Labour and Greens back reform amid row over Super League
LABOUR and the Scottish Greens have called for fan ownership of football clubs in Scotland following the row over the European Super League.
Ian Murray, Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary, insisted football belongs to the fans and “not to a cartel of billionaires at the top”.
Ahead of his party’s manifesto launch tomorrow, he said Labour will back fan ownership of Scotland’s clubs and support reform of the game.
The Greens also said the formation of the ESL emphasises “the need for fan ownership and representation”.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Liberal Democrats called on broadcasters BBC, Sky and Amazon to reject the ESL proposals by committing to not televising its games.
Fan takeovers have been finalised by some teams in Scotland already, including Premiership side Motherwell.
The latest calls come amid an ongoing row over the ESL plans, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, whose team would be founding members of the venture, reiterating his opposition to it.
Politicians have also registered their disagreement, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying he would be able to “drop a legislative bomb” to prevent the new league, while Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross also voiced his opposition.
Mr Murray said: “Football belongs to the fans – not to a cartel of billionaires at the top.
“Scottish Labour is determined to reinvigorate the game in
Scotland from grassroots to national team by supporting fan ownership of clubs and reform of the game at all levels in Scotland.
“Clubs are at the heart of communities across Scotland, and many have been hit hard by the pandemic. That’s why Labour is committed to democratising and energising the game in Scotland.
“Labour is back on the pitch, but too many football fans feel stuck on the side lines.
“That’s why Labour is dedicated to supporting the future of the game in Scotland and putting fans in control, from the dugout to the directors’ box from grassroots to the governance of the game.”
Scottish Greens sports spokeswoman
Alison Johnstone said the proposed league, which would see up to 20 of Europe’s most wellknown teams take part, “shows what happens when profits and greed are allowed to dominate football”, adding the amounts of money involved were “eye-watering”.
She added: “As the famous quote says, football is nothing without the fans, and it is no wonder that so many are opposed to this move.
“In Scotland we were successful in ensuring that fan ownership has been pushed up the agenda. It is a model that has worked around the world, and something that is badly needed to stop the sort of moves we are seeing now.
“Football clubs are community assets and should be in the hands of those who care most about them. With a greater use of fan ownership, and more fan representation, we can ensure that communities are at the heart of our teams and our national sport.”
BT Sport and DAZN have publicly denounced the ESL proposals and distanced themselves from broadcasting Super League matches.
Scottish Libdem MP Jamie Stone has now written to BBC, Sky and Amazon urging them to do the same.
He said: “For many years now, we have seen Premier League football evolve into a money-making machine that places greed above fans and the communities they represent.
“The Super League proposals are the most extreme example of oligarchs and tycoons robbing fans of the game we love.”
He added: “Broadcasters must choose between fans and monetary greed.”
The SNP manifesto pledges to create a “Fan Bank” to support communities to acquire a share or control of their local sports club.
At a meeting with the FA and the Premier League yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson voiced his “unwavering support” for their efforts to block the so-called Big Six clubs of the English game going ahead with the new breakaway competition.
But Super League chairman Florentino Perez – who is the president of Real Madrid – insisted the proposals were necessary to enable the sport to “evolve” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Football belongs to the fans – not to a cartel of billionaires at the top