Scottish ‘not deceived’ on soccer screening

Press, 23 May 1989, Page 22

Scottish ‘not deceived’ on soccer screening

PA Rotorua The Race Relations Office says it can do nothing about a complaint relating to the screening of the Scottish F.A. Cup soccer final. A race relations adviser, Ms Lilly Wilcox, said there was nothing to suggest that TVNZ deceived the Scottish people of New Zealand by not showing the Scottish final live, as earlier promised.

A Scots-born Rotorua man, Mr lan Gorman, complained to the Race Relations Conciliator when TVNZ announced it would, after all, screen the English F.A. Cup final live.

Earlier it said it had been unable to obtain the rights to screen the English final from TV3 and would screen the Scottish final instead.

However, TV3 offered the English final free and TVNZ accepted, announcing it would screen highlights of the Scottish final.

The move incensed Mr Gorman, who claimed Scottish people had been deceived and "ethnically degraded” by TVNZ.

Ms Wilcox said Mr Gorman’s complaint had been referred to three individual solicitors for assessment. Each had found the complaint could not be

upheld. “The only section of the act under which it could come is section 4,” she said.

“Under that section there is nothing to suggest that the actions of TVNZ were based on the nationality of the Scottish people.”

Mr Gorman said he believed TVNZ had used the Scottish final as a “political tool” in its battle with TV3.

"If the act doesn’t cover ethnic groups by deceit, what does it cover,” he asked.

■ Mr Gorman said an earlier reply to his complaint could have meant leg|l action being taten.