Amateur football clubs will get help to buy life-saving defibrillators after a campaign by fans delivered support from the Scottish Government.
Sports Minister Maree Todd has said authorities will help stump up cash for local teams to buy the devices.
The scheme – the idea of the Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA) and British Heart Foundation (BHF) – has also been backed by former Hibs, Celtic and Scotland star John Collins.
In England part-funded defibs have been available for grassroots clubs since 2017.
The Scottish Government will now make a £250 grant available for clubs to buy the medical supplies. Defibs can cost from about £1000 each.
It comes after a number of high-profile cardiac arrests in football matches in recent years. Experts have said lives could have been saved had the machines been available.
In December 2007 Motherwell captain Phil O’Donnell collapsed and later died while playing against Dundee United . During this summer’s Euros Denmark star Christian Eriksen’s heart stopped while playing against Finland. A defib – which gives a high-energy electric shock to the heart – was used to save his life.
The BHF says there are about 3200 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Scotland every year.
Collins, who is an ambassador for the SFSA, said: “We’ve seen high-profile incidents at matches where lives were only saved due to defibrillators being to hand on site. However, this isn’t the case for many grassroots clubs yet.”
BHF Scotland said: “Immediate CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival.”
MSP Todd said: “I’m delighted to provide £25,000 to help grassroots football clubs purchase defibrillators.”
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