Michael Stewart erupts over two VAR incidents impacting Hearts as missed penalty branded 'quite incredible'
The former Hearts midfielder was on co-commentary duty during the club’s Scottish Cup exit.
Michael Stewart reckons VAR missed a Hearts penalty award prior to their spot kick elimination from the Scottish Cup.
The Jambos drew 1-1 with fellow Premiership side Falkirk after extra time brought the game to 120 brutal minutes, where talisman Lawrence Shankland came off with injury, hot off the heels of key midfielder Cammy Devlin’s lower leg injury that’s left him on crutches. Elton Kabangu missed a key penalty as Falkirk emerged 5-4 winners from 12 yards as the Jambos’ Scottish Cup hopes end at the fourth round this season, having last won the competition in 2012.
They face Celtic next weekend in a huge Premiership title race clash but former midfielder Stewart reckons VAR had a major bearing on their cup hopes. Firstly, Tomas Magnusson’s goal to put Hearts ahead after half time was ruled out for a handball in the build-up that Stewart did not agree with, even after seeing replays of the incident.
Michael Stewart on Hearts disallowed goal during Hearts vs Falkirk
He said: “I am absolutely flabbergasted. I do not see where that hits off his hand. I do not see those images. They're saying there is an angle that shows it hit his arm. I don't think we've seen one yet. No, that comes off of Dylan Tait’s back. That looks like it comes off Tait’s back to me. That's his back. .That's not his hand.”
Commentator Rory Hamilton said “for once I'm with VAR on this one, I think that's the handball,” and Stewart added: “I think the first angle we just showed there shows it coming off his back.”
The next involved Blair Spittal, as the Hearts midfielder went down inside the Falkirk box under a challenge by Filip Lissah, and Stewart reckons the refereeing team missed a penalty award for a clipping of heels. Nick Walsh was the match referee with Andrew Dallas on VAR, Shankland converting a penalty late after this incident in the second half after Ben Parkinson had put the Bairns ahead.
Should Hearts have had another penalty vs Falkirk?
Stewart said of a possible spot kick award for a foul on Spittal: “I tell you what, I tell you what, that is a penalty kick. That is a penalty kick, Rory. That's quite incredible that VAR has not looked at that. That's quite incredible. You know, VAR... we all saw Blair Spittal going down.
“I know the phase of play continued for a wee while there but that's VAR's job. VAR's job is to be checking those things. That should have been checked, it should have been called back. You see again, round the corner into Blair Spittal and he catches his heels.
“That is as clear-cut a penalty kick as you're ever likely to see. He gets wrong side of Lissah, clips his heels, goes down. Penalty kick. Andrew Dallas is on VAR, what is he doing? What is he doing? That's shocking.”