Move to scrap Football Act goes before MSPs
Political Correspondent A BID to scrap the controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football Act will go before MSPs.
Holyrood’s Justice Committee is to examine a proposal to scrap the legislation aimed at tackling sectarian behaviour at football and online hate under the Threatening Communication part of the act
MSPs are seeking views on Labour MSP James Kelly’s bid to repeal the Act, who says it was a bad law that did not have the support of fans or the judiciary from the start.
Mr Kelly lodged his member’s bill at the Scottish Parliament last week, highlighting that the law was opposed by lawyers, academics, football fans and every opposition party as it made its way through Parliament.
He said the law had “broken down trust between fans and the police”, and it should be scrapped.
The Act came into force in 2012 after the SNP used its majority in the last Parliament to pass it despite a lack of support from other parties.
After losing the majority at the 2016 Holyrood election, the nationalists suffered a symbolic defeat last year when Tory, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green MSPs backed a motion calling for its repeal.
Supporters of the legislation argue it has had a deterrent effect on those who would engage in offensive behaviour.
Justice Committee convener Margaret Mitchell said: “The Act has aroused strong and opposing views about its necessity and effectiveness.
“The Justice Committee is keen to hear the full range of opinions about this significant proposal to remove a law from the statute books.”
MSPs will look at issues including whether the legislation has assisted in tackling sectarianism and whether its repeal would leave a gap in the law.
Mr Kelly said the committee will hear about the damage the act has done.
He said: “The SNP are simply out of touch on the Football Act. Football fans, judges and academics opposed the law, but the SNP didn’t listen and used their then majority in Holyrood to railroad it through.
“The Football Act is now well into injury time as organisations prepare to go before MSPs and explain the damage this act is doing.
“It’s time Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP listened to the public and repealed this bad law.”