Celtic travel to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen today with the travelling support-and fair play to all those travelling today-facing another stupid o’clock kick off in exchange for the SkySports shilling.
The Noon kick off will be an important encounter on the grass as Celtic have an opportunity to open up a 13 point advantage on their nearest rival before ‘the’ Rangers face up to Livingston at Ibrox at 3pm. That match was originally due to be played yesterday but fell foul of Storm Dennis.
It may also be more interesting off the pitch in the pre-match preamble ahead of today’s match. We may get a little more than the usual banality dribbling down the chins of the likes of Kris Boyd and Kris Commons.
The Club’s decision to refuse Sky Sports entry to the Hearts pre match Press conference at Lennoxtown was a surprising development in the ‘translategate’ fall out. There was no UK television coverage for the Hearts game at Celtic Park and rival broadcaster Premier Sports had the rights to last Sunday’s cup win over Clyde.
With no disrespect intended to our opponents today, Celtic are the main draw for most viewers tuning in worldwide to the opening game of SkySports Super Sunday coverage. As such non-engagement with the main Scottish football broadcaster may be a little embarrassing for Sky.
The Daily Record https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-make-sky-sports-move-21505624 reported last night that there may have been a thawing in the frosty relationship between the club and the broadcaster but Celtic haven’t confirmed they’ll engage fully with the contractual obligations. As such it may be more interesting than normal in the build up to kick off at Pittodrie.
Celtic are obliged as part of the TV deal to allow access to the manager and players both for pre-match coverage and for post-game analysis. Will Celtic honour that contract or carry on with the non-engagement that occurred prior to the Clyde and Hearts encounters?
It will be interesting to see if the previous silent treatment offered to SkySports extends to a full blown domestic dispute today. We’ll know when coverage starts at 11.30am.
Celtic may well feel it would be an unnecessary distraction ahead of a vital game and there would be sense in that approach, but it could well be Celtic will want to drill down on the issue and make a very public statement on their continued displeasure and lack of suitable response from the Scottish Premierships biggest media contributor.
After the serious errors in the translation of the infamous stage managed Alfredo Morelos interview, Celtic released a strongly-worded statement:
“Celtic FC has asked Sky Sports to clarify their position on this matter.
“Celtic, a club open to all since its inception, abhors racism. Our consistent stance is that wherever racism exists it should be tackled head on. Celtic will always investigate any report of racist behaviour and take appropriate action. This is a standard which all clubs should meet.
“Celtic needs no encouragement to pursue racism, particularly as players and management at the club have suffered abuse persistently over the years. The seriousness of such cases has been confirmed with the prosecution and criminal convictions of some of the perpetrators.
“Celtic is proud of the wonderful reputation earned by its supporters over many years in many countries and at home. The club owes it to them to act in a responsible, dignified and professional manner and to treat racism with the seriousness it deserves.”
It was a welcome and impassioned defence of the Club and our supporters. The Daily Record article has since stated that passion may be waning:
“Mailsport understands the situation is not fully resolved and that there are still concerns from within Parkhead over the handling of the Morelos interview. However, it is believed Hoops chiefs will wait for the findings of an Ofcom investigation before further assessing their position”.
Personally speaking I’d like to see our non-compliance with SkySports continue until we hear back from Ofcom on this matter and not before. If that means withdrawing Neil Lennon and the players from pre and post-match duties then we should do so.
As we mentioned in another article on The Celtic Star prior to our 5-0 win over Hearts, let’s take our lead from Ofcom. Until they report back we should continue to take the current stance. This would at least force Sky to give us answers to how this sorry mess came about, admit who was behind it and expose them. If they hold their hands up to being played like a fiddle we can find common ground again.
SkySports need us today much more than we need them. Celtic TV provide post-match interviews with the manager and a few of the players on the club’s You Tube channel, there’s the Access All Areas and Unique Angle videos – always very popular. The club could reach out to the fans media who will be at Pittodrie anyway to support the team and work together to get the club’s post-match messages out to the support. Hell, Celtic could go one step further and sort out access to Pittodrie access for fans media photographer Geo (who currently cannot get access to three grounds, Celtic Park (unbelievably), Ibrox and Pittodrie.
The fans can get the thoughts from the manager via Celtic TV and within moments across all Celtic media including The Celtic Star, who will have two team members at Pittodrie. The fans will not miss out. Celtic Historian David Potter will provide his post-match thoughts, Sandman will give us his Definitive Player Ratings and both The Editor and Lubo98 will provide reports from the away section at the game.
The same with player interviews. Post-match analysis podcasts are online within minutes now. Tune in to top Celtic podcasts 90 minute Cynic, Twenty Minute Tims or Celtic Fans TV, there is nothing you’ll miss out on bar Kris Boyd’s usual drivel and a nodding dog of Kris Commons beside him. Would we really miss that?
A continuation of the silent treatment would be a welcome development today. It will be interesting to see if we hold our nerve.
Niall J
