Arabic version: الاتحاد الاسكتلندي لكرة القدم يدعو إلى قمة للعبة الوطنية

According to BBC News, the Scottish Football Association will hold a “critically important” summit on the future of the national game. All Scottish Professional Football League clubs have been emailed to attend the forum in St Andrews on 4 September.

The SFA said the meeting will discuss opportunities around homegrown talent and hear from clubs that have “optimised their elite talent development model”. Its memo says the objective is to focus on the “current reality” facing Scottish football, including improving prospects for Scottish players and increasing revenue streams for clubs.

The summit follows Scotland’s failure to progress from its group at the men’s World Cup, the national team’s first finals since 1998. SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell and chief football officer Craig Mulholland will host the event.

Former Aberdeen and Scotland defender Willie Miller backed authorities and clubs meeting, while saying there would be resistance to change. He said the discussion should focus on creating a pathway for players to reach first-team football. Dundee manager Steven Pressley said young players need competitive games and early exposure, pointing to lower-league loan opportunities through co-operation agreements.

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson said the league needs to be bigger, arguing that a 24-team structure in England creates periods when younger players can be used without the same consequences. Former Hearts, Motherwell and Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday called for extensive changes, including requirements for Scottish talent in matchday squads and a clearer route from youth football to first teams.