Scotland’s largest, independent football supporters’ organisation, The Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA), is urging Scottish fans to contribute to the Scottish Government’s consultation or risk losing the chance for a generation.
The recently launched ‘Consultation on Supporter Involvement in Scottish Football Clubs’ by the Scottish Government is seeking views on a range of options in relation to supporter involvement in its various guises – Right to Influence; Right to Govern; Right to Bid; and Right to Buy.
The SFSA has also launched its own visual campaign to encourage fans to participate in the consultation which will be posted across fans’ forums and social over the next month. It has been created by Gerry Farrell Ink. the award winning creative team behind some of Scotland's most iconic advertising.
Simon Barrow from the SFSA said: “The Minister for Sport’s call for wider consultation on supporter involvement is welcomed. Finding out more about supporters’ views is critical to shape the future of the game; fans’ opinions are at the heart of that."
“Fans are asking searching questions more often these days, ranging from anything from ticket pricing, fixture scheduling, right through to the prices of pies. These concerns are not limited to the game north of the border as the recent ‘Twenty’s Plenty’ ticket campaign down south and the Bayern Munich’s fans’ protest at the cost of their recent game against Arsenal clearly show."
“Many fans don’t feel that it is their game anymore and they are being further pushed out of the game that relies on them at every stage. This consultation from the Scottish Government is really important for fans and it is vital that everyone contributes to it. Not contributing could see that chance to express your opinion lost for a generation.”
The consultation is available online for people to complete, and the Scottish Government is working with fans’ representatives, football bodies and MSPs to ensure all views are heard.
The consultation timeline is longer than usual and will run until 15 January 2016 to specifically allow for the widest and most representative range of responses.
The SFSA, which has almost 50,000 members from across Scotland, is a not-for-profit, members’ body open to everyone, whether they are individuals, supporters groups or affiliates. Its first ambassador is former Scotland captain Gary McAllister. It is a full member of Fans Europe, sitting alongside fan groups from 45 countries across the continent.
The SFSA was set up with a national advisory group with experts on football and governance matters including Henry McLeish (author of the McLeish Report), Maureen McGonigle (founder of Scottish Women in Sport and former executive of Scottish Women’s Football) and senior politicians from Scotland’s main political parties.
>> To take part in the online survey click here <<
Here are some of the campaign posters that will be appearing in social media and across various platforms in the coming days and weeks encouraging involvement;
