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Following Scotland’s historic 4-2 victory over Denmark that secured their place at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, fans expressing their joy on social media have faced criticism due to actions taken by Uefa. Videos capturing celebrations and key moments from the match were removed from platforms like X (formerly Twitter), leading to backlash from supporters and fan groups. The Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA) received messages from Uefa alleging that footage shared by the group, which included TV coverage of the Scotland versus Denmark game, had been distributed without proper authorization.
Paul Goodwin, co-founder of the SFSA, voiced strong objections to Uefa’s approach. He highlighted that the removed clips predominantly showed fans celebrating in various locations such as Glasgow, Stirling, and Dundee, rather than unauthorized broadcasts of the match itself. Goodwin stated, “It is hard to believe that Uefa are so out of touch that they demanded that X take down images of joyous fans… It really smacks of folk who have no idea about football, making decisions.” He also noted that many of the videos were brief, averaging around 40 seconds, and that the matches were legally broadcast on free-to-air channels like BBC Scotland and BBC Two.
One particular video showing a packed pub in Inverurie cheering wildly after Scott McTominay’s stunning overhead bicycle kick — a goal scored just three minutes into the game — was among those removed. The SFSA’s social media account was subsequently blocked after these takedown requests. Goodwin described the group’s reaction as “shocked” and responded to Uefa with a pointed remark echoing a sentiment often heard at football matches: “Our message to Uefa is maybe best summed up in the chant often directed to match officials, ‘you don’t know what you are doing.’”
Uefa’s strict enforcement of intellectual property rights extends to controlling the distribution of match footage, as the organization exclusively owns all rights related to the competitions it oversees. This policy frequently results in the removal of videos on various platforms, including YouTube and social media sites. Scottish Labour’s culture spokesman, Neil Bibby, criticized the removals as “heavy-handed,” emphasizing the significance of the victory not only for Scotland but as a global showcase for football. He urged Uefa to reconsider its stance, noting that these clips vividly capture the excitement and drama that international football can offer. Uefa has been contacted for comment on the situation
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