EXCLUSIVE Scotland’s armchair fans facing Nations League TV blackout
Scotland’s Nations League qualifying campaign is in danger of being halted just two days before Steve Clarke’s team host Poland.
Scandinavian subscription broadcaster Viaplay has signed a deal with UEFA to broadcast all of Scotland’s international qualifying matches until 2028.
Since announcing its withdrawal from the UK last summer, the club has been in negotiations with Premier Sports and BBC Scotland over the sub-licensing of the rights to broadcast the national team live.
A proposal that would see both broadcasters cover home games live, with Premier Sports getting exclusive rights to broadcast away games, remains on the table.
However, Mail Sport understands that the negotiations with Viaplay about the price have been difficult and fraught.
While talks are ongoing in the hope of breaking the deadlock, home fans will miss the first leg against Poland at Hampden on Thursday night, followed by Sunday’s match against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Lisbon unless there is a last-minute breakthrough.
Scots celebrate a goal against Ireland during the previous Nations League campaign in 2022
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John McGinn warms up with his teammates ahead of Thursday’s match against Poland
Viaplay’s relationship with Scottish football proved short and unsatisfactory. In July 2022, the little-known broadcaster bought Premier Sports and rebranded the channel, also claiming the naming rights for the League Cup.
However, last year the Scandinavian broadcaster confirmed that it planned to lay off a quarter of its staff and conduct a strategic review of its international markets, including the UK, in a bid to limit losses.
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Lyndon Dykes enjoys a goal against Ukraine in the previous Nations League campaign
Premier, who lives in Ireland, immediately returned to Scottish football, buying back the League Cup rights and securing a 20-match package from the SPFL for £8 million. At the same time, he entered into a partnership with the BBC to take over the SFA’s coverage of the Scottish Cup.
The Scotland matches are the last rights package that Viaplay has not yet relinquished.
Sky Sports has previously made a bid but has declined to renegotiate the matter. Now BBC fans are waiting with bated breath to see if the Prime Minister and the BBC can strike a deal before Scotland play six Nations League matches in Pool A against Poland, Portugal and Croatia until November.