FMQs: First Minister urged to back price cap on football ticket prices
Scottish Green Co-leader Gillian Mackay has urged the First Minister to put his weight behind her campaign for a £25 price cap on away tickets for football fans.
It is a call that has been backed by fans across the country and the Scottish Supporters Collective.
A cap has been in place in England for over a decade and means travelling fans do not pay more than £30 for a ticket. There are also price caps on Europa and Champion’s League matches. No such cap exists in Scotland.
In her first question to the First Minister, Gillian said:
“There is often very little that unites football fans. But in recent weeks supporters of Celtic, Falkirk and Motherwell have displayed banners backing my calls for a £25 cap on away tickets. A call that has also been backed by the Scottish Supporters Collective.
“Football is meant to be for everyone, but at a time when the cost of living is rising there are fans being priced out of attending. There are already price caps in place in England and in many other European countries.
“We know how important attending games is for people, it reduces loneliness, not to mention the wonderful work the trusts at these clubs do for the wider community.
“Clubs would be nothing without their fans. Will the First Minister join me in the calls to cap away ticket prices?”
In his response the First Minister said he would consider her campaign and her proposal.
In her second question to the First Minister, Gillian urged him to join a fan summit that she is organising in the months ahead with fan groups and other stakeholders.
In her second question, Gillian said:
“120,000 people will attend games over the weekend.
“But we currently have a system where, outside a few clubs, fans struggle to have their voices heard, and at a national level this is even more difficult.
“Whether it is ticket prices or fan ownership, we need to bring our sport closer to the people who make it what it is.
“In the months ahead I plan to host a summit with supporter groups from across the county to discuss how we democratise Scottish football at every level and make it truly for the fans.
“Will the First Minister join that summit and help to put fans at the heart of our national game?”
In response, the First Minister said that the Minister for Sport would attend for the government.