Scottish sport, Brexit and cultural relations

Sport in Scotland is a devolved matter as a result of powers delivered to Scotland through the Scotland Acts of 1998, 2006 and 2012. Scottish sports people participate in significant European sports events such as the European Champions League (football) and the Ryder Cup (golf). Scottish universities access funding for sports research through European Erasmus funding. Scotland in sporting terms is often referred to as a footballing nation or the home of golf because of its historic role in the sporting world. Scotland as a sub-state nation that is part of the United Kingdom defers to the United Kingdom parliament on matters of foreign policy. The decision of the United Kingdom parliament to leave the European Union despite the majority of Scottish citizens wanting to remain part of the European Union adds a further layer of cultural complexity to which Scottish sport has had to adapt. The reality of a sport in a devolved sub-state is not straight forward and consequently it is timely to examine the impact of leaving the European Union on Scottish sport. Scottish sport, Brexit and cultural relations suggests that (i) like other parts of the United Kingdom sport in Scotland will be impacted upon as a result of leaving the European Union; and (ii) sport in Scotland is a cultural asset that Scotland will need in order to win friends and influence in Europe and beyond Europe.