Rangers and SPFL relationship surely damaged beyond repair after ‘extremely poor’ Friday update
Rangers have had a pretty fraught relationship with the SPFL now for some time.
Back in June, the Glasgow Times reported the Light Blues were seeking an apology and legal costs to be paid following a long-running dispute over the Cinch sponsorship with the government body.
The Scottish FA even granted Rangers permission to take the SPFL to court over the dispute.
Things were also pretty fraught in August when Rangers wrote to the SPFL to contest a decision made by Celtic to not allow any away supporters to attend the first Old Firm derby of the season, which Celtic won 1-0.
Now the relationship between the two parties has taken another turn, with the announcement that Sky Sports has moved Rangers’ away trip with Motherwell to 24 December – Christmas Eve.
Understandably, the club were left fuming with the decision, with both the SPFL and broadcaster Sky coming in for heavy criticism in a statement released on Friday (27 October).
The statement read: “The club fully appreciates the lengths our supporters travel for these matches and the sacrifices that are made in order to back their team at every opportunity. Sky Sports’ movement of the match to Christmas Eve, a day where many supporters will have other plans and also, where public transport is limited, feels unnecessary given the potential broadcast slots available to them on the Saturday.
“The club also learned of this fixture change only an hour prior to its external announcement, which allowed no time for any dialogue or debate with either Sky Sports or the SPFL. Earlier this season, the club asked for our fixture with St Mirren on Sunday October 8 to kick-off later than 12noon given the team flew over five hours back from Cyprus on the Friday evening, to allow for more preparation and recovery time. This request was denied.
“Sky Sports are a valued league partner, and as a club, we enjoy a strong working relationship with them. This decision, however, is extremely poor and shows a lack of regard to our supporters.”
For a long time now there has been a feeling among supporters across England and Scotland that broadcasters do not care much for supporters having to travel at difficult times and hours and their main focus is on lining their pockets.
But this decision more than any really does seem completely out of touch. Supporters go to great lengths to travel across the country to follow their teams, but to have to do an away day on Christmas Eve at a time when people are planning things with their families and having to travel across the country really does not sit right.
It feels like this one could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back in terms of Rangers’ relationship with the SPFL.
In other Rangers news, Neil Lennon has given his verdict on an imminent appointment at Ibrox.