SFA offer apology to clubs after Covid gaffe

THE SFA last night apologised to Hibernian and Hamilton after an assistant referee who should have been self-isolating was allowed to officiate at Easter Road on Saturday. Graeme Stewart was one of a team of Scottish officials — alongside Bobby Madden and David Roome — who oversaw a game between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos in Greece last weekend. Roome tested positive for coronavirus on his return and, although Stewart and Madden have twice returned negative tests, it was belatedly discovered that they should have been considered close contacts. While referee Madden was pulled out of last night’s meeting of Ross County and Celtic in Dingwall, Stewart was allowed to officiate at Hibernian’s 2-0 win over Accies — with the clubs informed of the issue yesterday. While no players or officials of either club were deemed to be close contacts of the assistant referee, the latest Covid lapse to hit Scottish football will come as an embarrassment to a governing body who were forced to launch an urgent investigation last night. SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell has vowed to ‘seek

clarity on the breakdown in internal process’ after saying sorry to both clubs. ‘While the circumstances are complex, the reality is that under Scottish Government guidelines all match officials involved in the trip should be considered close contacts,’ said Maxwell. ‘I have apologised to Hibernian and Hamilton for the unnecessary risk of having an assistant referee at a match when he should have been self-isolating, however much it is mitigated by two negative tests in the build-up to the match.’ Madden, Stewart and Roome were taking charge of the Greek Super League game and were tested before leaving Scotland.