YOU WON’T MISS A SINGLE GAME
Revolutionary TV deal lets fans see all home games until it’s safe to return to stadium
SCOTTISH football’s revolutionary virtual season-ticket scheme will stay in place until every fan in the country can safely watch their team in the flesh.
Record Sport revealed exclusively yesterday that SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster and broadcast BY KEITH JACKSON giants Sky were on the verge of announcing a ground-breaking plan to allow live streaming of next season’s top flight into the living rooms of fans up and down the country.
The agreement was officially rubber-stamped
FROM BACK PAGE and announced at lunchtime with a host of Premiership clubs rushing to express their delight at the opportunity for them to access match-day revenue even when their gates remain padlocked.
Now we can reveal that the hi-tech facility – which will be ready when the new season starts behind closed doors – will remain in place until the Scottish Government has given the green light for every fan in the country to return to their favourite grounds.
And talks aimed at allowing supporters the chance to snap up individual fixtures from away grounds on a payper-view basis are now taking place between the top 12 clubs.
A source told us: “This agreement means anyone who buys a virtual season ticket will not need to miss a kick of their club’s home matches.
“Even if restrictions are lifted and a percentage of season-ticket holders are allowed inside places like Parkhead and Ibrox, those who cannot attend the matches because of social distancing measures will continue to be able to watch from the comfort of their own homes.
“When fans are allowed back then their virtual season ticket will automatically revert to a real season ticket.”
Champions Celtic were among a number of clubs to release statements following yesterday’s historic announcement – confirming that the live streaming will be free to all season-ticket holders who are prevented from attending matches.
Chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “Once again I would like to thank our fans for their patience, understanding and support during these unprecedented times.
“Our priority has been to look at ways in which football can resume and ultimately get our supporters
back safely to Celtic Park as soon as possible.
“It is imperative we cater for the needs of our fans. These proposals are great news.
“I would like to thank Neil Doncaster, the SPFL board and Sky for the work they have done in bringing this arrangement together.”
Record Sport can also reveal that a separate plan to allow live streaming of matches from the Championship next season is currently being thrashed out.
Yesterday’s top-flight deal comes on the back of Sky agreeing to write off a potential clawback claim of £5.5million after the 2019/20 SPFL season was forced into lockdown by the Covid-19 pandemic without all fixtures being played to a full.
That sum has been renegotiated down to £1.5m which will be recouped by the satellite firm over the course of a new five-year contract, at a cost to clubs of £300,000 per season.
Doncaster, meanwhile, is continuing talks over a potential philanthropic investment from Hearts backer James Anderson, who is looking to help all 42 clubs survive the dire financial consequences of the Covid-19 outbreak.
But suggestions that Anderson is willing to pump more than £4m into the game are wide of the mark.
Record Sport understands the details of Anderson’s generous cash pledge have yet to be ironed out but that the total sum involved would be closer to the £2m mark.