SPFL distributes record £49.6m to clubs as attendances surpass four million
The Scottish Professional Football League paid clubs a record £49.6m, up 18% from last year, driven by broadcasting, licensing, match data and sponsorship, while Premiership crowds exceeded four million for the first time.
The Scottish Professional Football League has distributed a record £49.6m to its clubs over the past year, an increase of £7.6m or 18% on the previous total. The league attributed the rise primarily to broadcasting deals, licensing, match data and sponsorship.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster described the figures as the strongest in the organisation's history, noting that both turnover and total group distributions exceeded last year's records. He said the results demonstrated the league's appeal in a competitive international rights market and expressed a determination to sustain the momentum.
The financial milestone coincided with a first for the Scottish Premiership: crowds surpassed four million for a single season. The SPFL continues to record the highest per capita attendances in Europe, according to the league.
Figures published by Uefa showed that approximately six million Scottish supporters attended men's matches during the 2025-26 campaign. That total included 900,000 at lower-league fixtures, 200,000 at domestic cup ties and 800,000 at European matches.
Doncaster linked the commercial performance to the match-day experience, arguing that balancing broadcast revenue with packed stadiums and their distinctive atmosphere helps sustain the SPFL's reputation as one of the most intense and compelling competitions in world football.
The distribution increase provides clubs with additional resources, though the league did not specify how the funds would be allocated or what impact the rise might have on competitive balance.
Image: SNS / BBC Sport
