Committee to hear evidence on football act

A CONTROVERSIAL football law is to go under the microscope as a bill to scrap the legislation is considered in Holyrood today.

The Justice Committee will hear from police and the Crown Office, as well as the campaign group Fans Against Criminalisation, Supporters Direct Scotland and the Scottish Football Supporters Association in the meeting to discuss Labour MSP James Kelly’s bill to repeal the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.

The Committee will hold a number of evidence sessions, with a Stage 1 vote of the full parliament expected early in 2018. Holyrood has previously voted in favour of repealing the legislation during a Labour business debate in 2016.

James Kelly MSP said: “The Football Act was a PR stunt pulled by a government abusing its majority. It has failed to tackle sectarianism and simply served to draw a divide between fans and the police, reversing years of progress.

“Instead of working to tackle sectarianism in communities, the Nationalists rushed through legislation which has done nothing to combat bigotry.

“Legal experts, human rights groups and countless supporters continue to speak out against this illiberal and ineffective legislation.”

However, SNP MSP James Dornan has described Mr Kelly as “utterly irresponsible” for his proposals.

He said: “James Kelly is utterly irresponsible in seeking to erode the powers our police currently have to tackle bigotry, just to land a political blow.

“He is a politician doggedly pursuing a self-serving agenda.”