Former Aberdeen player furious with Michael Stewart for Rangers remarks in Viaplay Cup final
It was “embarrassing” to have to listen to Michael Stewart being “anti-Rangers” on the commentary for the Viaplay Cup final, according to Lee Mair.
The former Aberdeen and St Mirren player reacted during the game on Twitter (17 December) to criticise the Viaplay Sports pundit for “having a go at Rangers all game” while ex-Gers defender Alan Hutton stuck up for his old side.
Mair was unhappy even as a Dons fan to listen to the pair “arguing like little school kids” and defended Hutton for having to defend the Light Blues all afternoon.
Mair wrote: “What’s the script with M.Stewart and A.Hutton on the commentary? MS having a go at Rangers all game and AH sticking up for them.
“As an Aberdeen fan watching it was embarrassing to listen to, God only knows what the Rangers fans thought! Surely should be neutral commentators?
“Arguing like little school kids on TV for a National cup final. Embarrassing to listen to.
“Hutton is good. My point was that he had to defend Rangers every 2 mins due to Michael Stewart being anti-Rangers with all his comments.”
Pantomime
It is increasingly the style of high-profile football broadcasting to indeed set up arguments along partisan lines, with pundits appointed as much for their allegiances to one of the clubs involved as their expertise.
Some viewers seem to enjoy that style while others find it infuriating and Mair is clearly in the latter category, but allowing for Stewart’s status as anything but a favourite among the Rangers fanbase he didn’t appear to be outrageous.
His squabbling with Hutton over every decision was noticeable but was probably the exact sort of ‘banter’ that is sometimes now the objective on certain broadcasts, as pundits seem to be encouraged to argue like fans.
It was a scrappy game where the conditions and the Dons’ tactics were hardly conducive to a great spectacle, which probably made it harder to ignore the commentary, while Rangers were expected to win and arguably had the lion’s share of the pressure on.
Philippe Clement’s depleted side did enough to secure the trophy and that is the headline takeaway around Ibrox from a hugely significant day.
Coming off the back of an impressive European qualification it has been an excellent week for the Rangers boss and his side, and it must now be built on for the next fixtures and the upcoming visit to Celtic on 30 December.
In other Rangers news, Lawrence Shankland fires up transfer speculation with hint after Viaplay Cup victory.