SCOTTISH football pundit Michael Stewart was axed from the BBC last night and Sky Sports was forced to issue a grovelling apology as the sensational fallout from the broadcaster’s Alfredo Morelos interview continued.

Stewart was stopped from commentating on Hearts’ Premiership clash with Kilmarnock for BBC Radio Scotland just hours before kick-off.

The former Hearts and Hibs midfielder has been under fire following criticism of Rangers PR chief Jim Traynor on Monday night’s episode of Sportsound.

Stewart was discussing a major interview by Rangers striker Morelos on Sky, and accused the club of trying to distract from bad press and whip up a racism storm.

READ MORE: Rangers 2-1 Hibernian: Steven Gerrard's side leave it late to clinch crucial Ibrox win

It emerged last week that somebody had been “tampering” with the striker’s car – but the Sunday Mail reported at the weekend that rather than a football fan with sinister motives, the car was being fitted by a tracking device on the instructions of Morelos’s wife. She later denied this was true.

Stewart suggested that the Rangers PR machine had been responsible for the original story – which they deny.

The BBC was then forced to issue an apology over Stewart’s comments, with presenter Kenny McIntyre saying : “Before we get to tonight’s topics we apologise to James Traynor for the discussion on Sportsound last night. It was not fair and balanced and he did not have the opportunity to respond.

“On this occasion we did not adhere to our editorial values and standards and we have reminded those concerned of their responsibility to follow our guidelines while working for the BBC.”

Stewart was dropped by the broadcaster for last night’s coverage from Tynecastle but appeared instead on BT Sport this evening alongside Chris Sutton, Gordon Strachan and Stephen Craigan for Celtic’s game against Motherwell at Fir Park. Stewart was also dropped from highlights show Sportscene.

Meanwhile, Sky Sports were forced to issue a grovelling apology to Celtic, Rangers and Morelos for “inaccuracies” in the broadcaster’s interview, which was conducted in Morelos’ native Spanish. Subtitles attributed to the Rangers striker said that he claimed he was the subject of racist abuse directed towards him from Celtic supporters.

This translation was inaccurate – and was widely criticised and forced the broadcaster to pull the interview from all of its platforms.

Sky’s subtitles read: “In the match against Celtic we were winning in added time.

The National:

“I fell down. Whether that is simulation or not is up to the referee.

“Afterwards it was very frustrating to hear the crowd screaming at me. They were saying offensive and racist words.”

Last night, Sky released the accurate translation, which read: “In the game against Celtic we were winning 2-1, a normal match … and, I don’t know, I fell over, I wasn’t trying to get a penalty, but the ref decided to send me off and, well, I accept that, it’s his decision.

“But my gesture was just a way of saying it’s all over, the game was finished anyway, there were only 30 seconds left. They started insulting me and shouting at me , but that gesture only meant that the game was over.”

A statement on Sky’s website read: “After numerous steps undertaken by Sky to verify the interview thoroughly we can be clear that at no point did Morelos allege that any racial abuse was directed at him by Celtic supporters in the interview. We apologise to the supporters of Celtic Football Club for this serious error.

“We are reviewing our procedures for translated interviews to ensure this does not occur in future.”