Opinion: Potential SPFL decision is bad for Celtic and Scottish football

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster seems to have suggested that from next season clubs will not be able to stream matches to season ticket holders that can’t attend games.

Following the Covid outbreak, the Scottish leagues and Sky Sports came to an agreement that clubs could stream their games to season ticker holders, and Celtic have on occasion sold streams for certain games to fans without season tickets.

However, whilst talking to the Press and Journal, Doncaster indicated that next season things will be back to normal, the 3 pm blackout rule will return and the only way you will be able to see a game is by attending it.

The potential ending of streaming by clubs is bad news for all clubs, including Celtic.

It was a help for fans in the United Kingdom who had season tickets that were unable to attend games, they had the chance to watch the game from home, something that is denied on Celtic TV, which pre the pandemic was not allowed to broadcast games live in the UK.

Clubs also got extra money from being able to sell stream passes for games to non-season ticket holders. Season ticket holders are the lifeblood of clubs, but it is always good for a club to earn extra money, especially when you consider that the television deal in Scottish football doesn’t provide a lot of money compared to some other countries.

In a way it is understandable that the clubs streaming services would come to an end sooner rather than later, after all, they were introduced for season 2020/21, when fans weren’t in stadiums. For the majority of this season fans have returned, and football is getting back to normal.

Still, it would be a bonus for fans of all clubs if a deal could be reached with Sky Sports and SPFL clubs to allow the streaming