Police union’s anger over CupFinaldamageverdict
A POLICE union has warned that putting Hibs and Rangers in the clear over paying for the damage to Hampden caused by the Scottish Cup Final disorder is sending the wrong public message.
The SFA rejection of strict liability rules to tackle fan misbehaviour was a major factor as both clubs escaped punishment as a judicial panel dismissed a Scottish Football Association complaint that called for the clubs to cover the cost of the destruction at the national stadium.
Hibs triumphed 3-2 to win the Scottish Cup for the first time in 114 years on May 21, but the postmatch celebrations were marred by scenes of crowd disorder, a pitch invasion and damage to goalposts, corner flags, seats and advertising hoardings.
Hibs, in welcoming the decision, confirmed they had paid a sum, so far undisclosed, to cover damage to the pitch.
The main decision to reject the pursuit of Hibs for damage to the ground, meant the SFA case against Rangers was withdrawn.
Calum Steele, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, effectively the trade union for constables and sergeants, said: “The general perception that individuals can behave in any manner that they want, cause whatever damage what they want, and unless that happens to be caught or identified by police inquiries [will not get punished], is one which will strike the vast majority of the public as very very strange indeed.”
More than 70 Rangers and Hibs supporters have so far been arrested for violence on the pitch, with Rangers players Wes Foderingham and Andy Halliday among those assaulted by rival fans.
The clubs were alleged to have breached a disciplinary rule which states “damage was sustained to Hampden... as a consequence of misbehaviour by supporters”.
The panel unanimously dismissed the complaint as “irrelevant” and said strict liability rules was a factor in the decision.
Strict liability allows for clubs to be punished for the conduct of its fans regardless of whether the club itself is to blame. It is used by Uefa for European competitions but in the past the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) clubs have voted against its introduction.
The panel concluded: “It may be thought odd that there is no apparent disciplinary sanction for this event. But that is a matter for the [SFA] members to deal with, in clear terms, rather than for the judicial panel...From the information which we have, there is a limited appetite for strict liability within Scottish football.”