Scottish FA chief Gordon Smith met with his counterparts from England, Northern Ireland and Wales at yesterday’s (Feb 7) Euro 2012 draw to raise concerns about plans to show competitive Home Nations matches on free-to-air channels.
Former English FA executive director David Davies recommended that all qualifying games be available on terrestrial channels in his report into the ‘crown jewels’ sporting events.
But the Scottish FA has just signed a new £50m deal with Sky and Smith fears any move away from pay-TV broadcasters will have a disastrous effect on the grassroots game in Scotland.
"The fact someone can look at our matches and dictate the fact we should be free-to-air causes us major concerns,” Smith told the Sunday Herald.
"It is causing major ructions in sport and we are going to have discussions amongst our fellow British associations. We will have a chat about it in terms of how we go forward because all of us are totally affected by this and totally against it.
"The only option we have got is to try to put our case across. We need to try and show how much effect this is going to have, in terms of the grassroots coaching and initiatives we do. All of a sudden, if it gets listed, you get a monopoly.
"Apparently they did a survey and four out of five wanted free-to-air. Well, I've done a survey and five out of five people also want free public transport."
The England & Wales Cricket Board has similar concerns about Davies’ proposal to return Ashes cricket to free-to-air television.
