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A MANIFESTO FOR SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

Date: 21st March 2026

A MANIFESTO FOR SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

Last week we shared with you our ‘manifesto ask’ for the political parties standing in the 7 May 2026 Scottish Parliament Elections.

It boils down to one statement: “We will seek to strengthen the voice and representation of fans in Scottish football, to achieve proper independent scrutiny of governance and finance within our national game, and to make proper standards of transparency and sustainability mandatory for all sports clubs.”

Next week we will tell you exactly how you can find and write to candidates in your parliamentary constituency. This week we spell out the change that YOU have been part of demanding – and what this manifesto statement means in practice.

Words have been plentiful, but action has been missing – especially on independent scrutiny, transparency and accountability. We want all political parties standing in the May 2026 Holyrood elections to pledge their support for such scrutiny, transparency and accountability. The harsh reality of ten serious insolvency situations in the game over the past 20 years (out of 42 senior clubs) shows why this is essential.

This Fans First mini-manifesto provides the headlines for a practical programme for the future of Scottish football, built directly from the consensus of its most important stakeholders.

  1. Radical Governance and Financial Reform
  • Independent Regulation: Establish a framework for independent scrutiny of the governance finance and conduct of Scottish football (an Independent Scrutiny Unit), to provide robust oversight. Back this with regulation through the Scottish Parliament, with all party backing, requiring a Transparency & Sustainability Agreement for all sports clubs operating in Scotland.
  • Democratising Leadership: Open the election of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) President and Vice President to all club season ticket holders across Scotland, to ensure true democracy.
  • Stakeholder Representation: Guarantee positions for players, coaches, and fans on the various committees of the SFA and SPFL.
  • Shadow Boards: Implement elected ‘shadow boards’ of supporters for the SFA, SPFL, and all top-flight clubs to ensure better governance and a permanent voice for fans. Legally protect club names, stadia and colours for and in the name of supporters.
  • Freedom of Information: Until or unless football governance is covered by FOI, seek a robust Information Sharing code and policy from the governing bodies of the game in Scotland.

 

 

  1. Securing Financial Accountability and Integrity
  • Conditional Funding: Make all public money invested in football (via the SFA) strictly conditional on guaranteed stakeholder engagement, including fans advisory boards and transparency in spending.
  • Financial Fair Play (FFP): Introduce FFP rules for all Scottish clubs to promote long-term financial stability.
  • Ownership Scrutiny: Significantly tighten SFA scrutiny of club ownership to prevent the recurring cycles of administration and liquidation seen over the last 20 years.
  1. Improving the Matchday Experience
  • Fair Ticket Pricing: Mandate fan consultation on ticket pricing and fixture rescheduling.
  • Capped Away Tickets: Implement agreed fixed prices for all away supporters, determined by division, before the start of every season.
  • VAR Review: Acknowledge that 75.6% of fans believe VAR has not improved the game and commit to a fundamental review of its implementation.
  1. Investing in the Future of the Game
  • Common Good Fund Establish a common good fund for grassroots football by ringfencing £1.00 from every Scotland international match and all cup semi-finals and finals.
  • Talent Retention: Require the football authorities to take stronger action to end the drain of young Scottish talent moving abroad.
  • Academy Reform: Conduct a comprehensive review of the youth academy system, which a majority of fans believe is currently not working effectively.
  1. Modernising the Structure and Reach of the Game
  • League Reconstruction: Reconstruct the league system to create a larger top division.
  • Innovation in Broadcasting: Investigate the creation of a dedicated SFA/SPFL TV channel to give fans better access to the game.

Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA)

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