BILLY BREMNER MEMORIAL JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN
Date: 1st February 2024
MEMBERS’ DEBATE – REVIEW OF THE GAME
* Scottish Parliament discusses independent regulation for the first time
* MSPs back calls for real accountability and transparency
* Roundtable offered by Scottish Government opens the door to real reform
The Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA) has welcomed the “strong and determined” calls for accountability and transparency in the way Scottish football is run, as expressed by MSPs across all parties in a landmark parliamentary debate yesterday (31 January).
The SFSA, which brings together over 80,000 supporters and affiliate groups across Scotland, was responding to a members’ debate on ‘Enhancing Scottish Football’ tabled by Ben MacPherson MSP which ended with Maree Todd, the Minister responsible for sport, agreeing to a wide-ranging roundtable on how this could be best achieved in a spirit of collaboration.
Members from across parliament welcomed the SFSA’s fan-led review of the game in Scotland, Rebuilding Scottish Football (June 2023) and acknowledged the importance of its central recommendation – the need for independent scrutiny and appropriate regulation of the finance, governance and conduct of the football authorities in Scotland.
“We are very encouraged by the commitment of MSPs from all parties to see the way Scottish football is run fundamentally reformed, opened up to fans, and focussed on community benefit,” said SFSA CEO Stuart Murphy, himself a former club director.
“With legislation for an independent regulator in English football coming to the UK Parliament next week, now is the time to act here in Scotland. The issues north and south of the border may be different, but the principle of needing accountability and transparency to be underpinned by independent scrutiny with teeth is the same.
“It is clear from the strong and determined contributions from both government and opposition members yesterday that the will for change in order to help our national game flourish is not going to go away. This is the first time parliament has discussed independent regulation, and that in itself is a huge moment for Scottish football.
“While were disappointed by the dismissive tone towards independent regulation displayed by Scottish Football Association chief Ian Maxwell in his recent committee appearance at the Scottish Parliament, the message of this debate – and the Minister’s commitment to a roundtable discussion – is that the issue is not going away.
“We look forward to participating in the roundtable and action-focussed engagement flowing from that. We very much welcome her keeping the door open on this concern, in spite of attempts to get her to slam it shut. We now need a grown-up conversation about the way football is run and how serious reform can take shape.
“Our approach will be one of partnership, and we urge the football authorities to adopt the same spirit. We will be bringing to the table serious evidence of the need for independent scrutiny with teeth, and a commitment to exploring the most effective and economic pathways to achieve that.
“Football supporters and communities across Scotland deserve leadership and ownership which invests in their future, and they will not be fobbed off any more with a ‘let’s go on marking our own homework’ approach.”
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Posted in: Latest News, Review of the Game
Tags: Fan Led Review, fans, Scottish fans, Scottish football, SFA, SPFL