AN SNP MSP last night claimed the SFA and SPFL are incapable of policing Scottish football - and warned that someone is in danger of being seriously injured or even killed unless strict liability is introduced.
James Dornan, the MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, was speaking following the off-field trouble that marred the Edinburgh derby match between Hearts and their city rivals Hibernian at Tynecastle on Wednesday evening.
Neither Hearts or Hibs will be punished by the SPFL - if they can demonstrate they took adequate precautions to avoid crowd disturbances and have attempted to identify and punish the offenders responsible since.
Dornan, who was opposed to the controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act being repealed by MSPs back in March, is currently working on a strict liability bill that would, if passed, see sanctions brought against clubs regardless of the measures they have taken.
He launched a withering attack on both the SFA and SPFL and revealed he is seeking a meeting with the Minister for Sport and other government officials in the wake of the ugly scenes in Gorgie.
“Over the summer I had let it (the proposed bill) be,” he said. “But interestingly and coincidently I had a meeting about it last Friday. My plan is to try and arrange a meeting with the Minister for Sport and talk with the government about the need for strict liability.
“This is another example that shows the SFA and SPFL aren’t capable of dealing with their own problems.
“It was a huge mistake for parliament to go the way it did, but it did. It has left a gap that the SFA and SPFL are not willing to fill. The only way we can fill it is by strict liability or something like it.”
Dornan added: “Every time a fan throws a coin or a pyrotechnic they are potentially risking somebody’s sight, somebody’s serious health or even somebody’s life. It is just pure luck when it doesn’t happen.
“It is not behaviour that we should be accepting at our football clubs and it’s time something was done about it. That has to be strict liability.”
Zdenek Zlamal, the Hearts goalkeeper, was punched on his head by a Hibs fan as he tried to retrieve the ball from behind his goal in the second-half of the Edinburgh derby.
Neil Lennon, the Hibs manager, required medical attention in his technical area after being struck in the face by a pound coin thrown by a Hearts supporter in injury-time.
Assistant referees Frank Connor and David McGeachie were also targeted and a supporter was charged by police with an alleged assault on one of the match officials following the final whistle.
An SPFL spokesman said: “The Edinburgh derby is one of the most passionate in Scottish football – but a number of incidents last night are not acceptable. We await the contents of the SPFL match delegate report and we will work closely with both clubs and Police Scotland to identify those involved.
Scotland’s senior clubs voted overwhelmingly against introducing strict liability at the SFA AGM back in 2013 – but did toughen up their existing regulations. The SFA declined the comment further.
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