FOOTBALL OWNERSHIP: JOHNSTONE SUCCEEDS WITH CAMPAIGN TO PUT FANS FIRST
Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, this evening (17 June) welcomed the decision by MSPs to approve amendments on football ownership to the Community Empowerment Bill. The amendments give Ministers the power to bring in a fans' right to buy their football clubs.
Following Alison's two-year "Fans First" campaign, amendments to the Bill were brought forward by Ministers, with additional protections proposed by the Green MSP.
It is now expected that a consultation on the implementation of fan ownership will be carried out by the Scottish Government over the summer.
Alison Johnstone MSP said:
"This is a landmark decision for Scottish football, a measure designed to support fans and protect clubs. The principle of a fans' right to buy is overwhelmingly popular and Parliament is doing the right thing by backing it.
"Many Scottish clubs are well-run, but everyone can name others which have been forced into administration, or worse. With this right, never again would fans be left watching on the touchline as their club goes bust. This is a system that works well elsewhere, in places like Germany, Spain and Argentina, all countries which do rather better than Scotland at both a club and national level.
"I would urge all those who care about the future of Scottish football to have their say through the Scottish Government's consultation over the summer. I'm very glad Scottish Ministers have accepted this principle, and we will continue to press them until the right to buy is fully in place and fans are at last where they belong, at the heart of the Scottish game."