Move to ban Uefa hooligans from games in Scotland

Published on Sunday 25 May 2008 22:45

KENNY MacAskill, the justice secretary, has contacted the UK government to close a loophole that means football hooligans involved in violence at the Uefa Cup final could still attend matches in Scotland.

Police made 42 arrests in Manchester last week as riot police and Rangers supporters fought running battles.

Those arrested will be dealt with under the English legal system. But while football banning orders (FBOs) imposed in Scotland prevent people from attending matches throughout the UK, those imposed in England do not apply north of the Border.

Scottish Government officials have been working with the Home Office and the Scotland Office to close the loophole. Measures in the Football Spectators and Sports Grounds Bill, which has been laid at Westminster, could deal with the issue.

But Scottish ministers are concerned at the bill's rate of progress. Mr MacAskill has now written to Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, demanding urgent action from Westminster.

Some 20 FBOs have been imposed in Scotland since September 2006, when the legislation that established them came into force.

The Scottish Government is currently liaising with the courts, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland to monitor the implementation of them.