Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about the Scottish Premier League.
Members of the Government do not, by convention, sign any Early Day Motions as doing so is likely to breach the Ministerial Code’s rules on collective responsibility.
I am aware of the recent ending of the football season in Scotland and I appreciate the concerns that have been raised by clubs about the actions of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) ahead of, during and subsequent to the vote to finish the season. This is a matter for the SPFL to address, and I am reluctant to intervene as a politician.
I do think it is important that we can have confidence in the governance of Scottish football as our national sport, and I will therefore be keeping a close eye on any developments as they arise.
Separately, I am aware of the financial distress that a number of football clubs in the country are suffering due to the coronavirus outbreak, and I am therefore pleased that prize money has been distributed in all leagues, even if the manner in which this happened was controversial. My MSP colleagues in the Scottish Parliament will press the Scottish Government going forward to provide the necessary support to ensure our national game continues to thrive.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Kind regards, Alister
