Concerns for islands on the stream

The sense of entitlement from those commenting on the Guernsey Football Association’s decision to block unofficial plans for a livestream of last Saturday’s Muratti finals was disappointingly predictable.

However, the GFA, indeed, the associations of both islands, seemingly at odds on the day, can learn from this and show some consistency in the future.

Come match day, lots of people start searching for a livestream of the match. Outside the island, be that on the other island or further afield, that’s very understandable. The game – the pre-eminent sports fixture in the islands – still matters to islanders, and ex-pats.

The JFA had a good idea last year – host it itself and charge for it. It is understood that it broke even. But that takes some organising – people expect quality, especially if they are paying for it – which carries a risk in terms of costs. Alternatively, you offer rights to stream the game to third parties, at a cost.

High level sport in the pandemic proved that it’s not the same without fans. The day in Jersey, certainly, still matters to many Guernsey supporters. The potential that ITV Channel’s plans to livestream the game, without even seeking permission, had to damage the attendance, and the finances of football across the three islands, was a poor move, which received the right response from the GFA.

But a proper plan for livestreaming – or not if that is the decision – will now need to be part of the planning for every Muratti weekend going forward, and those plans clearly communicated.