This weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final between Celtic and St Mirren at Hampden Park was already a high-stakes affair, with a place in the final against Dunfermline Athletic on the line. However, a dramatic off-field saga has stolen headlines and left broadcaster Premier Sports in a frantic scramble just hours before kick-off.

The controversy centers on pundit Michael Stewart, a former Hearts midfielder known for his forthright analysis. The Scottish FA (SFA) banned Stewart from Hampden, citing his past criticism of match officials. In a creative workaround, Premier Sports stationed Stewart in their broadcast truck in the stadium car park for Saturday's other semi-final.

But in a stunning escalation, the SFA has now extended that ban to include the Hampden car park itself. This late move has thrown Premier Sports' coverage plans for the crucial Celtic match into disarray, forcing the network to seek last-minute alternatives to include their "valued" pundit.

In a strongly-worded statement, Premier Sports expressed deep disappointment, highlighting the challenge of delivering exclusive coverage for one of Scottish football's showcase events. As the clock ticks down to Sunday's match, all eyes are on how the broadcaster will adapt, proving that the drama in football isn't confined to the pitch.