Scotland’s health secretary has apologised and said it is a “matter of regret” that attending football matches featuring his favourite team has given the impression he was “acting more as a fan and less as a minister”.

Neil Gray had been criticised by opposition politicians after it was revealed he was chauffeur-driven to three cup games at Scotland’s national stadium, Hampden Park, as well as a separate league match at Aberdeen’s Pittodrie Stadium.

The Dons supporter made a statement to Holyrood on Thursday, insisting it was “legitimate” for him to attend sporting events as he claimed official business was carried out at the games.

Mr Gray, who revealed he had also attended Scotland national team matches, admitted he was joined at six games by a family member or guest – which is not prohibited depending on the occasion.

He said: “They travelled with me, but this did not come at any additional cost to the taxpayer.”

In response to attending matches involving his favourite team, Mr Gray said: “It is a matter of regret to me, presiding officer, by attending four Aberdeen games that I have given the impression of acting more as a fan and less as a minister.”

He added: “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.”

While a guest of the Scottish Football Association (SFA), Mr Gray was given VIP seats three times at Hampden Park in Glasgow, once in his current role and two while he was wellbeing economy, fair work and energy secretary.

The SNP MSP for Airdrie and Shotts watched Aberdeen and Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup semi-final on 4 November 2023 and The Dons’ final against Rangers on 17 December.

He also attended Aberdeen’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic on 20 April.

Mr Gray, who is originally from Orkney, was also driven to an Aberdeen home league match against Livingston on 15 May during a day of ministerial visits in the city.

The first two matches were logged on the Scottish government’s ministerial engagements, travel and gifts register under “SFA social impact investment in sport engagement”.

The other two were registered under the subject “sport”.

The taxpayer-funded chauffeur service is available to ministers as part of their job.

However, a Scottish government policy states it “cannot be provided from public funds for journeys where the principal purpose is not connected to the performance of ministerial duties”.

In regards to the Aberdeen and Hibernian game, Mr Gray said he held discussions with key stakeholders on the work of the SPFL Trust and supporting community wellbeing across Scotland.

He said: “I heard how Sports Chaplaincy services supports top level athletes in Scotland and held discussions on the significant contribution football can make to the wellbeing economy.”

At the Aberdeen and Rangers game, Mr Gray said he engaged in discussions relating to the issue of pyrotechnics at football matches, planning for Euro 2024 in Germany and potential opportunities for business engagement.

He said talks also revolved around how football “can continue to support community wellbeing, both through participation and through engagement with those in the surrounding communities, particularly around the festive holidays”.

At the Aberdeen and Celtic game, Mr Gray said he held a “detailed discussion” about investment into the sport, particularly at grassroots level, and the impact football clubs can have as anchor organisations in their local communities.

Mr Gray explained he was invited to the Aberdeen and Livingston match as a guest of Aberdeen FC Community Trust during a trip to The Granite City to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week.

Mr Gray said his visit included the announcement of new funding for The Changing Room Extra Time mental health programme, a roundtable meeting with the SPFL Trust and a visit to St Machar Academy.

The MSP claimed a number of “substantive discussions” were held, including on the Scottish government’s “ongoing work to increase investment into grassroots sport”.

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As well as football matches, Mr Gray said he attended the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March and golf’s Open Championship in Troon in July.

He added: “It is crucial we engage and 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.”

Mr Gray was appointed cabinet secretary for health and social care earlier this year after shamed MSP Michael Matheson quit amid a row over an £11,000 iPad data roaming bill.

The Falkirk West MSP had initially billed taxpayers before U-turning, claiming the device had only been used for parliamentary work during a family holiday to Morocco.

It later emerged his teenage sons had been using the work iPad as a hotspot to stream football while on holiday.

He was later suspended from the Scottish parliament for breaching the MSP code of conduct.

MSP Rachael Hamilton, deputy leader of the Scottish Tories, 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. Neil Gray is treating the public as fools, just as Michael Matheson did.”

Ms Hamilton called for a ministerial code investigation.

She added: “Taking family members and guests to these games, in limos paid for by the taxpayer, confirms beyond all doubt that these meetings were not government business, but a jolly to watch the football.

“Taxpayers have been duped and Neil Gray must now refund them in full.”

Speaking to journalists following Mr Gray’s statement, First Minister John Swinney said he would not refer his colleague for an investigation under the ministerial code.

He said the statement had addressed “all the issues that need to be considered” and he now considers the matter “closed”.