POLICE IN £9M FOOTIE SCORE
Old Firm still paying the most but union chief is worried about rising lower league fans violence
Cash-str apped Police Scotland have charged football clubs nearly £9million in the last four seasons in a bid to recoup money spent on security inside grounds on match days.
The eye- watering figures emerged after fears were expressed by a police union chief that rising fan violence was spreading into the lower divisions, putting an already overstretched force at breaking point.
Police Scotland are able to charge for the cost of policing inside grounds but not the streets.
Figures revealed under Freedom of Information show that £1.86million in policing costs was recovered by the force in season 2021/22 as stadiums reopened following the end of lockdown.
In the next three seasons – up to 2024/25 – a further £6.89million was charged, giving a total of £8.75million. The FOI response shows the Old Firm pay most for policing. In the last three seasons the two clubs forked out a total of £3.1million to cover games at their grounds – £1.6million at Ibrox and £1.5million at Parkhead. Third was the SFA which paid £829,107 to police Scotland games and Scottish Cup finals.
Fourth was the SPFL which was billed £382,691 for various fixtures believed to include League Cup finals and semi finals.
One Old Firm game at Parkhead in March cost £53,786 and for the Ibrox fixture in May police charged £53,924.
Outwith the Old Firm, Aberdeen had the highest policing bill for the last three seasons at £332,691, followed by St Mirren (£ 295,605) , Ki l marnock (£277,235), Hibs (£258,476) and Hearts (£247,440).
The club with the lowest policing bill was League Two side Stirling Albion at £294.
One club with surprisingly high costs for the last three seasons was West of Scotland league side Darvel who ran up a £10,282 bill for two games in the Scottish Cup in 2023. In the first they beat Aberdeen then lost to Falkirk.
David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation warned yesterday that lower division disorder involving ultras is forcing police to divert officers from frontline duties.
He spoke following shocking scenes at Raith Rovers’’ Championship clash with Ross County on October 5, where two teenagers were taken to hospital.
It was the latest in a series of clashes in the last year involving Raith fans as well as supporters of other lower league clubs.
Kennedy added: “The police do not have the resources we need.”
There was also violence before the Old Firm League Cup Final and the Dundee United v Aberdeen game, where Dons defender Jack MacKenzie was struck by a missile thrown from his own fans.
Last week Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell appealed to the Scottish Government for an extra £138million for 850 more officers and 350 civilian staff. It has been claimed a lack of officers is putting the public at risk.
Police Scotland say the figures are costs recovered by the force and not the actual costs of policing the various fixtures.
A spokesperson added: “Each match is risk assessed in consultation with the home club’s safety officer and a proportionate policing plan will be in place.”