PLANS to televise live football matches at 3pm on a Saturday could have negative financial consequences for Cowdenbeath, fears local MP Thomas Docherty.

Media regulator Ofcom have announced an investigation into the way that the Premier League in England sell the rights to broadcast games in the UK after Virgin Media complained that more matches should be available for live screening.

Broadcasters have been banned from showing games live at 3pm on a Saturday in a bid to prevent a reduction in attendances, but Ofcom’s investigation could see that restriction lifted if Virgin’s argument that a higher proportion of top flight matches south of the border should be made available for live transmission is upheld.

Mr Docherty - whose constituency includes Hill of Beath, Crossgates and Moss-side - said that any such move could make supporters think twice about going to watch their favourites – and hit them in the pocket.

He said, “I have got a copy of a Supporters Direct letter to Ofcom that says we should absolutely protect the 3pm slot on a Saturday, and I will be following this up with them. Ofcom cannot ignore the views of fans and games should not be shown at that time - it would be a terrible idea. Although this would affect games in England, it is equally important in Scotland. If you get a day like Saturday where the weather wasn’t great, then it’s human nature that some people might say ‘I don’t fancy this’ and maybe stay at home instead of going to watch Cowdenbeath or Dunfermline if, for example, Manchester United and Chelsea was live on the TV.

“I take my son to football training on a Saturday morning and it struck me that every kid had a Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Manchester United top on. Kids now are growing up in an era where it’s not just Premier League fixtures they can watch, they’re seeing Messi or Ronaldo. Even if it’s a European game from the Bundesliga that’s on, young people might prefer to watch that than go to a match. That could have a devastating effect on smaller clubs who are already struggling in the current climate.” Blue Brazil chief executive Alex Anderson said, “The more live TV there is, the worse it becomes and any attraction that keeps punters away from coming to matches has to be a bad thing. If you take 15-20 or 50 away, that’s a lot of money off the gate when you also consider fringe benefits like catering and programmes.

“It would have a detrimental effect on every club in Scotland. But the distribution of money from Sky is totally inadequete; very little filters down to the smaller clubs. That is something that should be looked at because Scottish clubs only get a fraction of what those in England get.”