MSPs pile pressure on UK Government to make it law that all Scotland games are free to view

Scottish Sun

2 days ago

And in March, the Beeb struck a deal to televise all Scotland's men's international matches in the run-up to next year's World Cup
CROWN JEWEL CALL MSPs pile pressure on UK Government to make it law that all Scotland games are free to view
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MSPS have joined forces to heap pressure on the UK Government to make it law that all Scotland's international matches are free-to-air on the BBC.
The men's team's games were previously televised on the subscription service Viaplay, before the Swedish broadcaster withdrew from the UK market.
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A Holyrood committee has contacted the UK Government, the SFA and the Scottish Government over the prospect over televising Scotland national team matches for free
Credit: Alamy
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There are hopes that Scotland's Euro and World Cup qualifiers could become 'crown jewel' events
Credit: Getty
And in March, the Beeb struck a deal to televise all Scotland's men's international matches in the run-up to next year's World Cup.
But a cross-party group of MSPs on the Scottish Parliament's Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee wants to see free coverage of the national team enshrined in law, and expanded to include Euro qualifiers.
It has asked for the UK Government's position on categorising Scotland men's and women's national team games under Group A events, which requires full coverage to be offered to free-to-air broadcasters - like the World Cup finals, European Championships, Olympic Games, and Wimbledon.
Fans' groups have rallied behind the proposals and called for more free-to-view fixtures.
Andy Smith, chair of the Scottish Football Supporters Association, said: 'It's great if they're serious and are going to do something about it.
'We've been campaigning on this for two years. Scotland games should be free on TV and we found that there's nobody who disagrees.
'More kids and young people would like to watch Scotland. It's short-term thinking to try and squeeze money out of TV companies.
'The reason it might not happen is money but this could be great for the long-term success of the game. They're better off broadcasting it for the nation, instead of short-term TV deals.
'It's good that politicians are touching base with what the people want. Our position is that all Scottish football and rugby games should be free to view.'
Hamish Husband, of the Association of Tartan Army Clubs, added: 'In an ideal world, all Scotland qualifying games would be free. This would be good news for fans of Scotland's men's and women's teams.
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'But the TV money that the SFA gets is pretty major. It must be ensured that the SFA, for the good of Scottish football, don't lose out financially.'
In a letter to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy MP, SNP MSP Clare Adamson wrote: 'The Committee invites you to set out the current UK Government's position on potentially including expanding the specific Scottish events covered under the listed events regime, to include in Group A, not just the Scottish FA Cup final but also Scotland's World Cup and European Championship qualifiers.'
The cross-party body also requested the views of SFA chief executive, Ian Maxwell, and the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson MSP.
In the UK, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is in charge of the Group A list - dubbed "crown jewel" sporting events.
These events are considered to be of national interest and are subject to specific broadcasting regulations to ensure wide availability.
Steve Clarke's men will kick off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Denmark on September 5.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Government has long called for national sporting events like Scotland's men's and women's football qualifiers to be protected for free-to-air broadcast and we'll continue to make that case on behalf of fans across the country.
"It is welcome news that all of Scotland men's international football matches will be broadcast live on the BBC in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup.
'We will consider the Committee's recommendations and respond in due course.'
An SFA spokesperson said: 'Since 2014, television rights for men's international qualifying matches [European Qualifiers and Nations League] have been centralised by UEFA.
"This has enabled the Scottish FA to support growth in all aspects of the game: from grassroots level, girls' and women's participation, investment in facilities, and improved provision across all men's and women's national teams.
"We are in favour of ensuring as many supporters as possible can watch all national teams and, in that regard, we welcome BBC Scotland's recent acquisition of rights from UEFA.
"Any discussion on extending Listed Events would need to consider UEFA's jurisdiction as well as the implications for other Home Nations under the centralisation umbrella.
"The commercial implications to Scottish football would be significant, with potential revenue loss amounting to millions of pounds that would in turn significantly reduce investment in the aforementioned areas of the association's responsibility."
A UK Government spokesperson said it has no current plans to review listed events but that it supports widespread accessibility of sport.
They added that it is for the Scottish Government to evaluate whether there is a right balance between generating income for reinvesting in Scottish sport and providing access for audiences across the country.