News In Focus
29 August 2006
Football hooligans to be shown the red card
Football banning orders stopping hooligans from attending matches in the UK and abroad for up to 10 years will be available to Scotland's police and courts from 1 September.
The new orders could also ban abusive trouble-makers from associated flashpoints. The disposal will be available for anyone convicted of a football-related offence.
The banning orders will be introduced in Scotland under the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act.
Chief constables will also be able to apply to the courts to ban an individual from matches involving the national team and SPL or SFL clubs for up to three years, even if they have not been convicted of an offence.
The offences that banning orders might apply to include sectarian chanting, shouting racist remarks or physical assault. Anyone who fails to comply with the order could be subjected to a £5,000 fine and/or six months in prison.
Football banning orders were introduced in England and Wales in 2000 and currently apply to 3,420 people.
Launching the initiative, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said: "Football banning orders will help the police and the courts to deal out real and effective sanctions and make sure the majority can enjoy their football.
"Violence, chants, taunts and songs of hatred are inexcusable and must be tackled. We need to respect our rivals and unite against the common enemies that would stain our game - bigotry, racism and sectarianism. The time has come to reclaim our sports grounds and show these hooligans a straight red - a straight red that could last a decade."
David Taylor, chief executive of the Scottish FA, added: "The Scottish FA supports this important step and trusts that these new powers will be used, where appropriate, to deal not only with any violent behaviour but also with any instances of sectarian or racist behaviour, which has no place in our football grounds in Scotland."