Scotland broadcast deal with Viaplay 'hard to stomach' during cost of living crisis

The prospect of Scotland fans paying even more money to watch their heroes during the cost of living crisis is "hard to stomach", an SNP MP has warned.

The SFA yesterday announced that all matches involving the men's national side will be screened exclusively by a little-known Nordic broadcaster, Viaplay, from 2024 to 2028.

Paisley MP Gavin Newlands has now called for Scotland matches to be added to a UK Government list of key sporting events that must be freely available on TV.

A long-running deal with Sky Sports will come to an after Scotland's World Cup play-off campaign against Ukraine and possibly Wales in June.

The SFA effectively gave up any say on who broadcasts men's team games after it signed up to UEFA's centralised bidding process, which guarantees nations a cut of revenues.

Stockholm-based Viaplay is almost entirely unknown in the UK and hopes to launch in the country by the end of next year.

The deal was signed by UEFA and announced by the SFA on Wednesday with fans left raging at having to sign-up to another broadcaster.

Newlands said the timing couldn't be worse for supporters given the cost of living crisis.

"This latest lucrative deal will be hard to stomach for many fans who face yet another hit to their pockets," he continued.

"We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis that is putting real pressure on people's incomes.

"For many, football is more than just a sport - it offers an escape to people from their personal challenges and circumstances and can deliver moments of pure joy.

"If Scottish national team games were included on the UK Government's list of events that must be broadcast free to air, we wouldn't soon have the shambolic situation where football in Scotland will be shown