Celtic matches won't be shown in Russia after SFA and SPFL agree to pull rights

By Euan Davidson

March 10, 2022

Celtic matches being broadcast in Russia will soon be a thing of thing of the past, after the SFA and SPFL agreed to blackout Scottish football matches.

The international community has imposed different kinds of cultural boycotts against Russia. That now includes Scottish football, with the Scotland National Team having been scheduled to play against Ukraine later this month.

A statement from the SFA and SPFL read [SFA]: “The Scottish FA and Scottish Professional Football League can confirm they have instructed their respective broadcast partners to suspend feeds of all domestic league and cup competitions in Russia for the foreseeable future, in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

“As a result, there will be a blackout of Scottish Cup fixtures from this weekend’s quarter- finals and from all SPFL competitions including cinch Premiership, cinch Championship, Premier Sports Cup and SPFL Trust Trophy.”

Typically, Celtic domestic matches are broadcast on Match TV, a premier Russian sports broadcaster. Recent games against Bodo/Glimt and Livingston were broadcast on Match. Monday’s Scottish Cup game against Dundee United was slated to be aired, too.

However, it’s clear that won’t be the case. As support for Ukraine only grows worldwide, other leagues have pulled broadcasting rights from Russia’s broadcasters.

Celtic won’t be shown in Russia as SFA, SPFL join boycott

The Premier League made this decision earlier in the week, with the issue being resolved after just 15 minutes [BBC].

Celtic do have an audience in Russia. The Bhoys have played Russian teams in European competition, including Spartak Moscow and Zenit St Petersburg.

Russia’s England and Scotland blackout is the latest in a series of measures relating to football.

FIFA and UEFA agreed to suspend Russian teams “until further notice” saying [Sky Sports]: “Following the initial decisions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee… FIFA and UEFA have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice.”

Football is a massive industry in Russia. Now, they won’t be able to watch the English Premier League, or any Scottish football.

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