WELSH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM, SKY SPORTS AND WELSH LANGUAGE COMMENTARY

That this House notes that the rights to broadcast Welsh international football matches have been bought by Sky television since 2004; further notes that Welsh language broadcaster S4C has no rights to broadcast Welsh international football matches; expresses its concern at the decision of Sky Sports to cease its Welsh language service for Welsh international football matches; further notes that Welsh language speakers will no longer be able to watch the Welsh national football team in their own language should they choose to do so; commends the strong bilingual policy of the Football Association of Wales; calls on UEFA, who negotiated broadcast rights on behalf of European football associations for the forthcoming European championships, to ensure that Welsh language speakers can watch Welsh language live broadcasts of their national team during the forthcoming European qualifiers; and wishes the exciting young Welsh national football team well in their forthcoming fixtures.