PAYWALLS for Scotland international matches should be scrapped to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Tartan Army, the Scottish Greens have said.
To mark the anniversary of the first official Scotland v England match, the party is calling for the SFA and broadcasters to “put fans before profit” and “boot paid for TV games into touch for good”.
The Greens say this would deliver a “winning result” for fans of both the men’s and women’s teams by broadcasting them on free-to-view television.
It comes as Scotland marks the 150th anniversary of the first ever men’s international match, which took place in Glasgow, on 30th November 1872, and ended in a 0-0 draw between England and Scotland.
Gillian Mackay MSP, health and sports spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, said: “It is 150 years since the Tartan Army saw Scotland and England playing each other in the first-ever international match - a spectator sport now enjoyed by millions across the world.
“The results haven’t always been perfect, but there has been no shortage of passion and memorable moments.
“But today attending games has become hugely expensive, particularly for families, and, with far too many of our matches hidden and locked away behind expensive paywalls, they have become utterly inaccessible for lots of children and families."
She went on to say the national team “must be for all of us” and that her party wants “all young people to be able to look up to our athletes and stars” but that this can only happen if they are “able to see them in action, something behind denied to them because of cost”.
She added: “That is why I am urging the SFA to work with broadcasters to allow more fans to watch all Scotland games, including both the men's team and the women's team, without having to pay for an expensive subscription.
“I hope that the next 150 years are proud ones for Scottish football, and that we can introduce whole new generations to international football.”
SNP MP Gavin Newlands has met with the SFA, BBC, STV, subscription broadcasters, and sports ministers in both the UK and Scottish Governments to discuss the issue.
He said that while he would like all Scottish national team games made free-to-air through listed events legislation in Westminster, it must be recognised that "this would also bring with it a very likely, and potentially substantial, drop in revenue for the SFA to support all levels of the game".
He added: "There is absolutely no reason why Scotland cannot have similar arrangements in place to Wales, where broadcaster S4C has successfully secured the rights to show Welsh international matches free-to-air for the next few years in tandem with Viaplay picking up the main subscription rights."
