...and he would certainly have approved of this – Sky to show Scotland game free

FOOTBALL fans will be able to watch Scotland’s crunch match against Serbia free this week – thanks to Covid restrictions.

The surprise move comes only weeks after the First Minister appealed to Sky Sports to make last month’s Old Firm derby free to watch to stop large groups of supporters gathering at friends’ homes.

Bosses declined at the time to take Nicola Sturgeon up on her request.

But now, with the increase in virus case numbers and countrywide restrictions in place, they have relented.

On Thursday, Scotland could qualify for their first major tournament in 23 years if they beat Serbia in a European Championship play-off final in Belgrade.

With no fans allowed inside the city’s Rajko Mitic Stadium, the Tartan Army have been forced to stay at home.

Sky Sports hold the TV rights to the match, which means that only viewers who pay a subscription to the satellite broadcaster can watch the action live.

In normal times, fans could always visit their local pub to watch the game on a big screen but Covid-19 restrictions mean most bars have been temporarily closed.

In recognition of these extraordinary times, Sky Sports yesterday announced that it was making the Serbia game free on Sky One, Sky Sports, as well as Freeview’s Pick channel. A similar arrangement has been put in place for Northern Ireland’s game with Slovakia on the same night.

Sky Sports managing director Rob Webster said: ‘We know how significant these fixtures could be for fans of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

‘With two sides on the brink of qualifying for a major tournament, we felt it was the right moment in these exceptional and unique circumstances to make the games more widely available.’ The Tartan Army have not been at a major finals since the 1998 World Cup in France.

One fan who was there, Tam Ferrie, 49, is honorary president of the East of Scotland Tartan Army. He said: ‘This is a really nice gesture to the fans who would otherwise miss out on this game.

‘We are living in strange times and it’s better to watch it in your own home than gather together in the living room of someone who subscribes to Sky Sports.

‘It’s a cup final – and anyone can win a cup final.’