Sadly the game that we know and love has been lost forever – by Paul Goodwin Co -Founder SFSA
Date: 5th December 2025
Sadly the game that we know and love has been lost forever. Decades of corruption at the top of the game then tournaments won in dubious circumstances by Russia then Qatar.
Football from the very top to what we see locally has no accountability, no robust external scrutiny and the real stakeholders of the games, players, coaches and fans are excluded from all the decision making.
Football hides behind it being a Members organisation. If you want change at UEFA or FIFA it is up to our representatives to effect it, Did our representatives (the FA or the SFA) challenge the scandalous ticket pricing or where the fans will be allocated in stadiums? It seems unlikely that they would want to rock the boat given the these governing bodies allocate very attractive tournaments. Even if the FA and SFA had challenged it we would never hear about it, as everything is clouded in secrecy.
Closer to home if we want to seek change for anything in the game all we are told it is that as the SFA/ SPFL are members organisations its up to the members to change it. Even if a club wants a change the opportunity to do something ( for example reconstruction of the leagues) is impossible because of the voting structure. We have had an impasse for years where coaches, players and supporters all want bigger leagues and not be facing the same opponents 4 times a season, yet the views of all those stakeholders are ignored.
We all still love the game but it is a game that is so far away from its supporters. We have to accept that the continued influences that power and money have changed it forever.
In England there will be checks and balances with the new Independent Regulator now in place – we here in the home of the game need the same and all the political parties need to step up to the plate at the Holyrood election and move in that direction.
Football as an industry should not be allowed a free pass to control and regulate itself both locally and worldwide. Our game it is an important part of the fabric of our society and should not be left in the hands of the rich and powerful who mark their own homework.
Football from the very top to what we see locally has no accountability, no robust external scrutiny and the real stakeholders of the games, players, coaches and fans are excluded from all the decision making.
Football hides behind it being a Members organisation. If you want change at UEFA or FIFA it is up to our representatives to effect it, Did our representatives (the FA or the SFA) challenge the scandalous ticket pricing or where the fans will be allocated in stadiums? It seems unlikely that they would want to rock the boat given the these governing bodies allocate very attractive tournaments. Even if the FA and SFA had challenged it we would never hear about it, as everything is clouded in secrecy.
Closer to home if we want to seek change for anything in the game all we are told it is that as the SFA/ SPFL are members organisations its up to the members to change it. Even if a club wants a change the opportunity to do something ( for example reconstruction of the leagues) is impossible because of the voting structure. We have had an impasse for years where coaches, players and supporters all want bigger leagues and not be facing the same opponents 4 times a season, yet the views of all those stakeholders are ignored.
We all still love the game but it is a game that is so far away from its supporters. We have to accept that the continued influences that power and money have changed it forever.
In England there will be checks and balances with the new Independent Regulator now in place – we here in the home of the game need the same and all the political parties need to step up to the plate at the Holyrood election and move in that direction.
Football as an industry should not be allowed a free pass to control and regulate itself both locally and worldwide. Our game it is an important part of the fabric of our society and should not be left in the hands of the rich and powerful who mark their own homework.
It is time to hashtag#reclaimthegame