Sportscene: Scottish Cup Final, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ One Scotland, 21 May 2022

Complaint

A viewer complained the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ had shown bias against Rangers FC because β€œno interviews with the team or Manager were carried out prior to or after they won the Scottish Cup”.


Outcome

The ECU noted ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland and Rangers hadΒ been involved in a long-running dispute one of the consequences of which is that Rangers’ staff and players didΒ not give broadcast interviews to the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ. Β On the morning of the Cup Final, the Editor of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Sport Scotland held talks with the club, where it became clear Rangers intended to maintain its policy not to provide any one-to-one interviews with the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ. Β This, rather than any lack of impartiality on the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ’s part, accounted for the absence of any contribution from Rangers’ staff or players on the day of the Final. The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ’s commitment to due impartiality was, however, apparent throughout its coverage of the Final; for example, the studio guests included two former Rangers players.
Not Upheld