Anti-sectarian soccer laws scrapped

A controversial law aimed at tackling sectarian behaviour at football was finally scrapped by MSPS last night.

Opposition parties teamed up to defeat the Scottish Government and passing Labour MSP James Kelly’s Bill to scrap the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act by 62 votes to 60. Mr Kelly described the act as “the worst piece of legislation in the history of the Scottish Parliament”.

It has prompted complaints that football fans have been singled out while sheriffs have criticised the drafting on the legislation. But community safety minister Annabelle Ewing branded the move “foolhardy” at a time when sectarianism remains a problem in Scottish football.

The act was introduced by the majority SNP government in the last parliament but faced criticism from legal experts, fans’ groups and equalities organisations who have argued it is unworkable and unfairly targets fans.

“The Football Act has been a failure,” Mr Kelly said. He added it “has not tackled bigotry, it has been widely criticised by lawyers and human rights groups”.