Sports across Scotland will share £50million of SNP Scottish Government funding to help them through the pandemic.
The announcement was made today by Sports Minister Joe FitzPatrick today and the financial support goes above and beyond what was provided to the Scottish Government by the UK Government in Barnett consequentials.
Of the £50million total, £30m will go to football, £20m to rugby and £2.2m to ice hockey and ice rinks.
The funding package – which will comprise a combination of grants and loans – is in response to the Scottish Government’s engagement with sporting bodies on the impact of a loss of spectators.
Commenting, SNP MSP Bruce Crawford said:
“Sport is an integral part to many of our lives in Scotland, so I am delighted this rescue package has been announced, it will be welcome relief for many clubs who have really felt the impact of spectators being unable to attend matches.
“The Barnett consequentials provided by the UK government is welcome, but the Scottish Government is able to go above and beyond that to ensure each sector gets what it needs.
“This package will see clubs through the pandemic and if we all continue to follow the guidance and make a collective effort to suppress this dreadful virus then we can hopefully soon see fans returning to stadia throughout the country and that much needed revenue stream can return to the sports we love.”
