THE Scottish Government would pass a law to ensure Scotland’s competitive international football matches are shown on free-to-air TV if it held the legal powers over broadcasting rights.
The UK Government has restated its refusal to legislate to make sure that all Scotland's qualifying games for both the European Championship and the World Cup are broadcast on terrestrial TV.
However, SNP cabinet secretary Fiona Hyslop said there was "little doubt" Holyrood would act so that Scotland's competitive matches are returned to free-to-air view when the existing Sky contract for the qualifiers expires in 2018.
Sky holds the contract to show all of Scotland’s home and away qualifying games in both the 2016 European Championship and the 2018 World Cup, which are now centrally marketed by Uefa.
Scotland’s game with the Auld Enemy at Wembley on Friday was screened live on STV, but only because of the English FA’s broadcast agreement with sister channel ITV.
Hyslop pledged that if the powers were devolved to Holyrood, the Scottish Government would pass a law so that all Scotland qualifiers were shown on terrestrial TV stations.
She said: “We’ve repeatedly argued for Scotland games to be added to the list of sporting events that must be broadcast live on free-to-air television, the so-called ‘Crown Jewel’ events.
"We’ve not been alone in making this call, in fact an independent advisory panel on the list recommend the UK Government should do this seven years ago and it has still to be implemented by them.
“We want broadcasting powers to be devolved to Scotland, so Holyrood can have its say on what should be on the Crown Jewel list, and I have little doubt that if it was down to MSPs that Scotland games would be included.
“We’ve been making the case for wider change to broadcasting in Scotland through our work to influence the BBC Charter renewal. As part of this process, we have consulted a wide range of stakeholders, including sporting bodies, in order to shape and deliver an effective and inclusive broadcasting policy for the benefit of audiences across Scotland.”
The minister's call came as Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone said the Scottish Football Association (SFA) should sign a deal with a free-to-air broadcasters to allow more fans to watch Scotland's attempt to qualify for a major tournament.
Johnstone backed Hyslop's call and said the Scottish Government could follow the example of the Irish government in moves to protect free sports events if it held the appropriate powers.
Legislation has been passed in Ireland to ensure that events are protected for free-to-air television service such as the All-Ireland Senior Inter-County Football & Hurling Finals, Ireland's home and away qualifying games in the European Football Championship and the FIFA World Cup Tournaments, as well as The Irish Grand National.
Johnstone, a Lothian MSP, said: "It would be better if it was MSPs, rather than MPs, deciding what goes on that list and I suspect many at Holyrood would support free-to-air Scotland games if the ability to do so is devolved.
"In Ireland, a small country with a similar population to Scotland, they have legislation in place on the ‘Designation of Major Events’ where it’s stipulated that ‘Ireland's home and away qualifying games’ must be shown on a free-to-air television service. Surely that’s something we can aim to emulate at Holyrood.”
Critics have said the proposal to protect major sporting for terrestrial TV, which was considered by the last UK Labour government, would starve Scottish football of the cash from lucrative contracts with Sky that are worth tens of millions of pounds to the sport, including revenue that is made available to grassroots clubs.
An SFA spokesperson, in response to Johnstone's, call for free screening of matches, previously said: "Our rights are negotiated by UEFA through centralisation, which has been effective since 2012.
"We are committed to making football as accessible to as many supporters as possible, but as a governing body we also have commercial considerations and our members are grateful to the rights' holders for continued investment in Scottish football."
In response to the call from campaigners, the UK Government ruled out adding Scotland's competitive matches to the list of events protected for terrestrial TV such as The FA Cup final, the Scottish FA Cup final in Scotland and the Wimbledon Tennis Finals.
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson said: "We currently have no plans to review the list. Negotiations on television rights are a matter for the football authorities and broadcasters."
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