SPFL tops European attendance table once again as fans flock to stadiums more than any other nation

The SPFL has once again topped the match attendance per capita table across Europe as Scottish punters flock to games more than any other nation.

The cinch is where it’s at on the continent after new research conducted by Transfermarkt showed that fans on these shores are heading to games in their numbers relative to population, with a figure of 21.3 attendees per 1000 people across the Scottish Premiership, Championship and Leagues One and Two. That equates to an average weekly total of 117, 700 fans going through the turnstiles to support their respective teams.

The Netherlands are in second place, but a fair distance behind, with Scotland’s leading number 65 per cent higher than the Dutch, who have 12.9 attendees per 1000 people. Denmark were third with 12.2 attendees per 1000, followed by Iceland with 12 and England and Wales with 11.4 attendees per 1000 people.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “The incredible passion of Scottish football fans is well-documented, and it’s absolutely fantastic to see our game has once again, by some margin, the highest attendance per capita in European football. It’s an enormous vote of confidence for our game and a credit to the fans and the clubs throughout all four divisions.

“Attendances in Scotland have significantly outperformed other countries of a similar size for some time now, and the financial importance of gate receipts to our clubs was starkly underscored during the pandemic, when matches were played behind closed doors.

“To see fans returning in such numbers is just brilliant for our game, as it’s their passion and energy which plays such a vital role in making the SPFL such a compelling spectacle. We have gripping stories across all four of our divisions, and