Opposition sticks the boot into Salmond’s bigotry bill

Published on Friday 7 October 2011 01:31

SCOTLAND’S football authorities have been slammed by MSPs for failing to tackle sectarianism – with a stark warning that firm action years ago could have seen the problem “stamped out” in the game.

A damning report by Holyrood’s justice committee said the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and Scottish Premier League (SPL) have failed to work together and show leadership in combating offensive behaviour in the game.

But the issue also split politicians at the Scottish Parliament yesterday, with opposition leaders withdrawing support for controversial new laws aimed at cracking down on sectarianism in football.

The committee was split down party political lines in its report into the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill. It was only backed thanks to a majority of five Nationalist MSPs who outnumbered the four opposition members who rejected it.

The legislation was introduced in the aftermath of the trouble last season which saw Celtic manager Neil Lennon and high-profile supporters of the club targeted with explosive devices sent through the post.

A flare-up between Lennon and his opposite number at Rangers, Ally McCoist, after a stormy Old Firm encounter, also provoked an outcry.

The committee yesterday found that the football authorities have “failed to take any form action” to deal with the problem. “Over many years, they have allowed the issue to drift,” the report says.

“If firm action had been taken earlier, offensive behaviour at football might have been stamped out or at least significantly reduced.”

The report calls on the SFA and SPL to work out who has responsibility over disciplinary issues concerning supporters of top-flight clubs.

“We are dismayed that the two bodies do not appear to be close to resolving this issue at a time when clear leadership and effective joint working is badly needed,” it adds.

But the football authorities yesterday said the report “shows a disregard” for the measures undertaken by both bodies.

A joint statement on behalf of the SFA and SPL said: “We have consistently stated our intention to work together, with all stakeholders, to tackle offensive behaviour, which was explained to the committee during our evidence sessions.

“Indeed, among the 41 action points we have pledged to deliver by the end of the year, we have taken the lead in working to implement a single code of conduct for Scottish football. This fact was also left out of the report.”

The bill was delayed earlier this year by the Scottish Government in an effort to secure cross-party support. But Labour leader Iain Gray said it could not be passed in its “current form”, as he clashed with Alex Salmond in parliament yesterday.

He added: “If we pass bad laws and it does not work, it could do more harm than good.”

But the First Minister said that everyone has “to make a choice”.

He insisted: “We can either be part of the backlash or part of the solution.

“I truly hope that most people in this parliament decide to be part of the solution.”

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the new legislation to be ditched, while the Tories say the case has not been made.

The Catholic Bishop of Paisley, Philip Tartaglia, warned Mr Salmond this week of a “serious chill” in Church relations with SNP ministers, adding that the football laws were a “distraction”. The pair are due to hold talks today.

The legislation would create two new offences relating to behaviour deemed to “incite religious, racial or other forms of hatred” in and around football grounds and on the internet.

Those convicted could be jailed for up to five years and banned from football grounds.

But a string of witnesses who gave evidence to the committee, including the historian Professor Tom Devine and sociology lecturer Dr Stuart Waiton, slammed the measures.

Football fans have complained they are being discriminated against and it has led to anti-SNP banners being waved at games by Rangers and Celtic fans.

MSPs said there was a “general view” among witnesses that parts of the bill are unclear.

Confusion over which songs would be classed as offensive under the new laws are at the heart of the concerns.

No “banned list” of songs has ever been produced and justice minister Roseanna Cunningham even appeared to indicate during one evidence session that singing the National Anthem could get fans arrested.

The MSPs warned yesterday that the “catch-all” test for offensive behaviour may be too expansive and could be made clearer. Not all members of the committee are convinced that there are gaps in the current law.

The bill also covers fans’ journey to and from matches, but there is also confusion about what this covers and the committee want this looked into.

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