Calls have been made for all of Scotland's international football fixtures to be free to view.
MSP Gillian Mackay, the Scottish Greens health and sports spokesperson, made to call for the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to make all future international games available to watch without a subscription. It came after ITV confirmed Wednesday evening's match against Ukraine would be aired for free.
The game at Hampden Park is the first of three Nations League fixtures to be played by Scotland during the international break. However, Saturday's match against the Republic of Ireland will be behind a paywall as it is broadcast by Premier Sports.
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Gillian Mackay said making future games available to watch without needing a paid subscription could inspire the athletes of the future.
The Central Scotland MSP said: "It is great that the match will be free to view in Scotland, but that should not be the exception.
"All of our international matches should be free to watch, rather than fans being forced to hand over large sums for a subscription during a cost crisis, or feeling like they need to be crammed into a pub.
"If we want children to look up to our athletes, or to be inspired by them, then they need to be able to see them in action. Our national team should be for all of us.
"Far too many of our sporting events are already far too expensive for families to attend, or they are hidden behind a costly paywall.
"Like many, including the thousands of Ukrainians who have made a home in Scotland, I will be watching the game tonight.
"I am glad that it will be free and available to as many people as possible. That is why I am urging the SFA to make sure that the same can be said of all future matches."
The Scottish Conservatives joined the calls for future games to be free.
The party's culture spokesperson, Donald Cameron, said: "In an ideal world, all Scotland internationals would be similarly available for those supporters who can't attend matches in person or afford a costly subscription.
"The SFA must take this - and the impact on participation levels in our national sport - into account, and balance it against financial considerations, when deciding on awarding contracts for the rights to show Scotland internationals."
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