Scotland are facing a telly blackout for the first time this century with this week’s Nations League clashes NOT being shown on TV.
Steve Clarke’s side take on Croatia in Zagreb on Saturday before welcoming Cristiano Ronaldo and Co to Hampden for Tuesday’s showdown with Portugal. But armchair supporters will be forced to tune in online if they want to follow the action live, with the Scandinavian firm announcing the two international fixtures will only be available to watch via their YouTube channel.
Viaplay hold the rights to screen all of Scotland’s UEFA qualifiers up until 2028. But it no longer has a UK television platform having withdrawn from the British market last year after reporting financial difficulties. Last month’s Nations League losses to Poland and the Portuguese were screened free to air on council telly after ITV stepped in to take up the rights through a sub-licensing agreement. Viaplay had hoped to strike a similar arrangement with ITV and STV this time – but the talks ran out of time before a deal could be agreed.
The Tartan Army will now have top hope their internet connections hold up better than Clarke’s defence as the national team look to end a miserable run that has seen them win just once in their last 14 games.
Saturday’s showdown in Zagreb will be the first time that a competitive Scotland game has not been featured live on TV this side of the year 2000. They did play Poland in a 2014 friendly in Warsaw in a match that was streamed live by Record Sport but every other match since has been picked up by a major broadcaster.