Neil Gray 'regrets' attending Aberdeen football games as minister

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, he said he "should have attended a wider range of games and not just Aberdeen".

He apologised for giving "the impression of acting more as a fan, and less as a minister". 

The Health Secretary has faced a backlash after it emerged he was given VIP seats – as a guest of the Scottish Football Association – three times, once in his current role and two when he was wellbeing economy, fair work and energy secretary.

Those include the Aberdeen v Hibernian match for the semi-final of the League Cup and the final against Rangers last year, as well as the semi-final of the Scottish Cup against Celtic this year.

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Gray told MSPs that while he insisted attending the matches in his role was "legitimate", he said he should not have attended Aberdeen games. 

He told the chamber: "It is a matter of regret to me that, by attending four Aberdeen games, I have given the impression of acting more as a fan and less as a minister.

"I did, of course, attend other football games – Scotland National Team games – and other sporting events, but, when it comes to domestic football, I should have ensured I went to see teams other than Aberdeen.

"It was not planned that way, but I should not have allowed that situation to develop. I should have made sure that I attended a wider range of games and not just Aberdeen and I apologise for my error."

(Image: Andrew Milligan) Gray explained how he had attended the Viaplay Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on November 4, 2023, where he said he had discussions with stakeholders about the role of the SPFL Trust in supporting community wellbeing.

At the Viaplay Cup final on December 17, 2023, he said he engaged in talks around the use of pyrotechnics at football matches and planning for the European Championships in Germany. 

At the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on April 20 this year, where he was a guest of the Scottish FA, he said he had "detailed discussion about investment into the sport, particularly at grassroots level". 

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He added he attended a match at Pittodrie in May 2024 as a guest of the Aberdeen Community Trust as part of "a wider programme of engagements in Aberdeen to coincide with Mental Health Awareness week". 

In his statement, he said that he was joined by a family member at five football games, including one Scotland game, who travelled in his ministerial car but this "did not come at any additional cost to the taxpayer". 

Gray said: "Ministers across these islands, whether SNP, Labour, or previously, Conservative ministers in London are right to attend sporting events as ministers.

"It is crucial we engage, support sport and are seen to do so.

"That said, Presiding Officer, I am a football fan. I follow Aberdeen. But I should not have allowed the impression to be given that this played any role in my engagements. And I am sorry for my error."

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton compared Gray's actions to that of former health secretary Michael Matheson, who was suspended from Parliament after racking up an £11,000 roaming bill on a parliamentary iPad while on holiday. He initially claimed this on expenses before repaying the bill. 

She called on the SNP to launch "ministerial code investigation". 

She said: “This is the Michael Matheson scandal all over again.                                                             

“Neil Gray used government limos to watch his favourite football team and billed them to the taxpayer.

“He seems to be saying he wasn't wrong to charge taxpayers - he was just wrong to only go to Aberdeen games.

“Neil Gray hasn't just given that impression of being 'more of a fan than a minister', that's exactly what he did. He wasn't even the sports minister when he went to some of these games.

"This is pathetic. These excuses are an embarrassment."