Call for SFA to pass footballer fines to charities

FINES paid by footballers to the Scottish Football Association (SFA) should be passed on to good causes, an SNP MSP has said.

Leigh Griffiths received a fine for singing an offensive song about ex-Hearts player Rudi Skacel. Picture: PA

James Dornan has written to SFA chief executive Stewart Regan seeking more information about how such fines are used and calling on the body to “play a leading role” in supporting efforts to tackle the refugee crisis.

Last week Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths was handed a suspended two-match ban and fined £2,500 after admitting singing an offensive song about former Hearts player Rudi Skacel.

The former Hibernian forward was admonished by a sheriff after admitting the incident in court but was punished by the SFA.

Mr Dornan, whose Glasgow Cathcart constituency includes Hampden Park, praised the “community ethos” at the heart of many Scottish football clubs, singling out Hamilton Accies and Queen’s Park.

He added: “As a football fan I was delighted to read of the support that Bayern Munich had given to the refugee crisis, both with their time and footballing resources and with a cash donation.

“This commitment has been, in part, mirrored by other clubs across Europe including Celtic, but there is more that the footballing community can do, and I believe the SFA should be at the forefront of the collective efforts around this.

“It is in this spirit of football having a positive role to play that I am calling on the SFA to donate the proceeds raised from fines because of player misconduct to good causes to support the refugee crisis and outreach work in the local community.”

An SFA spokesman said: “This would have to be a policy decision” and not done in isolation.”