If you haven't already heard, Nicola Sturgeon has decided to quit as First Minister and SNP leader after eight years in charge.
Speaking at a press conference earlier today Sturgeon revealed she has been thinking about stepping down from frontline politics for some time and that the "time is now". She said: "In my head and in my heart I know that time is now. That it's right for me, for my party and my country. Since my very first moments in the job I have believed a part of serving well would be to know almost instinctively when the time is right to make way for someone else."
Since taking over from Alex Salmond as First Minister after the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 the 52-year-old has only dipped her toes in the country's favourite past time on a number of occasions. During the coronavirus pandemic Sturgeon's Scottish Government shut football down, but it also helped clubs through the hard months with financial payments.. Football eventually returned and so did fans, however that wasn't the only time she has addressed some of the big issues.
Here are five times the First Minister immersed herself in Scottish football:
David Goodwillie controversy
Sturgeon called on the SPFL last year to intervene after David Goodwillie signed for Raith Rovers. There was controversy after the striker, who was ruled to be a rapist in a civil court case in 2017 although no criminal proceedings were instructed, penned a deal at Starks Park.
She said at the time: "It would be appropriate for the SPFL to take action. We have to recognise footballers are role models and young boys and girls look up to footballers so there is a responsibility on football clubs to make sure those role models are positive.
"We are talking about a football player who in a civil court was found to have raped a woman, who as far as I'm aware, has never expressed any real remorse or reflection and I think that sends a really damaging message."
Raith eventually U-turned on the contract.
Hitting out at behaviour
Over the last eight years the FM has waded into controversy involving the conduct of fans and clubs. In April last year the FM slammed the "thuggish behaviour" of a fan who launched a glass bottle in the direction of Celtic keeper Joe Hart at Ibrox during a league game. The start of the second half was delayed while officials removed shards of glass from the playing surface.
She also hit out at some Aberdeen players after they forced the postponement of a league game against St Johnstone during the pandemic after breaching covid guidelines.
Sturgeon also expressed her anger at Celtic fans in 2020 who protested against then manager Neil Lennon outside Parkhead. She said at the time: "Anybody who attacks police officers is doing wrong and that is pretty despicable."
Honouring women's team
Back in 2019 the First Minister presented four players from the first-ever Scotland women’s national team with their long-awaited caps at Hampden. The honour came almost 50 years after the squad’s 3-2 defeat to the Auld Enemy at Greenock’s Ravenscraig Stadium following a U-turn from the Scottish Football Association.
Sturgeon said it was “an honour” to finally give Rose Reilly, Margaret McAuley, Linda Kidd and Jean Stewart their caps at a private ceremony. She added: "It is an honour to present these awards. It’s time we recognised the pioneers of the women’s game and gave them the recognition they deserved."
Support for Ayr United
Throughout her time in office Sturgeon has not hidden her support for her local team Ayr United. On a number of occasions she has mentioned on social media and in press conferences about her dad's love for the Honest Men. However, she also wished them her best as well.
In April 2018, Ayr needed to win to gain promotion to the Championship and Sturgeon tweeted her good luck message saying: "Good luck to the honest men @AyrUnitedFC."
Showing off her skills
During a visit to Fallin Nursery in Stirlingshire to mark the delivery of the SNP's policy to double funding for early years education the First Minister threw away the high heels and had a kick around with the children. Unfortunately for Sturgeon she was asked to go in the sticks while kids hit shots at her.
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