Many Celtic fans have been fuming at the latest tweet that the club relayed about their upcoming pre-season friendlies.
The club’s official Twitter account recently posted some information about the pre-season friendlies in France, sharing that the club’s fans can keep up with the French tour by revealing that the games will be live on Premier Sports. The tweet also carried a link to the club’s official website, which had some more information on how to access coverage of the games on television.
A lot of Celtic fans weren’t pleased about this, feeling that it is unfair for the games to be streamed on Premier Sports if there’s a virtual season ticket system in operation. They expressed their anguish very clearly.
Strange to be advertising for Premier Sports
— MoRodgers (@MoRodgers4) July 15, 2020
Should Celtic include pre-season matches in the virtual season ticket scheme
Absolutely
No, they can't do that
Shocking that ST holders who have been forced to pay full price for there ST can’t watch these games but those outside the UK can ……shambles
— Theweefrimpong (@frimpongj30) July 15, 2020
Premier sports!?! Really! ?????
— Jamie Rodgers (@JamieBhoyRodger) July 15, 2020
The article on the club’s website states that Celtic will get their pre-season underway on Thursday when they take on OGC Nice, with Premier Sports offering live coverage of that game and the following friendlies to fans in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland. The piece went on to provide more subscription-related information and revealed that even the upcoming European qualifiers will also be broadcast on the channel (as per Celtic.net).
Despite that, many other fans weren’t pleased with this decision.
you have to laugh at this Celtic actively telling you how see the match. Suscribe and pay even more money. Celtic should of secured this match and all friendlies for at least season ticket holders to watch
— 240EAB (@240Eab) July 15, 2020
Disappointing. A subscription too far. Wake up Celtic. https://t.co/9L3doMaCtv
— Chris Moran (@Subterranean_C) July 15, 2020
Why is this not part of our Virtual Pass?? And when are we getting our code?
— G.R (@RenfrewGhirl85) July 15, 2020
The SPFL has already reached an agreement with Sky Sports to offer virtual season tickets to fans. This will allow fans to watch league games from the comfort of their homes, with matches expected to take place behind closed doors.
It seems that rather understandably, fans would ideally want Celtic matches to be included in the same virtual season ticket scheme. So Hoops fans are arguably justified to be confused and angry about this as they might have paid their virtual season ticket money already and have to pay more money to access coverage of their friendlies – so the club should perhaps be a bit more transparent with this.