Scottish Fans Criticize UEFA Over Video Removals of World Cup Celebration

Scottish football fans have voiced their frustration towards UEFA after videos showcasing supporters celebrating Scotland’s qualification for the World Cup were taken down from social media platforms.

The Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA) received communications from UEFA indicating that footage depicting the televised Scotland vs. Denmark match was shared on X without the necessary permissions.

The SFSA had posted clips of jubilant fans across various locations in Scotland, celebrating the team’s achievement in securing a World Cup spot for the first time since 1998.

Due to alleged copyright violations, several of these videos were removed, and the SFSA’s account was subsequently blocked.

Paul Goodwin, co-founder of the SFSA, expressed disbelief at UEFA’s actions, stating, “It is hard to believe that UEFA are so out of touch that they demanded that X take down images of joyous fans in bars in Glasgow, Stirling, and Dundee, where some of our members were celebrating a glorious evening for the nation. It really smacks of decision-makers who have no understanding of football.”

The match was broadcast free-to-air on BBC Scotland and BBC Two, although rights vary elsewhere. One removed video captured the moment a packed pub in Inverurie erupted when Kenny McLean scored with a spectacular shot from the halfway line, contributing to Scotland’s 4-2 victory.

Goodwin further commented, “Yes, the game was on in the background, but these clips featured fans watching a legally aired match on the BBC and were about 40 seconds long. It’s hardly comparable to streaming a game to a global audience.”

The SFSA received legal communications from UEFA after their posts were flagged for violating UEFA’s match footage regulations. Goodwin expressed shock at the deletion of the videos and the blocking of the group’s account.

“Our message to UEFA can be summed up in a chant often directed at match officials, ‘you don’t know what you are doing,’” he added.

Scotland qualified for their first World Cup since 1998 with a memorable 4-2 victory over Denmark at Hampden, thanks to goals from Scott McTominay, Lawrence Shankland, Kieran Tierney, and Kenny McLean.

In addition to fan reactions, edited videos of the goals, particularly McTominay’s bicycle kick, have garnered significant attention across social media platforms, including X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Neil Bibby, the Scottish Labour culture spokesperson, criticized the removals as “heavy-handed,” stating, “Scotland’s victory on Tuesday night marked a historic moment for the country. It was also a spectacular advertisement for the beautiful game globally. I hope UEFA reconsiders their stance, as these clips vividly showcase the thrilling and dramatic moments international football can produce.”

UEFA is known for its stringent copyright enforcement, often removing YouTube videos that violate its broadcasting rights. As the governing body for European football, UEFA holds exclusive rights to all intellectual property related to its competitions, encompassing current and future audio and visual materials.

UEFA has been approached for further comment.