Sport on TV: Channel 5 deal for Euro 2000 provokes anger

There was condemnation last night of the decision to award Channel 5 major rights for Euro 2000 qualifying games.

Channel 5 has secured deals for exclusive coverage of three of England's four away matches - in Poland, Bulgaria and Luxembourg - and all five of Scotland's away games.

The Scottish National Party's sports spokesperson, Kim Nicoll, said: "The decision will provoke anger in many parts of Scotland. Large areas of the country cannot receive Channel 5." Rival television companies protested that they had not been allowed to make bids.

The sports minister, Tony Banks, yesterday opposed Arsenal's proposal to move to Wembley Stadium if plans to redevelop their own ground at Highbury are blocked. "There can't be any question of Arsenal playing at Wembley," he said. "We don't provide public money to provide Premier League clubs with new facilities."