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“The Scottish Football Association is committed to ensuring that football in Scotland is open to all and that barriers, real or perceived, are removed, particularly in relation to under-represented groups covered under the Equality Act 2010. We are committed to developing processes, practices and plans to ensure that football is open to all.”

The Scottish FA Equality Vision

The Scottish FA is fully committed to promoting equal opportunities.

Fairness, justice, respect for each other, inclusion, addressing inequalities and removing barriers are just some of the principles of equality that influence the Scottish FA’s development, delivery and decision making.

The Scottish FA believes that everybody should have the opportunity to participate in football at all levels, and that no individual should be discriminated against for reason such as age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, marriage or civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Everyone within the Scottish FA is reminded that they have a critical role to play within the process. Accountability for Equality within the Scottish FA rests with the Chief Executive, but every person within the organisation should embrace the principles and processes to ensure a diverse and inclusive culture at all levels.

Broadening Participation in Football

The Scottish FA aspires to be representative of all within Scotland. This has allowed for enhanced relationships and collaborative work with relevant equality stakeholders to widen our engagement with Scotland’s under-represented communities.

Examples of this are:

Our involvement within the National LGBT Sports Co-ordinating Group alongside the Scottish Government, LEAP Sports, Equality Network, Transgender Alliance, LGBT Youth Scotland, Stonewall Scotland, amongst others, whereby we were one of the first National Governing Bodies to sign the LGBT Sports Charter.

Our partnership with BEMIS Scotland to successfully deliver our grassroots Diversity & Inclusion project by widening our engagement with Scotland’s ethnic minority communities.

The Equality Standard for Sport

The Equality Standard: A Framework for Sport was launched by the UK Sports Councils to address inequality within the sports sector. The Scottish FA achieved Foundation Level in 2009, Preliminary Level in 2012, Intermediate Level in 2014 and in 2019 was awarded the prestigious Advanced Standard

The organisation are one of the few governing bodies in Scotland to achieve the Advanced level  and the 1st UK Football Association to achieved the Advanced Standard in the Equality Framework in Sport.

The standard is a framework to guide sports and community organisations towards achieving equality.

More information on the Equality Standard for Sport can be found on: http://equalityinsport.org/equality-standard-for-sport/

Contact details

If you can't find the information you are looking for, or have a specific query on Equality within the Scottish FA, please contact Diversity & Inclusion Manager, David McArdle at David.McArdle@scottishfa.co.uk