Kelly’s delight after football act repealed
Bill gets the red card
James Kelly MSP has spoken of his joy after the long-running campaign against the Offensive Behaviour At Football Act paid off last week.
The controversial bill was scrapped after a tight 62-60 vote in Holyrood last Thursday.
Mr Kelly, from Rutherglen and now a list MSP, believes that more education is needed to solve sectarian issues.
He said: “This legislation has been completely discredited and I am delighted that my bill has led to its repeal.
“Since the SNP government used its previous parliamentary majority to force the legislation through, it has been repeatedly criticised by legal experts, fans’ groups and equalities organisations.
“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“Now the Football Act has been repealed, I hope all parties can get behind the need to support proper investment in anti-sectarianism initiatives, which have seen their funding cut under the SNP.
“Opposition parties have united to defeat the SNP and repeal the Football Act – it is now essential every party unites to tackle sectarianism at source.”
The bill was introduced by the SNP government in 2011 but often faced criticism for being ‘poorly worded’.
The SNP hit out at the repeal vote. Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing said: “This move sends out an appalling signal, suggests 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.”