Sportscotland club hub
Overview
Sportscotland & Harper Macleod guidance for clubs
Welcome to Harper Macleod’s club hub, which contains useful information and guidance for sports clubs in Scotland. In light of the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, we understand that many sports clubs will be facing challenging times and so this hub seeks to address some of the most common questions that sports clubs may have during this time.
Harper Macleod LLP are appointed by sportscotland to provide legal services to Sport Governing Bodies (SGBs) and to support SGBs in the regulation and governance of sport in Scotland. As part of this service, sportscotland has asked Harper Macleod LLP to provide guidance for clubs. This is being offered as information only; the briefings and information hosted is provided on behalf of sportscotland and all SGBs supported under the expert resource programme.
The content of this site and the briefing notes do not constitute specific legal advice to clubs; these are guides and the information should help clubs make their own decisions in due course. This is information shared on behalf of SGBs, to support the role of the SGBs. Clubs if, in any doubt as to decisions to take, should take further guidance from their SGB and/or take their own independent legal advice. We do, of course, hope that this site and the information provided is of assistance. If there are any areas in which further guidance notes and information may be helpful to clubs, please email your SGB and request the provision of the same through this hub.
Updates
Important updates
Data Protection and Freedom of Information Legal Update
Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land – Implications for Unincorporated Associations
Golfers v the PGA European Tour: Participation in LIV – out of bounds
Exploring IR35 and tax status in sport
Brand protection in sport: knowing when to take action, and when not to
Employee burnout: causes, costs and cures
Can a slogan be registered as a trade mark?
Luxury brands take significant steps forward in anti-counterfeiting
Is the UK edging closer to a four-day working week?
Employees going through the menopause – what should SGBs be mindful of?
Do you know your NFTs?
Competition law & sport
Alcohol advertising and promotion
Subject access requests – FAQs
What an SGB can do if an employee is absent without notice?
Priority visa processing reintroduced
Focus on Equality & Discrimination
Does your sports club hold any property “in trust”?
Being Fraud Aware
Data Protection and Freedom of Information Legal Update
June 2025
Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land – Implications for Unincorporated Associations
September 2023
Golfers v the PGA European Tour: Participation in LIV – out of bounds
June 2023
Exploring IR35 and tax status in sport
June 2023
Brand protection in sport: knowing when to take action, and when not to
April 2023
Employee burnout: causes, costs and cures
March 2023
Can a slogan be registered as a trade mark?
March 2023
Luxury brands take significant steps forward in anti-counterfeiting
March 2023
Is the UK edging closer to a four-day working week?
February 2023
Employees going through the menopause – what should SGBs be mindful of?
February 2023
Do you know your NFTs?
January 2023
Competition law & sport
January 2023
Court of Justice of the European Union delivers significant opinions for sporting competitions
Alcohol advertising and promotion
January 2023
The Scottish Government is currently consulting on proposed changes to the advertising and promotion of alcohol. The proposals include the end or significant restriction of alcohol promotion in both traditional print and online media, TV and radio advertising and sports sponsorship. As well as affecting media revenue streams, this could have a significant impact on sports teams at all levels that rely on sponsorship income. Retailers could be also forced to renovate their shop premises to re-merchandise alcohol in specific areas. As a result, licensing authorities could face a large volume of applications to change licence layout plans.
The consultation runs until March, meaning the earliest a Bill might appear is the autumn session of the Scottish Parliament. Although this might mean that there is not direct impact until late 2023 or early 2024, businesses and organisations that may be affected may consider it wise to contribute to the consultation to ensure their views are properly heard.
Contact our head of licensing Andrew Hunter for more information.
Subject access requests – FAQs
What an SGB can do if an employee is absent without notice?
Update September 2022
Priority visa processing reintroduced
Update September 2022
Focus on Equality & Discrimination
Update September 2022
Does your sports club hold any property “in trust”?
Update August 2022
Being Fraud Aware
Update January 2022
Several sports clubs and organisations, as with many businesses, have recently been the target of a convincing scamming campaign. Club treasurers received emails from what appeared to be their individual club presidents, asking for a payment to be sent to specific bank details.
Most who received the email followed this up by checking with the president or another official, before making any payment, which alerted them to the fact that it was a scam. However, it was particularly convincing and unfortunately a couple of clubs were caught out.
This is a serious issue affecting businesses and organisations across a variety of sectors. Scamming campaigns are becoming increasingly common and more difficult to spot.
Police Scotland has posted helpful advice that should be circulated around your business and highlights key points to consider and what to look out for to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
Additionally, it is very important to follow your bank’s specific guidance on how best to avoid being scammed. This is crucial because, if in the unfortunate case you are caught out and lose money, if you have followed all bank promoted guidance it is more likely that the bank will provide a reimbursement and the losses are recovered.
This is an issue that is rapidly changing and becoming more and more prevalent. It is very important that all organisations are live to the most recent types of scams and the most up to date guidance for how best to spot and avoid.
Useful Links:
Coronavirus
Coronavirus updates
Sport club guidance
Data protection
Employer obligations
Updates
| Employers obligations | 19 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| 10 key legal points for employers due to coronavirus school closures | 19 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Emergency volunteer leave | 26 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Holidays | 26 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Home working guidance | 26 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Protection for self employed and free lancers | 27 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Coronavirus job retention scheme (CSJR) & Furloughed Workers (FW) | 27 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Employment frequently asked questions (FAQs) | 1 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Guidance for sports clubs supporting employees and self employed coaches |
2 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Supporting employees | 3 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Furlough – grant funding | 6 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Further guidance – Coronavirus job retention scheme (CSJR) & Furloughed Workers (FW) | 6 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Latest Coronavirus job retention scheme update 8 April |
8 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Latest Coronavirus job retention scheme update 14 April |
14 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Latest Coronavirus job retention scheme update 17 April |
17 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Coronavirus job retention scheme now live | 20 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Coronavirus: New restrictions on workplaces | 22 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme guidance updated further | 30 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Rent Suspension or Deferral during the Coronavirus pandemic | 30 Apr 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Coronavirus: Updated Treasury Directions for Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme |
26 May 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Coronavirus: Scottish Government announces Test and Protect advice for employers |
27 May 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Chancellor announces changes to Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme from July | 29 May 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Latest Coronavirus job retention scheme update 15 June |
15 Jun 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Latest Coronavirus job retention scheme update – flexible furlough scheme now live | 1 Jul 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| New Jobs Support Scheme to replace Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme | 24 Sep 20 | DOWNLOAD |
Financial support
Updates
| How to access government financial support | 19 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Business support information from the Scottish Government including property information | 20 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Insurance Implications | 26 Mar 20 | DOWNLOAD |
| Scottish Government announces new grants to help those affected by pandemic | 13 May 20 | DOWNLOAD |