Scottish Greens hail football fan backing for £25 cap on away tickets
Scottish Green Co-Leader Gillian Mackay has hailed the support of football fans across Scotland for a £25 cap on away ticket prices.
Last weekend saw fans displaying banners in football stadiums across Scotland calling for fairer prices for travelling supporters, including fans of Hibs, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Dundee United, Partick Thistle, St Johnstone and others.
The Scottish Greens have long called for a £25 cap on away tickets in Scotland. In January, Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay MSP urged John Swinney at FMQs to back the cap, and wrote to all 42 professional clubs urging them to support a fair pricing agreement that would keep football accessible for supporters during the cost of living crisis.
Recent matches have seen supporters take matters into their own hands, holding up banners demanding a £25 cap and sending a clear message to clubs and football authorities across Scotland that this is an issue fans care deeply about.
The Greens’ £25 cap would help ensure football remains part of community life rather than a luxury for those who can afford rising prices, and bring Scotland into line with England where away tickets have been capped for over a decade.
Gillian said:
“The growing momentum from fans has been absolutely brilliant. Supporters across Scotland are showing in the stands that this is something they want and something they care about.
“Football should be for everyone, but too many fans and families are already having to think twice about going to away matches because of rising prices.
“Clubs should listen to their supporters. The passion and organisation we are seeing from fans shows there is a strong appetite for change, and it is time for football authorities and club boards to respond.
“These are the very people who travel the length of the country week in, week out to back their teams, all during a cost of living crisis that is putting huge pressure on household budgets when folk are already feeling the squeeze.
“That is why I asked John Swinney at First Minister’s Questions if he’d back the cap. It is also why I wrote to every professional football club in Scotland last week, urging them to back a £25 cap on away tickets and stand up for their own supporters.
“A £25 cap on away tickets is a simple and fair way to make sure loyal fans are not priced out of the game they love.”