Enhancing Scottish football roundtable minutes: March 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Maree Todd, Minister for SCMW and S (Chair)

• Gillian Mackay MSP
• Neil Bibby MSP
• Gary Booth, Chief Governance Officer, Scottish FA
• Neil Doncaster, CEO, SPFL
• Fiona McIntyre, Managing Director, SWPL
• Aileen Campbell, CEO, SWF
• Nicky Reid, CEO, SPFL Trust
• Alan Russell, Supporters Direct Scotland
• Louise Strutt, SDS & Foundation of Hearts
• Forbes Dunlop, CEO, sportscotland
• Stuart Murphy, Scottish Football Supporters Association
• Henry McLeish, SFSA
• Andrew Smith, SFSA (online)
• Iain McMenemy, Former Stenhousemuir Chairman
• Scott Robertson, Musselburgh Windsor / Realgrassroots / SYFA Chair
• SG Official, Active Scotland
• SG Official, Active Scotland
• Fraser Wishart, CEO, PFA

Apologies

• Ben MacPherson MSP
• Ian Maxwell, CEO, Scottish FA
• Calum Beattie, COO, SPFL
• Craig Burn, COO, sportscotland
• Alastair Blair, SFSA
• Fulton Macgregor MSP
• Liz Smith MSP

Items and actions

Introductory comments

• Maree Todd (MT) welcomed everyone to the third meeting of the group. She reflected on events since the previous meeting in August, noting the upcoming playoff matches against Greece in the Nations League campaign, an exciting end to the SWPL Season with just 3 points currently between the top four sides, and the usual tension around the top and bottom six split in the SPFL.  She also looked forward to an interesting discussion on the fit and proper person test for club owners and directors

Apologies and minutes of previous meeting

• apologies were received as above
• minutes from the previous meeting were agreed
• the Terms of Reference for the group, which had been circulated in advance, were agreed
• it was agreed that the ToR and minutes would be published on the Scottish Government website

Fit and Proper Person Test

• Gary Booth (GB) talked to his paper, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, and which sets out articles, mechanisms, and a non-exhaustive list of criteria relating to the Scottish FA fit and proper person test.  It was noted that additional criteria was approved at the Scottish FA AGM last year and that the applicable provisions are kept under review.  The paper also sets out consequences for those failing individuals who are deemed not to be fit and proper
• it was noted that clubs submit an Official Return annually.  Accordingly, there is an element of self-certification in the test, but the SFA can (and do)undertake additional due diligence, where appropriate.  External agencies which have information that the Scottish FA does not otherwise have access to may be able to assist with this due diligence
• the Official Return is not the only means by which the fit and proper person test is applied.  It is also the case that an individual’s status as fit and proper could change from time to time
• the SFA process is similar to other countries, including the Owners and Directors Test applied in England, which is very comparable in its principles
• GB highlighted that the SFA’s rules about dual interests are wider than the equivalent rules in some other jurisdictions, as they look at interest across UEFA member associations, rather than just being competition-specific
• there followed a discussion around the question of eligibility v suitability.  Legal constraints mean that the fit and proper person test, as in other jurisdictions, is more a test of eligibility than suitability
• the SFA has, however, recently extended its heritage protection measures to protect the culture of clubs, i.e. name, crest, shirt colour
• challenges were acknowledged:
  • the “sniff test” poses significant difficulties and would be open to challenge in court.  A fit and proper person test should be objective and based on verifiable factors
  • shadow structures present challenges in terms of identifying control  
  • eligibility vs able stewardship
  • timing – SFA will look at this, as it may be easier to prevent a transaction happening than to unwind a change in ownership that has already happened
• questions were raised about notification of changes in ownership, including those clubs which are in administration.  GB and ND noted that, in general, clubs are proactive in approaching the SFA when they know there will be a change of control, and that both the SFA and SPFL tend to have good relations with appointed administrators, so the process is joined up
• conflict of interest was discussed, such as how running a club could conflict with wider business interests, e.g. an owner looking at land deals.  Asset stripping was seen as a genuine concern.  It was noted that the SFA’s ability to look at this is highly dependent on the evidence they are presented with or can otherwise obtain, and that they need to operate within company law
• it was suggested the Scottish Intelligence Database (SID) would hold information regarding Club Board directors and owners that would assist in assessing their suitability
• there was a discussion around declaration of associations in a similar way to that which one needs to do in joining the police force
• there was some discussion around whether the fit and proper person test puts off applications and therefore prevents those coming into the game who would not be deemed eligible.  It was noted that it was difficult to determine if this is the case and that it would be helpful to analyse the application of the fit and proper person test, including how many individuals have failed the test
• Henry McLeish (HM) suggested there was too much discretion in the system and that, in addition to eligibility, culture, heritage and community are important factors for the fans.  It was, however, noted by others that it was unlikely that any test of this nature could be entirely devoid of discretion.  Nonetheless, greater transparency in the process, and around ownership, would be beneficial
• action: The SFA were asked to report back at the next meeting in respect of the various points highlighted today

Football updates

Scottish FA

• GB referred to the recent announcement that the BBC would be broadcasting the Scotland Men’s National Team matches (free to air) from now until the 2026 World Cup.  This adds to the Scottish Women’s National Team and Scottish Cup (Men’s and Women’s) matches already broadcast free-to-air
• GB referenced the Transition Phase Report published in August 2024, which looked at the transition of players from the academy structure into first team football. The Report highlighted that players were not getting enough playing time in either the senior game.  One of the recommendations of the Report was to introduce a “Cooperation System”, which would allow players who are under 21 and qualify to play for the Scotland national team to move between their parent club and a club in the lower leagues during the course of a Season.  This recommendation will be implemented on a trial basis during Season 2025/26. There are various other recommendations in the Transition Phase Report, which will be developed in the coming months
• GB referenced the Pitching In funding announcement which will provide £50m of funding over 5 years under three different funding streams:
  • Equaliser – upgrading of changing rooms, especially for women and girls
  • Comeback – to upgrade the quality of current pitches
  • New Signing – funding for the creation of new pitches
• points were raised around the lack of playing time in first team football for young Scottish players coming through academies.  It was noted in response that many former academy players could be found playing across the game, so both these players and a wide number of clubs were benefiting from the academy system.  GB and ND also noted that the Cooperation System referred to above will give young players more playing time in the senior game

SPFL

• Neil Doncaster (ND) highlighted that broadcasting income for football has reduced globally, very significantly in some cases, so the increases in broadcasting revenue in Scotland must be seen in that context
• combined income continues to grow with the SPFL remaining on target to achieve its aim of distributing £50m to clubs
• more Scottish football is being broadcast than before with increased coverage of SFA (international and Scottish Cup), SPFL league and cup and SWPL coverage. Nevertheless, the SPFL is still focussed on stadium attendance as a principal income source and noted that this provides a buffer should we also experience reduced media income. Scotland still has the best supported leagues in Europe per head of population, and by some distance, with 5 million attendances in league games last season
• more money coming in means more money is available to fund the SPFL Trust in communities across the country and ND suggested NR present at a future meeting on the work of the SPFL Trust and their partners
• work is continuing with the SG and Police Scotland over the tackling of pyrotechnics misuse and the use of Football Banning Orders. Sanctions have been put in place since the League Cup Semi-Finals with 3 clubs having reduced ticket allocations for future matches
• in order to promote the positive aspects of football, the SPFL have been visiting political Party Conferences
• scotland is well respected across European and World Football with ND being on the Board of European Leagues and FM being voted onto the Women’s World League Forum. FM added that since joining the World League Forum, she has been asked to help establish a Women’s European League Forum

SWPL

• Fiona McIntyre (FM) noted that we had overrun and offered to hold the SWPL presentation until the following meeting

Any other competent business

• Aileen Campne;; (AC) asked if there could be thought given to what will be covered at future meetings to potentially reduce the need for everyone to be present and allow the creation of smaller, more focused groups
• there was agreement that a future meeting should focus on youth football, including a focus on grassroots football, and both boys and girls.  MT suggested the next meeting would focus on women and girls football, at all levels, with youth football being the focus for the third meeting of the year. SG Official, Active Scotland would liaise with FM, AC and the Scottish FA on an agenda for the next meeting
• Stuart Murphy (SM) asked to withdraw his proposal to bring to the group the SFSA’s 5 point plan on independent scrutiny, and that instead this would be discussed with the SFA and SPFL as a working group, and reported back to the main group in due course
• Scott Robertson (SR) noted that the grassroots game did not receive any benefit from the increases SPFL revenues, despite a strong grassroots game being crucial to the success of the professional game
• Andrew Smoth (AS) asked the SFA to clarify whether they were able to choose not to be part of UEFA’s centralised broadcast rights arrangements for international matches. GB noted that he believed that a UEFA member association could choose not to sign up to the centralised broadcast rights deal.  However, commercial factors have to be taken into consideration when making this decision, particularly the comparative financial strength and security of a centralised arrangement, which meant that UEFA member associations largely signed up to the UEFA centralised agreement.  AS also commented that Scottish Football needs a 25-year plan

Next meeting 

• the next meeting will be on 16 June 2025