RIP UP THE FOOTBALL ACT AND START AGAIN
Repeal only the start, says MSP Kelly
RELATIONS between football fans and police will need to be rebuilt if controversial legislation aimed at curbing sectarianism at matches is scrapped, MSPs have been told.
Labour’s James Kelly said getting rid of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act would not be the “end of the matter”.
He has submitted a Member’s Bill to Holyrood in a bid to repeal the legislation, which he described as “discredited” and ineffective.
Kelly told the justice committee that he wanted to axe the law because “it is unfair that football fans are targeted”.
But he added: “Separate to that, there needs to be work done with supporters and the police and the clubs to rebuild a better relationship in order that we get more effective policing.
“I don’t see the repeal of this Act as being the end of the matter.
“I think there is a job for all of us to do in terms of putting out a message that religious intolerance is unacceptable, pointing to effective legislation to deal with that and there is a big job to be done in terms of the police and the supporters. It is a two-way street to work together in order to build that trust.”
The legislation, which came into force in 2012, criminalises behaviour which is “threatening, hateful or otherwise offensive at a regulated football match, including offensive singing or chanting”.
It was pushed through in the aftermath of an Old Firm clash in 2011, which saw the then Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist and then Celtic manager Neil Lennon involved in angry scenes.
Lennon was sent bullets and a parcel bomb in the post. Two other high-profile Celtic fans – the late Paul McBride QC and former Holyrood deputy presiding officer Trish Godman – were also sent “viable explosive devices”.
SNP MSP George Adam said: “With all that, surely the Scottish Government were right in bringing this legislation forward?”
But Kelly told him: “What we saw was a complete overreaction from the SNP Government.”