THE Scottish FA and SPFL have been warned that support for Strict Liability in Holyrood is growing and told that they haven’t done enough to tackle sectarianism within the game.
Joe FitzPatrick, the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, attended a seminar hosted by Show Racism the Red Card at Hampden on Thursday as the issue of supporter behaviour has once again been thrust into the spotlight.
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Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke and striker Kris Boyd were subjected to sectarian chanting during the matches with Rangers and Celtic last month, while Police Scotland are investigating discriminatory singing and coin throwing during Celtic’s win at Tynecastle this week.
The high-profile instances have put fans back in the dock once again and Strict Liability legislation has been muted as one potential deterrent that could be implemented after Parliament voted to scrap the controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.
FitzPatrick and Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf recently held discussions with Hampden chiefs and is determined to address the myriad of issues within the game.
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“It certainly doesn’t help,” FitzPatrick said when asked if the repeal of the OFBA had weakened the Government’s hand. “I would have preferred if OFBA had remained intact because it was a useful tool in the box. But it was only ever one tool.
“The justice system does have a role because many of these comments are against the law and it’s for the justice system to look at.
“What we’ve got to do, what my job is as Sports Minister, is to work with the football authorities to make sure the environment is not permissive of that behaviour.
"If we don’t find solutions then support for Strict Liability is growing within the parliament and elsewhere. Government currently think that would be a difficult route to go forward. It’s a private proposal by James Dornan but it’s one I would suggest the football clubs should engage with.
“But the Government has other options we think might help us as well in terms of licensing and banning orders and anything we can do we will do in partnership with the football clubs. That’s why I am prepared to have that engagement with the football clubs.
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“We are in continual discussion with the football authorities.”
Those in the corridors of power at Hampden have repeatedly played down the prospect of Strict Liability being introduced in Scottish football and any such legislation is highly unlikely to be approved by member clubs.
But FitzPatrick, the SNP member for Dundee City West, insists more must be done to tackle unacceptable behaviour following his talks with SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell.
He said: “It was a constructive sharing of views. Both myself and Humza Yousaf made it very clear that we feel we have got to the point where action needs to be taken. There have been a lot of very strong words from our football teams but we need to see some action.
"We need something to be done. I think there is an acceptance by Scottish football as a whole that it’s not acceptable.
"I think that’s why it’s helpful that some individuals who have been subject to abuse are prepared to speak out. It makes it plain just how offensive that behaviour has been.
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“No, I don’t think [the SFA and SPFL have done enough to tackle this]. More needs to be done and I think they recognise that too.
“I am certainly keen to work with them, but the bottom line is that - as a Government - we are looking at what options there are for us in parliamentary terms
“James Dorman’s private proposal is on the table and I would suggest that football clubs engage with that.
“It was heartening to hear that there was some support within Scottish football for that proposal because it was a proposal difficult for us to take forward without the support of football.
“In Belgium where it was introduced it happened because football clubs and government worked together."
Rangers chairman Dave King apologised to Clarke in the aftermath of the abuse he received at Ibrox but clubs are often hesitant to criticise their own supporters over issues of behaviour.
The debate over sectarianism in the game came to the fore once again last month but FitzPatrick believes it is still a minority of fans that have to be dealt with.
He said: "I think most fans go to a football match to support their team, see their team winning and watch good football.
"I think that’s what most people do there and that’s what I would say to fans. You know it’s not acceptable, so don’t do it."
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