Sectarian singing probe at Hearts v Celtic game hindered by Tynecastle no-audio CCTV

[ian1964 10,720]

A POLICE investigation into alleged sectarian singing at a Scottish Premiership game between Hearts and Celtic has been hampered by in-ground CCTV cameras that do not have audio.

 

Police Scotland has confirmed that they have been examining complaints about offensive fan chants since the match three weeks ago.

 

But it is understood that officers have been unable to rely on CCTV footage in Tynecastle because the cameras are unable to pick up sound.

 

Police are continuing to pour over footage of activity on the terraces during the game which Celtic won 2-1.

 

News of the investigation comes after it was confirmed that two men were arrested following complaints about sectarian singing during the Rangers clash Kilmarnock on Friday.

 

The board of the Scottish Professional Football League governing body is due to meet today where it is expected any issues arising from reviews of match delegate reports would be examined.

 

A Hearts spokesman confirmed that CCTV equipment within the stadium does not capture audio but added: "We are able [in general] to retrieve audio from other sources, for example TV broadcast footage and police recordings."

 

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Police in Edinburgh received a report of offensive behaviour at the Hearts v Celtic match at Tynecastle on August 7., "Inquiries are on-going into the full circumstances."

 

BT Sport which was broadcasting last week's Kilmarnock versus Rangers match live has apologised after receiving complaints from viewers.

 

One complainer described a "high level of sectarian singing" during the game at Rugby Park which ended in 1-1 draw.

 

Police Scotland later confirmed that two men aged 22 and 23 had been arrested in connection with alleged offences contrary to the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.

 

In April, Dave Scott, campaign director of Nil By Mouth, accused the SPFL of failing to tackle sectarianism in Scottish football.

 

One third of arrests for sectarian activities in Scotland are related to football.

 

Speaking as part of a debate, Mr Scott said that without the assistance of football authorities sectarianism will never be exorcised from the game.

 

And he urged all Scottish clubs to adopt the Strict Liability rule, in which they could be punished for the behaviour of fans regardless of their attempts to control them.

 

Without action, he said, sectarianism would prevail.

 

Speaking to the event hosted by Action on Sectarianism, he said: "The SFA has failed in that no club has been fined a point or a pound for sectarian behaviour.

 

"The clubs early on did make a show of trying to do something about it. But it was usually for the press opportunity.

 

"They do little unless it involves Uefa [the European football governing body]. Scottish football has just ignored the issue. Recently they asked for facial recognition software as a solution rather than work with the fans."

 

Two weeks after Scott's comments police investigated the singing of sectarian songs by Old Firms fans during the Scottish Cup semi-final. The match resulted in 18 arrests in and around Hampden and in the city centre.

 

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14715626.Sectarian_singing_probe_at_Hearts_v_Celtic_game_hindered_by_Tynecastle_no_audio_CCTV_cams/

[RANGERRAB 3,617]

Just coincidence eh ? As if we believe them. Suppose it was Scotsport's cameras as well

[JFK-1 1,693]

If this is the type of game they want to play well it isn't difficult for any Rangers supporter to watch their matches on TV and lodge complaints every time with the police about 'offensive' sectarian singing, banners etc including chanting supporting an outlawed terrorist organisation all of which are certain to occur in their games. I find THAT offensive.