Smith is concerned about the financial implications of the TV shake-up

Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith has made a formal objection to plans to ring-fence future Scotland matches for free-to-air broadcasters.

A Department of Culture, Media and Sport review has recommended that home and away football qualifiers for the home nations should be listed.

However, Smith told BBC Scotland the move would have severe financial implications for the game.

"There would be a big drop in the funds for the football association," he said.

The government's recommendations for revised "listed events" that are made available to watch for free on terrestrial television was published last November.

The SFA's current four-year rights deal with the satellite broadcaster Sky Sports is worth about £60m and includes live Scottish Cup matches in addition to coverage of Scotland's home European Championship and World Cup qualifying matches.

The Scottish Cup final has long been a protected free-to-air event.

"We don't understand why this has come about," said Smith.

"We certainly feel that competition, in terms of the broadcasting rights, is what brings in the best value; the required money in order to fund all the other initiatives you have in your game.

"If it becomes a listed event, it means there would be a big drop in the funds for the football association and that would reflect in terms of what we can do for the game here."

Smith told BBC Scotland he and the other home nations were lobbying to ensure they could continue to sell the rights to their matches to their choice of broadcaster.

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