Celtic’s upcoming Scottish Premiership top-two showdown against Aberdeen looks set not to be broadcast on television next Saturday after the club opted out of Premier Sports’ SPFL contract.
Both clubs have taken maximum points from their opening seven league games, but only supporters heading to the match can take action by legal means inside the UK & Ireland.
Following recent developments, Celtic have now declined the Premier Sports TV option, which would have seen the club earn a maximum of £150,000 if two home Scottish Premiership matches were aired via the broadcaster.
The line of reasoning behind the withdrawal centres around not wanting to ‘inconvenience’ supporters who have already made travel plans to attend Celtic Park.
Traditional kick-off slots have been a rare occurrence for Celtic this term, with just one Saturday 3 pm start in the Bhoys’ victory against Heart of Midlothian in early September.
Celtic have taken an admirable stance to benefit supporters
It would’ve been easy for Celtic to take the financial reward for having their match against Aberdeen on TV, but the fact they haven’t has shown the club are siding with supporters on this one.
There is a nationwide demand to see Scotland’s two form sides in action, that is obvious. The Bhoys rarely have a challenger that isn’t from across the city, which is so refreshing to see in the grand scheme of things.
The wider appeal of the national game should be maximised at every opportunity, but not at the expense of match-going supporters.
Evaluating the situation, Celtic have seen several domestic matches moved for live TV coverage. Why should Hoops supporters barely get to enjoy a traditional kick-off slot while others regularly get to go to games with their friends and family on a Saturday at 3 pm?
Celtic Park match-goers have been put first
TV spectators are important; they are critical to the sustainability and subsequent future thriving of the Scottish Premiership.
Regardless, the paying public in Glasgow’s east end and those who travel on the road shouldn’t be viewed as second-best, something the club have taken upon themselves to rule out in this instance.
That isn’t how football works; fans are the lifeblood of the spectacle live broadcasters fight among each other for. The Hoops have made the right decision by looking after their fans’ best interests.
Hopefully, there can be room further down the line for further solutions that benefit all parties. 67 Hail Hail has already spoken about the impact blackout matches have on Celtic and the wider Scottish football product.
For now, supporters will be glad they have a chance to see their team in a conventional kick-off slot against Aberdeen despite the noise surrounding the situation.
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