MSPs demand action over crowd disorder
Minister say change needed after clubs escape costs
MINISTERS have demanded football’s regulators ensure they can take action over crowd disorder as Rangers said the failure to deal with the fall-out from the Scottish Cup Final riot was a “stain on Scottish football”.
The Scottish Government said change was needed following Wednesday’s announcement that Rangers and Hibs would not have to cover the cost of damage to Hampden Park after the Edinburgh’s side’s 3-2 victory in May’s showpiece final.
The post-match celebrations were marred by scenes of crowd disorder, a pitch invasion and damage to goalposts, corner flags, seats and advertising hoardings.
The rejection of strict liability rules to tackle fan misbehaviour was a major factor as a judicial panel dismissed a Scottish Football Association (SFA) complaint that called for the clubs to cover the cost of the damage.
The Scottish Government wants the governing bodies to resolve the anomalies that meant the SFA was unable to take action over the disorder.
It said it does not have a set view on how football authorities should tackle disorder at grounds, but a spokesman added: “We do, however, expect any measures put in place to be robust, transparent with a strong element of independence. When unacceptable conduct or disorder takes place, those measures should allow the football authorities to take meaningful action.”
He added: “The disorder that marred the Scottish Cup Final was unacceptable and we are disappointed by the outcome. It is essential that robust, meaningful measures are in place to allow such behaviour to be dealt with effectively.”
Meanwhile, Rangers said the nature of the charges brought against the two clubs were “fundamentally flawed from the outset”.
A spokesman said it could not understand why the focus was on compensating for damage to Hampden rather than “ensuring the safety of players and officials”.
The club is now demanding urgent clarification from the SFA over how they intend “ensuring the safety of players and officials” participating in this season’s Scottish Cup. More than 70 Rangers and Hibs supporters have so far been arrested for violence on the pitch, with Rangers players Wes Foderingham and Andy Halliday among those assaulted by fans.
A Rangers spokesman said: “The club has been left shocked by the SFA’s approach to this vital safety issue and by the decision not to seek sanctions in respect of the assaults by Hibernian supporters on Rangers players and officials at the end of the cup final.
“The Scottish FA must have a basic duty of care to ensure the safety of players and officials in matches played in their competitions and at Hampden.”
Hibs, in welcoming the decision confirmed it has paid an undisclosed sum to cover for damage to the pitch. The independent judicial panel decision had meant that neither club were obliged to pay a penny for the damage caused at Hampden.
Meanwhile, Celtic were fined over £8,500 by European football’s governing body Uefa after fans waved Palestinian flags during the club’s 5-2 home Champions League victory over Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva last month.
‘‘ The Scottish FA must have a basic duty of care to ensure the safety of players and officials
ARTIST David Shrigley gives a thumbs up to his Really Good sculpture, the 11th sculpture to feature on Trafalgar Square’s fourth plinth.
Shrigley, the former Turner Prize nominee and a graduate of the Glasgow School of Art who has not left Glasgow, went up in a cherry picker to inspect the statue as it was unveiled by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Mr Khan said it brought positivity following the uncertainty caused by the Brexit vote. Shrigley said: “The debate that surrounds it will inform what the work is.” Picture: Getty Images