SFA issue 'no so fast' warning over erasing 3pm TV blackout as uneasiness revealed

The Scottish Football Association have issued a ‘not so fast’ warning to the SPFL following reports the league governing body have opened the way for broadcasters to bid to televise games at 3pm on Saturdays.

It’s understood the SFA have been alarmed by the prospect of the traditional ‘blocked hours’ on Saturday afternoon being summarily swept away without discussion, which would represent a football broadcasting revolution. The spectre of the English Premier League making a similar adjustment also raises concern.

The SFA fear the unintended consequences to the whole game in Scotland, particularly in view of the country’s oft-quoted status as the highest in Europe for football attendance per capita.

Television cameras cannot pick 3pm matches on a Saturday in Scotland. | SNS Group

Although open to discussions, their uneasiness stems from a wish to protect the interests of the entire Scottish football ecosystem "from a societal, sporting and economic perspective".

The SPFL have effectively set the hare running. A story published on Thursday by the Sports Business website contended that broadcasters have been given the opportunity in tender documents sent out earlier this month to acquire live domestic rights to all Scottish Premiership matches - the 3pm kick-off slot included - for the first time, starting in 2029.

This deal hinges on all four home associations agreeing to end the protection offered by Article 48 of Uefa’s statutes, which permits national associations to block out a 2.5-hour window each weekend where broadcasting live games is forbidden. It is currently set at 2.45pm to 5.15pm on Saturdays in the UK.

It is anticipated that the associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the only associations still using the rule, will withdraw from it eventually, given the financial incentive and the fact that so many games are televised across the weekend in any case.

English Premier League CEO Richard Masters recently stated in an interview that a decision will have to be made sooner or later about “whether things are going to change”. He added that this would need to be done in consultation with the English FA and the English Football League.

Showing high-profile Premier League games live on television at 3pm could create additional competition for Scottish clubs at all levels, deterring fans from attending matches.

If English football goes down this route, it’s understood the SFA would endeavour to seek financial compensation to help mitigate the risk of smaller clubs taking a hit to income. The fear is the SPFL have effectively jumped the gun. “There is realpolitik attached to it now,” said a source.

The attention of the fairweather fan in particular is one issue at hand. Such casual supporters might be easily persuaded by the rival attraction of watching Liverpool v Manchester United or a Scottish top-flight game on television on a Saturday afternoon rather than going to see a local team in the flesh.

Although fewer and fewer games are scheduled for the traditional 3pm slot on a Saturday as many as 19 matches will kick off at this time in the top two divisions in England and Scotland this weekend.