Full-time for football fans’ foul behaviour

When it comes to acts of violence and vandalism, kicking over a sandcastle is not exactly top of the league. It is, however, the kind of thing that can cause upset and annoyance.

Football fans were apparently responsible for acting in the unpleasant manner described following a match on Sunday.

Nobody was physically harmed, but Councillor Sarah Dickinson hits the nail right on the head when she sums up the incident as “just plain bad behaviour”.

Sadly there seems to be a mob mentality in Scotland — and it is particularly prevalent among football fans.

No matter which team is involved, some supporters just cannot behave themselves.

Often the problems involve predominantly young men, in the company of other young men and in a culture where excessive alcohol consumption is rife.

Just a few weeks ago shocking footage emerged of football fans abroad in Europe making sickening, racist comments about young children.

The children probably did not know what was going on, but the point is the same — yet again it is mindless behaviour directed against people completely ill-equipped to defend themselves.

They may not be the crimes of the century but the sooner we tackle them, the better society will be.