C****c warn sabotage by rival fans could undermine new 'strict liability' laws

[ian1964 10,720]

CELTIC has warned that holding football sides liable for the behaviour of fans risks being undermined by rivals “purporting to be supporters” of the club.

 

In its response to moves to repeal the controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football (OFBA) laws, Celtic said plans for ‘strict liability’ within the Scottish game could actually encourage “unacceptable conduct in the stands”.

 

Adding that clubs could bank money for fines rather than invest “in best practice” and re-affirming its “significant concerns in relation to the potential for discrimination against football supporters “ it says the OBFA creates, Celtic added: “By way of example, there is no evidence that the strict liability system operated by UEFA is effective in improving supporter behaviour or reducing the number of disciplinary cases brought by UEFA.”

 

The Scottish champions were one of several organisations to respond to a consultation by Labour MSP James Kelly, who is attempting to overturn the four-year-old legislation.

 

Mr Kelly plans to bring forward a bill overturning the Act, amid expectation in some quarters the opposition parties will use their majority to scrap the law, introduced in 2012 following a series of on and off-field incidents the previous season.

 

Those who made submissions in full support of the Offensive Behaviour laws include gay rights organisations Stonewall and the Equality Network, both of which called for the legislation to be used to increase prosecution of homophobic behaviour at football.

 

Stating that “homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are a significant problem in football”, the Equality Network said the Act had not been used effectively in dealing with such abuse, adding: “This appears to be an implementation problem rather than a fault in the legislation.”

 

Stonewall Scotland said: “The issue of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia behaviour at football is far from resolved, and further steps need to be taken to ensure that all fans, players and professionals feel safe and included in our national game. We believe that a detailed review of the implementation of the Act would therefore be appropriate, with the view to looking at where provisions might be clarified or strengthened.”

 

Elsewhere, newly formed Rangers supporters’ group Club 1872 said the Act “dehumanises football fans” and was “a pointless law passed by a party that I becoming increasingly dictatorial”.

 

The Crown Office has also responded, insisting it regularly makes submissions to consultations on private members’ bills. It said the Act had been successfully used to prosecute “a variety of criminal behaviour”, including instances where jail sentences were handed out. The Crown also said the Act allowed the prosecution of certain behaviours which could not be “shoe-horned” into other offences.

 

Human rights group Liberty said it the “subjective discretion” of police officers had led to “misapplication and misuse”, adding: “It is clear from this that non-violent football fans may find themselves inadvertently falling within the remit of the criminal law for simply singing a chant intended to antagonize the opposition and express pride in a football side but without intending to trigger violence.”

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/14827318.Celtic_warn_sabotage_by_rival_fans_could_undermine_new__strict_liability__laws/

[calscot 0]

Seems to me that they would be the ones most likely to sabotage - in fact they already do.

[26th of foot 6,054]

Aw Gerry, see the next time Peter tells you to give such pysh another airing; tell him to tell Michael(Scottish Justice Minister) to tell the Polis to arrest Juan Ghuy. He is to blame for every piece of misbehaviour associated with ra Sellik.

[JFK-1 1,693]

Might result in them bottling each other to blame it on us. I would take that.

[StuGers 477]

You can already see them pre-empting the next incident here.

Edited October 27, 2016 by StuGers

[stewarty 1,998]

So are Celtic saying they would spend more money doing more to tackle issues within their support if only they didn't keep on getting those pesky UEFA fines?

[gisabeer 409]

motherwell phil masquerading as a schoolteacher on a boat to Northern Irleland jumps to mind. a good friend of mr liewell too!

[StuGers 477]

motherwell phil masquerading as a schoolteacher on a boat to Northern Irleland jumps to mind. a good friend of mr liewell too!

 

Can you elaborate? Sorry, I've got no clue what you're on about?

[der Berliner 3,716]

The only danger one can see for us is that some dolts (maybe even some Yahoo imports) will sing the odd line of TBB every now and then, hoping that more folk will join in - which will happen, no doubt whatsoever. And given the antics of those at the top of the game, we will be punished for such rubbish. It would just follow the "natural order" of how things have developed these last 8 years or so.