‘Flawed’ football bigotry law to be axed after 6 years
A lAw aimed at tackling bigotry in football is to be axed after MSPs voted to repeal it yesterday.
The vote saw Nicola Sturgeon suffer her first legislative defeat as First Minister.
The Offensive Behaviour At Football Bill was introduced to great fanfare by then first minister Alex Salmond in 2012 in an effort to beat sectarianism.
But from the start critics said it was ‘flawed’ and failed to tackle the problem.
Ministers claimed yesterday’s decision sends out a message to minority groups that the ‘racist, bigoted minority are more important’ than them.
labour, Conservative and lib Dem MSPs backed the repeal Bill by 65 votes to 61, with only Nationalists voting against.
labour MSP James Kelly’s Bill will now progress to the next stage at Holyrood before facing a final vote in the coming months.
The SNP used its majority in the last parliament to introduce the Act. Since being implemented it has faced criticism from football fans and the legal profession.
Following the vote, Mr Kelly said: ‘Parliament has made the clear decision to back the repeal of the Football Act.
‘It is discredited legislation which has failed to make any progress in tackling sectarianism, while dividing fans and the police.
‘It is time for the SNP government to listen to the will of parliament and get behind repeal.’
He added: ‘Instead of continuing to pursue this law, it must unify parties, anti-sectarian organisations, faith groups and education leaders, and start taking the problem of sectarianism seriously.
‘It is not tenable for the governing party to argue for a law condemned by legal experts, equalities organisations and human rights groups, which is now withthe out the support of parliament. The Football Act has to go.’
Nationalist MSP James Dornan said the vote was ‘deeply concerning’. He added: ‘Mr Kelly is doggedly pursuing a self-serving agenda – and now opposition parties have joined him in being deaf to the views of the majority of people across Scotland.
‘Mr Kelly should explain to the public why he wants to effectively give the green light to sectarian and offensive behaviour.
‘It’s not too late for him to drop his obsession with undermining fight against sectarianism – and I hope does just that.’
Mr Kelly had raised the fact that offences involving religious aggravation have increased from 696 the year before the Act was brought in to 719, only 7 per cent of which were football fans.
‘The act has completely failed in terms of tackling sectarianism,’ he said. ‘what we need is a completely new approach.’
Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing said: ‘Going back to where we were before the Act was introduced is retrograde and will do nothing to tackle abusive behaviour at football or protect vulnerable communities.’
She added that the decision could send out a message to minority groups and victims that the ‘racist and bigoted minority are more important than the majority’.
Tory MSP liam Kerr said: ‘The Act is bad law. On its progress through parliament the Bill was met with criticism from all opposition parties who believed the legislation was unfair, unworkable and inconsistent.
‘Almost five years later, it is clear the consensus remains.’
‘Dividing fans and the police’