Meeting of the Parliament 11 November 2025
As we have heard, the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill will provide the legal framework that is necessary for hosting part of Euro 2028 here in Scotland. The bill will ensure that commercial rights, ticketing, trading and advertising are regulated in line with UEFA’s requirements, which does not suit everybody entirely, but which is something important to talk about.
Although these are important practical measures—ensuring fairness, protecting fans from exploitation and maintaining the integrity of the event—I believe that today’s debate, and indeed any discussion around the Euros, needs to go further than simply regulation. It must also focus on the question of legacy. What lasting impact will Euro 2028 have for the people of Scotland once the final whistle blows?
As Professor David McGillivray of the University of the West of Scotland reminds us, all major sporting events produce legacies—some positive, some not. The difference lies in how deliberately we plan for them. A lasting legacy will not emerge by chance. It requires foresight, investment and co-ordination across the Government, local authorities and sporting bodies from the outset.
The minister has rightly noted that the projected economic benefit could be as high as £2.6 billion across the whole of the UK, but economic figures alone do not tell the full story. We must ensure that the benefits of that investment translate into real outcomes for our communities in relation to participation, wellbeing, inclusion and pride. Glasgow has a strong record in that regard. From the 2014 Commonwealth games to the 2023 UCI cycling world championships, we have seen how hosting global events can raise our international profile and deliver infrastructure improvements. However, the lesson from those experiences is clear: legacy does not just happen—it has to be built. That means using the inspiration of Euro 2028 to strengthen grassroots football across Scotland. It means improving access to facilities so that every young person, regardless of their background, gender or ability, can take part in sport. It means working with schools and communities to promote health, fitness and social inclusion through football.
The tournament slogan, “Football for all, football for good, football for the future”, should guide our approach. We must live up to those words, ensuring that public money that is invested in the event delivers returns in terms of health, opportunity and social cohesion. The legacy must be felt in every corner of Scotland—not just at Hampden park or in the hospitality sector, but in local clubs, youth programmes and communities that see football as a force for good.
Presiding Officer, this is about accountability. Public funding is being committed, and it is our duty to make sure that it is not spent solely on making our stadiums shine for the cameras. Instead, it must help to create a framework for lasting community benefit through sport, inclusion and pride in the place in which we live.
In evidence to the committee, the minister highlighted that the impact of the benefits gained from the tournament will be spread across Scotland, thereby furthering a number of national outcomes. I would welcome it if the minister could expand on that today.
I also support calls for a future chamber debate dedicated specifically to the legacy planning for Euro 2028, to ensure transparency, co-ordination and a clear strategy that aligns with our national outcomes on health, community wellbeing and participation. When the stands are empty, the visitors have gone home and the cameras have turned elsewhere, what will remain is the Scotland that we built through this opportunity. If we do it right, that Scotland will be healthier, more active and more united. Let Euro 2028 be not just a great tournament—and it will be—but a great opportunity to secure a win for us all.