First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a £55million aid package for spectator sport - with £30m set aside for Scottish football.
It's been confirmed a financial lifeline will be made available from the Scottish Government to an industry left toiling by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The football package involves £20m in loans for Premiership clubs and £10m in grants for lower leagues, Junior teams and the women's game.
A full £25m has been allocated to other sports throughout the country.
The First Minister said: "The devastating impact the pandemic has had on spectator sports across the country, particularly when so many of Scotland's sporting clubs receive a significant portion of their income through spectator attending events.
"I'm able to confirm we will set out a £55m package of support for various spectators sports. This will comprise grants and loans.
"It will include £30m for Scottish football with support for all levels of the game. It should be noted top-flight English men's football has not received financial support of this kind from the UK Government.
"I can confirm that Scottish rugby will benefit from £20m and it will also include funding for basketball, netball, motor sport, horse racing and ice hockey.
"That support package, taken in its entirety, will be well in excess of the Barnett consequentials as a result of the investment announced last month by the UK Government."
In November, the Government was warned by sportscotland the sector had lost around £100million since March when coronavirus restrictions were introduced.
And the announcement follows Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack's warning football clubs face going to the wall by April if a plan is not formulated to allow the safe return of spectators.
Currently, up to 300 fans can attend an outdoor sporting event if the area falls within Tier 1 of the Government's pandemic mitigation framework.
