption.
Match officials aren't members of staff, they are effectively freelance, some have other jobs. So when the request comes in, Uefa are are effectively asking to borrow the workers. It was Uefa-sanctioned, and was within Uefa protocols.
The referee operations department were convinced because he [Graeme Stewart] had adhered to the Uefa protocols, he was fine. The challenge is the medical side, when the positive test kicks in it's actually the Uefa protocols that don't matter a jot. The referee department and the medical department - I think there's a mutual agreement on both sides they didn't do all that needed to be done. The Uefa protocols v the Scottish Government protocols, the wires were crossed.
The match officials are innocent in this. David [Roome] has done nothing wrong other than contract Covid.