Arabs fan group urges Fifa to help Scots clubs financially

Dundee United fans’ group ArabTRUST is urging Fifa to follow Scottish football’s lead and support clubs financially hit by the pandemic, writes Calum Woodger.

Uncertainty hangs over the game after the SFA and SPFL shut down Scottish football amid the crisis.

The move is likely to leave a financial black hole for clubs who survive on gate receipts.

With few having budgeted for such a situation, ArabTRUST chairwoman Susan Batten is calling on global football governing body Fifa to step in after the SFA injected £1.5 million.

“The whole coronavirus situation is going to have a huge impact on finances for clubs,” she said.

“There are teams living week to week and, apart from perhaps Rangers and Celtic, everyone else struggles and lives within their means, largely through gate receipts.

“Nobody wants to see any team folding. We must see funding from as far up as Fifa to help teams out the same way the government is helping businesses.

“We don’t want to lose teams. They might not be feeling it now but they still have wages to pay and, with people unlikely to buy season tickets, we hope people at all levels in football don’t lose jobs because of it.”

As for United’s situation, Batten hopes American owner Mark Ogren can help keep them afloat while also revealing there are no plans for the trust to provide financial aid at this time.

She added: “It impacts the ArabTRUST’s activity as well. We try to raise money for the club but without Tannadice being open we can’t sell merchandise.

“We are still able to generate some money online but this situation has had a huge impact on everybody’s purse strings. Mark Ogren is keeping the club afloat and I’m sure the club will already have its budget set for next season.

“In terms of fans supporting the club, it’s too early to assess that type of thing. The club was in a bad place before the Ogrens but we have moved on from that.

“Hopefully, the decision made by the governing bodies is the right one.”