Time to pull back after law own goal

The looming repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act will come as little surprise to those who have followed its progress from inception to defeat in Holyrood yesterday.

It was hated by the majority of fans it was designed to keep safe and police and sheriffs deemed it largely impractical and unenforceable.

Other than political intransigence, there seemed no reason for failing to, at least, revisit the hastily-drafted and badly-constructed legislation.

It was introduced for the right reasons.

Certain sections of the football-supporting public are still subject to the worst excesses of peers’ offensive behaviour. But it threatened to tar all with the same brush of bigotry. The repeal of the bill will not suddenly give football fans the right to sing and say whatever they please.

Those attending grounds, as well as others who come into contact with supporters on match days, deserve to be able to go about their business safely and without being subjected to bile-filled invective.

However, the ability to police and, if necessary, prosecute offenders already exists in statute and common law.

If the Scottish Government feels it sends out the wrong message to scrap the law, unless and until a more suitable replacement is created, it must ensure current powers are used to their fullest extent to bring bigots and trouble makers to heel.