Sky Sports take Ofcom instructions over switching sound off at Celtic match

Sky Sports could switch their microphones off at tomorrow’s match between St Mirren and Celtic.

The fall out to two banners displayed against Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek has sparked a wave of criticism from folk like Jeremy Kyle, Simon Jordan and James Whale.

A minute of applause will be held before Sunday’s noon kick-off but according to the Daily Mail Sky Sports have been briefed over how they should handle any possible disruption:

Sky Sports’ production staff have been instructed to turn down sound levels or even switch off individual microphones during their live coverage of Celtic’s Scottish Premiership trip to St Mirren on Sunday if away fans sing offensive chants about the Queen.

BT Sport were forced to apologise after their camera crews honed in on an offensive banner during Celtic’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday and Sky staff have been primed to avoid a repeat.

All broadcasters are bound by Ofcom regulations which state they should avoid televising any material that could cause offence to viewers, and the regulator is understood to have provided further guidance this week that insulting material about the Queen falls into that category.

Last weekend all football fixtures in Scotland and England were cancelled while Test Cricket, golf and Rugby League continued with their fixtures and events.

This weekend there will be a variety of tributes paid to the late monarch as football returns although the matches between Chelsea v Liverpool and Manchester United v Spurs have been postponed due to policing issues.

On Wednesday Scotland host Ukraine in a Nations League qualifier with the SFA expected to pay tribute at that match with Steve Clarke’s side unlikely to train on Monday, the day of the funeral.