There is another implication, of course, with Michael Stewart and his situation with the SFA, and it involves Rangers on a significant level to a degree without being vastly implicative. The simple problem with Michael Stewart situation in banning from the SFA is that the SFA have now just annoyed, shall we say, or indeed pissed off, their major media partner.
A Clash With Key Broadcasters
Premier Sports cover the national team. Sky Sports do not, neither do TNT. Premier Sports are the national broadcaster for Scotland as a national team. They also, of course, cover some SPFL matches and the Premier Sports League Cup and the Scottish Cup. Aka they cover a huge portion of Scottish football. They are indeed the main partner. Sky Sports have more Premiership football, but aside from that, Sky Sports have absolutely nothing in Scotland anymore.
Dependence on Premier Sports
It is all Premier Sports, and the SFA rely on Premier Sports revenue and their partnership. They have chosen to take this action essentially against Premier Sports, and Premier Sports do not agree. Premier Sports have dug their heels in and supported their man, as we have said before.
Impact on Scottish Football Finances
Now what does this mean for Rangers? Premier Sports are investing in Scottish football significantly. Scottish football suffered when Rangers fell out of the top flight by losing a bunch of sponsorships. It is safe to say that the game north of the border went backwards for a long time after Rangers relegation to the lower leagues.
Loss of Sponsorship Value
No longer was there a marquee sponsorship of the top flight. Ladbrokes were gone. The Clydesdale Bank, as it was, were gone. All the sponsorships that were once willing to put their name to Scotland’s top league were no longer doing so because there was no Rangers.
A Risky Decision by the SFA
Scotland needs cash. Scottish football needs revenue. And irritating and winding up a major sponsor and its main partner and main TV broadcaster is one of the dumbest, most self-masochistic things that we have seen the Scottish game do. And we’ve seen it do quite a few.
Pride Over Pragmatism
The SFA basically took a terrible decision here based on pride. They did not like the referees and the refereeing being questioned, despite the fact it is atrocious. We will have a separate piece on that in due course.
Consequences for Rangers
But the implications for Rangers, of course, are tied to what this could do to a sponsor and a partner of the Scottish game. Obviously, the payments that Rangers get through Premier Sports and the sponsorship aren’t exactly breathtaking, but they are a significant partner in the Scottish Premiership.
Prize Money Reality
The Scottish Premiership has prize money. Scottish Premiership prize money is around about £2.9M for the winner. It is not even that much more for second and third. It is not exactly life-changing cash.
Potential Fallout
But if Premier Sports now walk away from Scottish football, who on earth is going to take that? Who on earth is going to take a company that criticises the pundits? Who on earth is going to take a broadcaster and an association that is the SFA that happily will condemn one of your employees and ban them from a national stadium?
A Damaging Reputation
This really was not the wisest thing for the SFA to do. Financially, they have just screwed the national game here. Potentially, Premier Sports will walk away, no one else will take over, and Scotland will once again be left without a sponsor or broadcast partner.
Final Verdict
Left without a broadcast partner. Left without anyone wanting to take it up because they will not want their name dragged through the muck like the SFA have done to Premier Sports. It is, of course, the SFA who look bad here, who look ridiculous, but then that is the whole point. If they look this bad and this ridiculous, who on earth is going to want to partner with such an incompetent outfit? Well done, SFA. You really do know SFA.