SFA: Scotland games being on free-to-air TV 'an issue for broadcasters'

Scotland games being made free-to-air is an issue for broadcasters, the chief executive of football’s governing body has said.

Matches have in recent years been broadcast on paid television services, including Viaplay.

But political pressure has risen for public broadcasters to take over the rights to show the games since the men’s team made it to Euro 2020.

Speaking at the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on Tuesday, Scottish Football Association (SFA) chief executive Ian Maxwell said the issue is out of the body’s hands.

“I don’t think it’s for the SFA to make sure the games are free-to-air, I think it’s on the free-to-air broadcasters to make sure the games are free-to-air,” he said.

“The process is that anybody can bid for our national team rights, it’s centralised through Uefa, it’s open for anybody to bid for them.”

The European football governing body has control over the TV rights for international matches involving each member nation, with just seven of the 55 – including Scotland – being broadcast on paid television services, according to SNP MP Gavin Newlands.

Maxwell said: “Ultimately, it comes down to value, it comes down to finance.

“We receive money from the Uefa centralised deal, we then use that money to go and do the good work we do across the country.

“As long as those financial terms are met, anyone could show our games – I would love our games to be on free-to-air, but it ultimately comes down to the free-to-air broadcasters and can they commit the required finance.”

With the men’s team having qualified for Euro 2024 in Germany, their first group game against the hosts will be shown live on STV, while the subsequent two against Switzerland and Hungary will be carried by the BBC.