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Politics
Torcuil Crichton

Sky confirms Scotland World Cup play-off final will be free to air if they can beat Ukraine

Scotland's World Cup play-off final will be free-to-air - but only if the men's team can first beat Ukraine.

Sky - which holds the broadcast rights to the crunch games - told MPs said that if Steve Clarke's side can win the delayed semi-final play off then the next match will be freely available in the UK.

Ali Law, director of policy at the broadcasting giant, told Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee that because the qualifying final would be a “moment of national importance” arrangements would be made to show it for free.

Scotland will meet either Austria or Wales in the final play-off if they overcome Ukraine in a semi-final match delayed because of the Russian invasion.

Law told MPs on the Scottish Affairs Committee: “We have a responsibility to the Sky Sports subscribers that pay their money and subscribe to not erode the exclusivity of that significantly.”

“Nevertheless, we’ve shown on a number of occasions now that if you reach that moment of decisive national importance we make games available on a much wider basis and we’re happy to do it again.”

Douglas Ross MP said the semi-final “was quite a big deal” for Scottish fans as he pressed for the Ukraine match to meet the criteria too.

Law said: “Any sporting event that a huge number of people have an interest in can fit that description. But if you look at the examples that we that we’ve used previously, it has always been those one offs.

“It has to be a do or die moment. The same thing will be the case should Scotland get to the World Cup qualifying final.”

Gavin Newlands MP, the SNP's Westminster Sports spokesperson, said: "I welcome the news that Scotland's potential World Cup play-off final will be free-to-air.

"However, I urge Sky Sports to heed our calls and go further by committing to making the play-off game against Ukraine free-to-air as well.

"The match - which has rightly been postponed due to the devastating war in Ukraine - will not only be a massive sporting fixture but it will undoubtedly carry more significance as we welcome our Ukrainian friends.

"The SNP has been clear that every Scotland fan must have the chance to watch these matches without the need to pay a subscription fee given the spiralling cost of living crisis. But this game will be more than just about sport given events in Ukraine, and we look forward to welcoming the Ukrainian team and their fans when they visit Hampden.

"I urge Sky Sports to do the right thing and make these games free-to-air."

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