Fans as well as Rangers shareholders call on BBC Scotland to sack pundit Michael Stewart for his comments over last week’s racism incident.
Club 1872 have are urging the television broadcaster to take action over Stewart after he raised doubts over racism allegations involving one of the club’s players.
He claimed that he was “uncomfortable” discussing the racist abuse which was levelled at Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara by Slavia Prague defender Ondřej Kúdela.
As most of us know, Kamara was abused by Kúdela as Slavia Prague ended up winning 2-0 in the Europa League last 16, with the midfielder then taking to social media to voice the nature of the abuse on social media.
Enough is enough. pic.twitter.com/uyJLLhIUul
— Glen Kamara (@GlenKamara4) March 19, 2021
The Czech outfit have refuted the claims and because of this, Stewart then casted doubts on the allegations by suggesting people should await the outcome of the UEFA investigation.
This is despite Kamara’s testimony, a witness in Bongani Zungu supporting it, and the footage of Kúdela sneakily covering his hand and whispering something into the Rangers player’s ear.
In the video clup below, as you can see this draws an instant reaction of “racist” from Glen Kamara:
Clearly hear what went on from Kamara and Zungu here. Disgusting behavior from the Slavia player. pic.twitter.com/AgP0NqRobr
— Jersey Ger (@NYCRFC) March 19, 2021
Firstly, here’s what Stewart said [BBC Scotland Scottish Football Podcast: “Without trying to back away from the issues, I’m slightly uncomfortable with going full steam ahead when we don’t know definitively what’s happened.
“UEFA have to have an investigation, we’re proceeding on the assumption that there was a racial incident.
“I know it’s allegations, but we assume that this has happened last night.
“Earlier the season there was an incident up at Victoria Park, and they were being hung, drawn and quartered before we actually knew what was going on.
“It’s a serious point in that we have to allow the process to carry itself out before we reach the conclusion.
“IF it transpires that something racist was said to Glen Kamara, then 100%, it is outrageous, just equally outrageous as any other discriminatory comments being thrown out there.
Have a listen to Michael Stewart’s take on last nights events at Ibrox.
Credit: Scottish Football Podcast.#KickItOut | #NOtoRacism pic.twitter.com/h3yl9FPC1k
— Michael (@SeafarerMichael) March 19, 2021
“I’m just slightly uncomfortable and uneasy with proceeding ahead with one side saying it didn’t happen, one side saying it has happened.
“We need to allow UEFA to proceed, and the difficulty is that when it’s like that, how do we form a definitive answer?
“It looks suspicious, and your instinct is to say he’s racially abused Kamara, but I’m slightly uneasy with proceeding ahead before UEFA come to a conclusion.”
These words come following Stewart’s suspension from BBC Scotland last season after he claimed former Rangers PR chief Jim Traynor had fabricated stories regarding the racial abuse of Alfredo Morelos.
Stewart’s latest comments have brought some widespread condemnation, so much so that ex-Manchester United midfielder Rio Ferdinand has taken aim.
Educate yourself @mstewart_23… comments like this are why people suffer in silence & are scared to speak out! https://t.co/bJqT1qpzzz
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) March 20, 2021
In a statement issued by Rangers shareholders Club 1872, they firstly thrown their “full support” behind midfielder Glen Kamara following the incident.
The shareholders say they stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the Finland international and they condemn both Kúdela and Slavia Prague for the incident and their reaction.
Club 1872 say that Slavia have engaged in “a campaign of disinformation and obfuscation” over the incident and support Kemar Roofe, who has been extensively abused on Instagram.
They’ve called on social media giants to do more regarding abuse, warning the UEFA that “the footballing world will be watching very closely”.
However, Stewart is also singled out for criticism with Club 1872 saying his latest on-air rant “should be his last” and have challenged BBC Scotland to “take the action they should have taken over a year ago”.
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The comments on Stewart are as follows: “Mr Stewart did his best to use his platform on BBC Scotland to cast doubt on the racist abuse suffered by Alfredo Morelos at Celtic Park, despite someone being charged over the incident.
“Fast forward one year and he is again refusing to take the personal experience of a black player who has been racially abused at face value.
“We believe Glen Kamara 100%, his account is clear, his and his teammates’ reaction at the time was authentic and it was immediately apparent to anyone with any common sense that something serious had occurred.
“For racism to be dealt with in football, our default position should be to believe the accounts of those who experience it and seek the corroboration and evidence to allow the authorities to take strong action.
“For Michael Stewart to take the opposite approach, twice, is a disgrace.
“We are fully aware of Michael Stewart’s desperate quest for attention and we are loath to give him the attention he craves, but this is too serious a matter to allow to pass without comment.
“BBC Scotland told us last year, following Mr Stewart’s rant at that time, that he had been reminded of his responsibilities.
“Clearly, that ‘reminder’ has fallen on deaf ears. BBC Scotland’s continuing tolerance of him is further evidence of the institutional decline of the Scottish outpost of the BBC.
“This latest outburst should be his last and we will watch with interest to see if BBC Scotland now take the action they should have taken over a year ago.”
As mentioned, fans call on BBC Scotland to sack the pundit for his comments over the racism incident…
Not the first time he’s done it Rio. He has form. He questioned the veracity of Alfredo Morelos’ racist abuse last year at Celtic park only to be proven wrong. pic.twitter.com/5r4ZksSWaC
— RyanClarkKent 1872 💎 (@1872Rck) March 20, 2021
@Dave_McLeish: He has done absolutely nothing in the game. Zero. He adds nothing as a pundit. It absolutely baffles me he is given a voice. The video of Gerrard and Kamara after the game is heartbreaking.
@ibrox1963: Well said Rio, I think the only way Racism is stamped out football is heavy fines, points deducted and player compensation. It’s shocking in this day and age. Good to see young Rashford speaking out also
@Ljt10x: Welcome to the scottish media rio.
@CGrassam: Finally, @mstewart_23 called out by someone with a big enough platform to make a difference. I’ve never sent back a meal, wrote a complaint or made noise about anything officially before. But after hearing his views on Sportsound, I felt compelled to do so.
@Sharpy1872: Wee insight in how Scottish punditry is Rio.
@ExArgyll: Thank you for recognising this Rio. Great to see someone with your stature within the game calling him out.
@Pena_Cartel: Brilliant to see guys with a big platform calling this absolute idiot out on his nonsense. He done the same thing with Morelos last year (which someone ended up getting charged with racism) and he’s doing it yet again
@RANGERSTILLIDI7: Thank you for the support from yourself & Anton, no footballer should go through this, it doesn’t help in Scotland when our media allows people like @mstewart_23 air time & he decides to be controversial rather than stand & be counted. 👏🏼👏🏼
@TheWorthingRed: Thank you, Rio. You and your brother, Anton.
@brucers9: The annoying thing is that @mstewart_23 will actually enjoy all this attention he’s getting and will see himself as a crusader for objectivity in the media. We all see him for what he really is.
@BFPO107: Well said, he has history for this against Morelos, said the exact same. @mstewart_23 is the problem as are the people who give him airtime as they know his stance. @BBCSportScot @BBCSportsound @BBCchrismclaug loves him as they share the same hate!
@rr7nhoj: He is only saying this because it’s a Rangers player. Blind hatred (and stupidity of course).
@86Stuart: Well said Rio. Stewart is more interested in hating the shirt Kamara is wearing rather than the abuse he received.
@Craigski14: He has previous
@AllisonPS2210: The horrendous stuff in society will not change until people stand up for it. Thank you @rioferdy5 for bringing this to light especially @mstewart_23 trying to be controversial in a situation which needs action and not a 2 bit opinion.
@Georgielogan81: He’s been getting away with this for years, hopefully @BBCSportsound do the right thing this time
@gibbbilly1: Well said Rio!
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