HJK Helsinki 0-2 Celtic video highlights

Thanks to new SPL partners YouTube, Celtic’s 2-0 victory over HJK Helsinki can be viewed by anyone with internet access.

The officialSPL channel opened last weekend with highlights from all six matches available from 6pm the day after the match is played.

Clubs and broadcasters have been wary of video platforms due to copyrite issues but rather than forever chasing offenders putting the highlights on an official channel allows the clubs to benefit for themselves.

HJK have been running their YouTube service for a number of years and provide a great service that includes Neil Lennon’s after match media conference.

Celtic’s 4-1 aggregate win puts them into the final qualifying round of the Champions League and the return to the big time.

The victory over the Finns entitles the club to a £2m payment from UEFA who take over the tournament from this stage onwards with centralised broadcasting and sponsorship deals.

Reaching the group stage should bring in over £20m to the club combining ticket money with the central payments from UEFA who start a new three year television deal this season with ITV and Sky Sports sharing the UK coverage.

Speaking after the win in Helsinki last night Lennon said: “That’s one of the best feelings I’ve had since I’ve been here as manager.

“We’re worked very, very hard trying to get this right and these are horrible games and I think they’re very unfair on us Scottish teams because [it means] we start our season so early.

“To come through the tie and play as well as we did, I am so proud of the players. They were brilliant; really, really good.”

CLICK HERE for Neil Lennon set to spend

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