Soccer Football - Scottish Cup Final - Celtic vs Motherwell - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Britain - May 19, 2018 Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell (2nd L) and Independent non-executive director Dermot Desmond (C) in the stand Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Tonight the SPFL Premiership fixture card throws up three very attractive fixtures.
Over 50,000 will be inside Celtic Park for the visit of Dundee, Tynecastle hosts an Edinburgh derby with a huge crowd expected at Rugby Park for the clash between fourth and first.
What more could a broadcaster ask for, spoiled for choice, in an ideal world those fixtures would have been spread over two days.
Except for viewers in Scotland. Last night 3,145 turned up for Ross County drawing with St Mirren, probably half that number will be in the Toni Macaroni for the visit of Motherwell tonight with Sky Sports screening both matches live complete with the Chris Sutton and Kris Boyd circus.
While the pundits share their thoughts on wee Davie Martindale’s side in action on the plastic their thoughts and mobile phones will be tuned elsewhere as the SPFL title race develops.
Well said @RaeComm ?? https://t.co/ZPEcLWoEgt
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) February 28, 2024
The current SPFL deal delivers virtually nothing, masterminded by the Great Survivor, Neil Doncaster.
Fans, viewers and subscribers get a bizarre schedule of matches focussing on the worst stadiums in the country. Sky Sports are in handcuffs as they hold back on selections with the vital end of season fixtures a lottery, to be decided after 33 rounds of fixtures.
With just five home matches per team allowed in the 60 match contract Sky Sports has to be very selective, already this season they have shown Ross County and Aberdeen visit Celtic Park as well as the December 30 Glasgow Derby.
Two more matches can be shown, the post-split Derby match and one other, it is the same story at each club as the broadcasters tries to second guess the critical fixtures.
Clubs do have the ability to sell five non Saturday 3pm matches on a pay-per-view basis but with the new deal running until the end of the 28/29 season clubs, fans and broadcasters will be suffering for a while yet due to Doncaster’s negotiating ability.
CLICK HERE for SPFL Press Release for their Sky Sports contract.
is there not a different rule this year for the new club ?
Editor: Of course, there always is.
Scottish Football – The laughing stock of world football !