MSPs narrowly vote to scrap the Football Act
Political Correspondent THE controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football Act has been scrapped.
MSPs voted by 62 to 60 to pass James’ Kelly’s bill to repeal the act in the Scottish Parliament
Labour, the Tories LibDems and Greens voted in favour of scrapping the Act which came into effect in 2012.
Mr Kelly said it was now time to unite to tackle sectarianism.
He said: “The law was a simplistic attempt to solve a complex problem.
“Sectarianism is a problem in Scotland that goes back generations. It can’t be solved in 90 minutes on a Saturday. The way to fix it is in classrooms and community groups.
“Now the Football Act has been repealed, I hope all parties can get behind the need to support proper investment in antisectarianism initiatives, which have seen their funding cut under the SNP.”
While it is not the first time Holyrood has voted to repeal an act, it is understood to be the first time a law has been repealed with no measures put in place as a direct replacement
Meanwhile the Scottish Government branded the decision “deeply worrying”.
Community Safety Minister, Annabelle Ewing, said: “This is a deeply disappointing and worrying decision
“Sectarianism continues to be a problem in Scottish football, but despite this completely unacceptable behaviour, those opposing the Act continue to bury their heads in the sand, asserting that that it is better to repeal legislation than either reforming it or replacing it.
“This move sends out an appalling signal, suggests that the law is going to be soft on antisocial conduct by bigots and bullies and will compromise the ability of police and prosecutors to charge people for unacceptable behaviour.”
MSPs debated the repeal bill before the vote, with SNP members condemning those who were voting for repeal.
James Dornan, Glasgow Cath- cart MSP, said it would see events last weekend before and following the Old Firm match, with players abused in public, become more common.
He said: “On Sunday we had the vile sight of balaclavawearing, Nazi-saluting thugs parading our streets like some paramilitary outfit.”
He added: “A vote for repeal will be enabling this type of behaviour.”