MSPs to hear fans' call to scrap Offensive Behaviour at Football Act

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MSPs are to hear a call by football fans to scrap a controversial law claimed to criminalise supporters.

 

A petition from Fans Against Criminalisation is calling for a full review of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act and its effectiveness.

 

They have the support of a Labour MSP who also wants the act scrapped.

 

Labour MSP, James Kelly, who last week pledged to publish a Members Bill to repeal the act if he ie re-elected in May, said former Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, who was in charge when the act took effect should admit he got it wrong and back the petition.

 

Mr MacAskill is now a member of the Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee which will hear the evidence from the fans’ group tomorrow.

 

The petition calls for the Scottish Government to “hold a full and comprehensive review” of the Act with a view to having it repealed.

 

Mr Kelly, MSP for Rutherglen, said: “Since leaving the Scottish Cabinet Kenny MacAskill has been a critic of some SNP policies, he should go a step further and admit he got it wrong with this piece of legislation.

 

"Sectarianism in Scotland is a complex problem which goes back generations – it won’t be solved by ninety minutes on a Saturday or 140 characters in a tweet.

 

“But Kenny MacAskill didn’t understand that as the Football Act was bulldozed through parliament without the backing of any of the other Holyrood parties.

 

“Mr MacAskill is standing down in May, so he has no need to please party bosses, he should vote for a review of the Act on Tuesday and join me in supporting a repeal of the Football Act.”

 

Mr Kelly, said the law, rather than help stamp out sectarianism has instead damaged relations between police and football supporters.

 

He added: “The place to tackle intolerance is in our classrooms and communities but the Football Act has set back the fight against sectarianism by creating a culture of mistrust between the police and fans.”

 

The Petitions Committee will hear evidence from campaigners Paul Quigley and Jeanette Findlay.

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/14194789.MSPs_to_hear_fans__call_to_scrap_Offensive_Behaviour_at_Football_Act/