SFA Chief Ian Maxwell’s Misstep: The Curious Case of the Scottish Cup Final Time Change

In a recent turn of events, Scottish Football Association (SFA) Chief Ian Maxwell has found himself in the midst of controversy. The bone of contention? The rescheduling of Celtic’s Scottish Cup final tie with Inverness from the traditional 3pm slot to a later 5:30pm start. Maxwell’s justification for the move has raised more than a few eyebrows.

Maxwell stated that the decision to shift the kick-off time was made to ensure that the Scottish Cup final would be broadcast UK-wide on BBC One. This, he claimed, would increase the “visibility of Scottish football’s showpiece occasion.” A noble intention, one might think, if not for the glaring inconsistencies in the claim.

A look back at the past few years reveals a different story. In 2022, BBC One’s schedule outside of Scotland featured Athletics during the Scottish Cup final. The year before, in 2021, it was the European Aquatics Championships that took precedence. The trend continues as we look back over the years. In 2020, it was ‘Escape to the Country’; in 2019, ‘Homes Under The Hammer’; in 2018 and 2017, the FA Cup final buildup; in 2016 and 2015, ‘Pointless Celebrities’ and FA Cup final buildup; and in 2014, ‘Escape To The Country’ again. This was kindly pointed out by former STV journalist Grant Russell on Social media.

In each of these years, the Scottish Cup final was conspicuously absent from the UK-wide BBC One schedule. This begs the question: why would this year be any different?

Maxwell’s explanation, while well-intentioned, seems to fall flat when faced with the reality of past programming decisions. It’s a howler that has left many fans scratching their heads and questioning the logic behind the decision.

But let’s not lose all hope. Perhaps 2023 is indeed the year that “Scottish football’s showpiece occasion” will finally achieve the dream of being “visible” to that UK-wide audience on BBC One. Fingers crossed. After all, in the unpredictable world of football, stranger things have happened.

Stepping away from the controversy surrounding the kick-off time, Celtic stands on the precipice of yet another monumental milestone. The team is in hot pursuit of another illustrious treble, which, if achieved with a victory against Inverness on June 3, would mark the eighth in their unbroken history.

This achievement would not only be a testament to Celtic’s hard work but also a feather in the cap of Manager Ange Postecoglou. Since his arrival at Celtic, Postecoglou has been instrumental in the team’s success, potentially clinching five out of six trophies.